University of Chicago Top Questions

The students here enjoy learning, and most of them won't hesitate to pass on what they've learned to other people. Someone who hates to read or who does not like stimulating conversation would probably feel wildly out of place at UChicago.

The minority experience here isn't always easy, but the school has been devoting significant attention to the matter in the past few years. They built a new center to function as a safe space for minorities and LGBTQs. There are subcultures for everyone and it is fairly easy to start and join student groups. The student body is fairly diverse--a lot of people from the coasts, the Midwest, and all over really. Students are very politically aware, although there isn't all that much campus activism in relation to other campuses. I think activities in general are constrained a little by our short quarters and tough academic demands. But we have right-wing, left-wing, etc. groups. And the campus is probably majority liberal, but our econ department tends to attract a bunch of Rand types as well.

Everyone here has something (or many things) that they are really engaged with, and so everyone has fresh perspective to offer. So I find that I learn a lot from my fellow students at the dining tables, in class, outside class, in late-night hallway conversations. Unlike the Ivies and elite small liberal arts colleges, no one simply bought their way in; everyone earned their place here. So there is a community of trust that has developed because everyone has something to offer, so most people here are past "high school" social drama. People here simply respect each other, which is a reflection of a good maturity.

The UChicago Paradox: The Normal Don't Fit In.

I think that OMSA (office of multicultural affairs) does a great job of making students of different races feel welcome and feel supported. They do an excellent job. I do not know much about religion on campus: but I heard they just hired a new person as some sort of spiritual leader. There is gay community, but you kind of need to actively seek it to find it. And I've heard it's relatively small compared to some other campuses: but I haven't heard of any gay-hate crimes and I find the community pretty welcoming. Most students wear jeans and a tshirt to class: but many students have their own unique style and it's really quite unfair to categorize it like that. You will find almost every type of person here if you look hard enough. I don't think many "different types" of students interact much: but I feel that that is how it's going to be everywhere. There are definitely some politically aware/active students on campus and I would say the campus is predominantly left.

I don't really think that you can define the student body in any sort of category. There are as many different groups as you could think of. I have often felt that people who thought they could never find someone with the same interests as them came to Chicago and found a group of them.

We have a mostly "alternative" student body. Those who try to fit in with the normal view of college students (ie, football players) are marginalized. Here, it's the smart people who are popular. It's definitely a liberal campus, but most colleges are. I love the house system. You make friends first with the people with whom you live. It's great to have a family away from home.

A lot of the extra-curricular activities that I'm involved with on campus are cultural-based. For example I am a member of the Organization of Black Students and I am a part of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs Student Advisory Board. My experiences have been very positive with these two groups and I find that as a student of color it is important to have a support system at a mostly white institution. Most students don't care what they wear to class, as some where pajamas.

To try and bring the bitter reality of this school home, I'd like to mention that I personally know one first year who left first quarter, two people that are transfering, two that are taking a year off to rethink this whole place and whether they want to be here. Furthermore, I would say that most of the people that I like most here (10 or 15 people) definitely wish they had never come here. Also, look at the statistics. The University has by far the lowest retention rate among other schools of its caliber.

There are no assholes here. you begin to really see what is estimable in people, with social niceties left to the side. people really care about learning, theory, and humility, i think. There is a very specific sort of person who makes this place tick. if you care deeply about defensible learning, not just jumping into radical theories for their own sake, if you have a respect for the origin of things, you're on your way.