<p>I know that for many people this decision wouldn't require much thought, but there are a lot of things about Chicago that I like.
Professor accessibility and an intellectual student body are two of the things that, from what I've heard, Chicago wins.
There is a thread like this on the Chicago forum, but (as one would expect!) most of the answers have been pro-Chicago - so I figured I'd post it here and see what the other side says.
Any feedback is appreciated. I've made a lot of threads here lately, and everyone has been extremely helpful. (:</p>
<p>I’ll take a stab at your query. I have a child who graduated from H and know some folks who graduated from Chicago. My knowledge base is thus not entirely balanced between the two.
chicago: The common core makes for great discussions inside and outside the classroom setting, giving Chicago a strong intellectual atmosphere that schools without such a core cannot match. Also, there is a strong theoretical bend among the social sciences faculty which spills over into the curriculum and the way profs teach.
The quarter system makes for greater intensity, as one quarter follows another, exams seem to come at a much more rapid rate.
I gather than Chicago has made great strides in making the neighborhood safer, but it does not match Boston/Cambridge in terms of things for students to do.
Harvard:I had reservations about the Core and am not sold on the new Gen Ed curriculum. The faculty could not agree on whether to impose a real Chicago-style core or just a distribution requirement. The upshot is that students are limited in the way they can fulfill their Gen Ed requirements but do not have the shared knowledge base that makes conversations so great at Chicago.
The upside is that students can fulfill their requirements over four years and not in lockstep. Students at Harvard are passionate about their ECs, and this is likely going to be their topic of conversations outside class. Some ECs are competitive (eg. The Crimson) but most are not, and you can always create a new organization (there are more than 300). There’s also lots of performances that do not cost much to attend (about $10) and various restaurants right on your doorstep. If you are interested in current affairs, there are always speakers coming through.
Although Harvard is experiencing financial difficulties, funding continues to be available for all sorts of student activities whether locally or abroad.
Either Harvard or Chicago is a great school; it’s a matter of your personal preferences. Good luck!</p>