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<p>Urban Legend stuff. Chicago goes out of its way to not release average GPA information, but I can share two data points with you: 2/3 of June 2008 grads graduated with honors, telling us that the average GPA is well above 3.25. How much higher depends on whether you want to assume a normal curve for GPA distribution and such. The other thing to keep in mind is that by any rational measure, UofC undergrads do as well in med school admissions as grads of any other elite college. </p>
<p>The “fun goes to die” statement is an inside joke. Truth is UofC undergrads by and large consider learning to be part of the fun and don’t think of their hard work as drudgery. </p>
<p>The key is that the OP needs to think carefully about culture and fit. Any of the schools mentioned can provide a first rate education to anyone, but the differences among the schools mentioned are huge - urban versus subburban/rural; greek versus not; and so forth. Think about these things first.</p>