Ok so I was accepted to UChicago early action and I recently received a likely letter from Columbia. My dream school has been Columbia since I can remember. That being said, when I visited UChicago I loved it. It was unlike any other college I had ever seen, and Columbia was temporarily thrown off of its pedestal. After receiving admission to UChicago, I was nearly positive that was where I wanted to go, but the likely letter from Columbia has shaken things up again (though this whole freak-out might be a little premature since it’s only a LIKELY letter, but I like having plans).
As a school, I think I like UChicago better, but New York City is basically heaven to me. I’ve wanted to live there since I was little. I’m from New Jersey, so going I would still have a support system if I went to Columbia. If I went to UChicago, I would be journeying alone into Chiberia. Both of these options have their good and bad sides. I’m not sure what I want to study yet, so I can’t really compare specific academic programs. Overall, what do you think would be the better choice?
Have you visited Columbia? Could you do the admitted students’ day there?
yes I’ll probably do that but I also spent 3 weeks at a summer program there during the summer after my sophomore year so I have a pretty good feel for it
You have two great choices, and the schools aren’t that dissimilar, both being in a major city and having a strong core curriculum. One thing to think about is how much you plan to take advantage of NYC, which you say is “heaven” to you. When my S was at Columbia he often went off campus, to museums, concerts, street fairs etc. For him and many of his classmates, that was an important part of the college experience. If you’re not someone who wants to do that, then I would say to go to Chicago since you say you loved it so much, which despite being in a major city, is a bit more campus-centered than is Columbia.
Both are comparable universities, but I would favor the school located in the city you want to live in after graduating.
Also think about whether you want to be on a semester system or trimester system, because I believe the schools differ in that regard.
And although UChicago is technically in Chicago, it is on the south side, miles away from the downtown area, so think about whether you care that you’d have to hop on a train to get there, versus being in the midst of the city.
^ Chicago alumni and Columbia alumni live and work all over the country, and to a lesser extent all over the world, after they graduate. So perhaps the place you prefer to live in for the next 4 years should be a bigger factor than your post-graduation life plans.
UChicago has a mid-sized campus that generates much of its own social life and entertainment (as many college campuses do). It is fairly removed (not only by distance but by winter weather) from downtown attractions. So don’t expect it to empty out on weekend evenings (as I’ve heard Columbia tends to do). To me, this is a good thing. However, if you really enjoy all the attractions of big city life, you might prefer Columbia and Manhattan.
Another difference, which may affect the undergraduate atmosphere, is that Chicago has one and only one “College” with its own fairly distinct identity. Columbia University has 4 undergraduate degree-granting entities: Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, the School of General Studies, and Barnard College. Chicago’s governance model, as well as its urban geography, may tend to create a somewhat more cohesive esprit de corps among undergraduate students. Although I think both universities attract many very independent souls (and neither generates the sis-boom-bah “school spirit” some people crave.)
Depends on the debt your taking on.
I am in exactly the same situation. Columbia might be marginally better in terms of placements and “prestige”, if that matters to you. However, I wish to major in econ and academia may be right down my street. And hence, Chicago is not easy to let go off. So, I guess it has got to do more with your career plans.
Although, I’ve heard that Columbia is colder and more extroverted than UChicago, and Chicago winters are harsher!
By “colder” I mean more impersonal.
@Ambitious27 this thread is from last year 
@insanedreamer Haha! My bad! My mind is still stuck in 2015 ;