University of Chicago Top Questions

Uchicago is a place that is all about the life of the mind. You see students walking around holding great texts in their hand, readily able to discuss whatever at an intellectual level. The atmosphere is pretty serious, but there is also a sort of "resistance troop." This troop consists basically of the same 200 people you see at every single frat party. Although every student is religiously academic, and every student is extremely unique; i.e. every person has a very interesting story about what has led them to the school, what they have done before they came here. But there people here who are extremely friendly, and equally smart as those who are not friendly, who make the school's atmosphere much nicer.

UChicago has amazing faculty (my Gen Chem professor is on the list for next year's Nobel Prize candidates, my econ teacher is a Nobel Laureate, etc.) and great facilities. I'm a sciences major, and UChicago has great teaching labs. I've seen a lot of labs at other schools, and 98{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} aren't half as nice as the UChicago labs. Some areas around campus are sketchy, but there are really nice spots and I never feel in danger really. They have great security. I spend a lot of time in coffee shops, there are, like, 18 student-run coffee shops on campus. There is a lot of school pride, but not for sports really. UChicago sports are kind of a joke, to be honest.

Chicago is a fantastic city, and the University of Chicago can only be as fantastic as you make it. It's not an easy place to go to school, but if you're willing to put a lot of work into it, it's an incredibly rewarding place. There are a variety of reactions to people hearing that I go to the University of Chicago: 1. "UIC?" (NO!) 2. confused look 3. impressed look. People who know the school and can differentiate it from the U of I know its superb academic reputation, but it's a pretty well-kept secret to a lot of people. Once discovered, it's full of bizarre quirky people and places. My favorite spots on campus with my favorite people are the student-run coffee shops, of which we have many; sitting and relaxing or sitting and stressing with a cup of tea and a friend and a couch is a daily experience and one that I relish. The administration is largely unseen as far as I'm concerned. One can be involved in the running of the university as one wants, and I'm content to make my own way. School pride is self-deprecating at best. We have only one t-shirt with a positive slogan on it. And yet the kids keep coming back. Almost everyone considers transferring at some point, or several points, and many take time off (I'm sure at a higher rate than at other schools), but the overwhelming majority graduate and from what I've heard, though I have yet to do it, feel completely satisfied by their experience here.

This school is just as hard, if not harder, than people tell you it is. When I tell people I go here they say, "Oh gosh, Chicago is so hard." They're absolutely right. There are NO easy classes here. The easiest core classes are more intense than other colleges' specialized classes in the same fields. Buckle up.

What I love about the University of Chicago is that it's okay to get enthusiastic about the things that were uncool in high school. This is not to say that all of my friends share my enthusiasm for 19th century British social customs or particularly tech-savvy stage lighting equipment, but I've never felt dismissed for being interested in those things. Plus, more often than not, the person you're talking to is equally interested in some related dorky thing.

i really think everyone would benefit if there were more attractive people on campus. this school is fucking depressing as far as sex drive goes. also, more people with social skills.

The U of C (it actually prefers to be called Chicago – but that’s a recent development) is a great place to learn. The U of C, as an institution and as a community, genuinely supports and encourages the “life of the mind.” If you’re honestly interested in getting a great education and really challenging yourself the U of C offers countless opportunities to do so. Great class selection. Great professors. Small classes (except for most of the entry level science classes). Beautiful gothic campus (some say all that grey stone and gargoyles are depressing – but I loved it). The one thing I’d change about the school is the location. The campus is located in Hyde Park in the south side of Chicago, and while the campus itself is relatively safe and clean, the surrounding neighborhood is not (though it is getting better). Now, don’t get me wrong, Chicago is a great city, and there are a lot of great things about Hyde Park (local dive bars and restaurants), but I did feel a little isolated living there (though some of this was self-inflicted). The class advisors were cool as was the rest of the administration. One experience I remember was getting grilled in class on a book I hadn't read (I joined the class late and didn't realize we had a reading assignment). I tried to fake my way through it but the professor wasn't buying it. He eventually left me off the hook only to come back to me the following week and grill me about another book. This time I was prepared and it went really well. Months later when I went to turn in my final exam he shook my hand and told me it was a pleasure having me in the class. Sort of a "Paper Chase" (it's a movie) type moment that led to a happy ending.

The University of Chicago is the best thing in the world if it's what you're looking for. The academics are rigorous and you're going to work a lot; at the same time, you meet people here that you simply wouldn't meet anywhere else (for better or, less commonly, for worse.) People are definitely proud, not only of the top-notch rankings but of the unique character. It also benefits hugely from the proximity to Chicago. For all the stereotypes of neckbeards in Star Trek t-shirts, campus is full of fashion-minded people, hipsters, clove-smoking intellectuals (who often have substantive things to say!) Campus is loaded with people of all races, backgrounds, orientations, etc... tight-knit communities of musicians, theater folks, film people. There are some real tensions between the admin and students, although it doesn't filter down to the undergrads so much as it does the graduate students, and it's the usual stuff - funding, housing etc.

The architecture is the best thing; I'd change the insane cost of tuition, the school is just right, people generally don't know what U Chicago is; the library; what college town, the administration is alright, the biggest recent controversy was keeping Coke on campus, there is not much school pride, its unusually cold at U Chicago, one experience I'll always remember is getting free food at the Medici for proxying for my friend who was in student government; the most frequent complaints are that the school is too hard

Well... when I tell people I go to the University of Chicago.. they think I go to UIC. And I don't. So I spend a lot of time trying to quell that myth. People either know the U of C and know how great it is, or they're oblivious. One thing I have never known is what our mascto really is... We're the Maroons, we have a phoenix logo, there are gargoyles all over campus, and I saw a person in an armadillo suit at some sporting events... Soooo what exactly our mascot is is as mysterious as the food at BJ... I absolutely love the U of C, and it really has taught me how to think, but sometimes I feel like the administration is trying too hard to make it like any other school (getting rid of the Uncommon Application, changing the website the way it did, etc.). We were rated #9 overall and best undergrad. academic experience for a reason! Don't try to acclimate yourselves into the melee when you're outstanding! Be proud of it!