<p>A short question that would take a long answer. :-)</p>
<p>The short answer is UChicago is the ultimate "intellectual" liberal arts experience - explore, experiment, find yourself, study classics. CMU, for the most part, is the ultimate profesional training education (in certain fields such as electrical engineering, theatre, computer science, music) - no place for trying things to see if you might like it, but superbly prepared for work upon graduation.</p>
<p>BTW, the 2 schools are in the same sports league (w/ Case Western, WashUStL, URochester, NYU, Emory, & Brandies).</p>
<p>I recommend you read up on the schools in these 2 books:</p>
<p>"The Insiders Guide to the Colleges 2005" Yale Daily News and</p>
<p>"Choosing the Right College, The Whole Truth about America's Top Schools" ISI Books.</p>
<p>For student life, read these reviews:</p>