Can you explain UChicago?

[Marshfrog]

<p>This is not a "I hate UChi and here is why" post-just curious as to why a lot of people say that it's "where fun goes to die", or "like unprotected sex, glad you got in, but sorry you came" (I know)
It seems to me like a phenomenal school, but I don't know why it has this reputation.
Can you explain it to me?</p>

[smwhtslghtlydzed]

<p>Well it has a reputation of being really intense, and that’s just not right for most people. Many students flourish in a rigorous, intense academic environment, and that’s why it’s such a good school, but the majority of students wouldn’t like the environment, which is why it gets a reputation for being kind of sad, because while I would guess most of the people there are happy, many many people wouldn’t be happy going there.</p>

[chrome16]

<p>lol I would like to hear a UChicago current student/alum comment on this. Of course UChicago has a rigorous curriculum and a large core, but what makes it more rigorous than, say Princeton or Duke?</p>

[tpavone]

<p>UChicago students pride themselves on the rigors of their curriculum, and it’s a love-hate relationship. The school does not grade inflate like other top schools (cough…Harvard) so it’s difficult to get a high GPA. On the other hand, class size is very small and the atmosphere is grounded in intellectualism and the life of the mind. The “where fun goes to die” expression is largely outdated; thirty years ago, Chicago freshman retention rates were concerningly low (50-60%). Now, 98% of freshman stay to continue their studies- making Chicago one of the top 10 schools in the country for freshman retention rates. So, if you’re into nerding out, learning from top faculty, and don’t care that the football team leaves much to be desired, this is the place for you</p>

[artloversplus]

<p>EVERY YEAR, this question will have to be brought up! Never failed. Its been discussed to death in the U of C section here on CC and here is THIS year’s thread.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1182827-does-fun-come-die-here.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1182827-does-fun-come-die-here.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Another popular question is: Is it Safe…</p>

<p>Well, guys, please do some search before spill it here…</p>

[warblersrule]

<p>

@tpavone

The school does not grade inflate like other top schools (cough…Harvard) so it’s difficult to get a high GPA.

This has been much discussed. </p>

<p>See these posts:

@newmassdad

What grade deflation? Two years ago, when my D graduated, if I recall correctly, something like 60% of the students graduated with honors. I know because I counted during the long convocation ceremony. 60% over 3.25 GPA implies an average well over that, probably in the 3.3 - 3.4 range. </p>

<p>Getting a 3.9 is tough. UofC is not Harvard…maybe more like Pton in its grading.

@JHS

Has grade inflation come to UChicago? For years, someone or other has been counting the number of people getting general honors at spring convocation. General honors requires a GPA of 3.25 or higher (i.e., B+), and a certain number of quality grades that I’ve never heard of anyone falling below. Two years ago, and the two years before that, about 60-65% of the spring graduates had general honors. This year, it was way higher than that – about 75%. I used to estimate that the median GPA at Chicago was somewhere between 3.3 and 3.4, and there was other data to confirm that, but I think that’s probably too low now.

@Cue7

THEN: Rumor was, for the class of 1996 or 1997, the average GPA was around a 2.9 or 3.0. Sure, you had the academic superstars going on to MD/PhD programs at Harvard and winning Rhodes Scholarships (there were 3 my year), but lots of kids just could not hack it when faced with a faculty that first, believed in enforcing the fabled Chicago rigor and, second, generally had exposure to the higher overall level of academic talent found at Harvard, Yale, MIT, etc. Yes, Chicago students struggled.</p>

<p>NOW: I think this needs to be empasized: I believe that now, CHICAGO DOES NOT HAVE GRADE “DEFLATION”. Do they do this to the extent of a Brown or Dartmouth? (See my previous threads for links to the rampant grade inflation at these schools.) NO. Everyone is not getting As, and 90% of the U of C student body is not graduating with honors. At the same time, as seen above, my sense is that grades have crept up as the incoming classes have increased in strength, and now, again, students are more content with the result of their labor at Chicago. While 8 years ago, the average GPA might have been around a 3.0, now, I’d imagine it’s around a 3.3-3.4 (behind the 3.5 or so average at Chicago’s peer schools, but not by much at all).

</p>