<p>w.t.f. there is no way a 3.3 from Chicago is equal to a 3.8 from Harvard. I wouldn’t listen to this piece of information-I can guarantee that it’s simply not true. </p>
<p>The closest estimate I’ve heard is that a 3.3 ish is equivalent to about a 3.5 from Harvard (and this is coming from the director of the Econ department so he would be more of a reliable source than an undergrad).</p>
<p>Blw923,
This is splam’s thread and I’m sure he’ll respond thoughtfully, but your question #1 brought back a memory of the single thing that most convinced me, as a parent, that UChicago would be a wonderful destination for our son – more so even than Yale, long his favorite and apparent best fit among the pantheon of the elites – should the school and he choose each other. Let me tell you a story.</p>
<p>During his junior year (high school) spring break, we ventured west from NY to check out the top mid-western schools, and were at UChicago for the usual tour and information session, having already been to WashU (whole family really liked it) and Northwestern (a fine school, but “meh” for my son). The UC tour and tour guide were wonderful, the info session uninspired and uninspiring, which left us with mixed feelings. But then the session was followed by a student panel, the members of which made brief opening statements and then threw it open for questions.</p>
<p>The kids were poised, engaging, articulate, clearly intelligent, and quick on their feet. And they had the self-confidence and presence of mind to interact with each other around their answers, and not just respond during their “turn” to an audience question, as I had seen at similarly intentioned student panels at other schools during our college visits. They would have done any school proud. </p>
<p>Obviously, I can’t speak for the 200 or so people in attendance, but you could feel the chemistry clicking in the hall; the student panel had made believers of us. Then this happened . . . Someone tossed out the obligatory question “tell us what you don’t like or what you would change about the University of Chicago.” One of the panelists grabbed the question, a kid named William. Honestly, he said, I can’t think of anything [pause] except maybe the weather. I’m from Miami, and it can get really cold here. Turning to face William, Isra pipes up (or was it Isma, and why do I still remember their names?) – William, don’t be such a wimp. I’m from Saudi Arabia and if I can handle Chicago winters, so can you. You’ve got to embrace the season and enjoy it. Go skating on the Midway. Get into a snowball fight. Winter isn’t just cold, it’s cool. </p>
<p>You had to have been there, I guess. The story loses in translation, but it was that single exchange that convinced me as a parent that UChicago was the place I’d most like to see our son spend his college years, hanging with kids like the ones on that panel. Fortunately, he and the university felt likewise. So, Blw923, get yourself a decent coat, hat, and pair of gloves for when you need them, and let yourself enjoy the pleasures of the season, from the fireplace in the Reynolds Club and a hot chocolate at Hallowed Grounds (or any one of the umpteen campus coffee shops), to ice skating on the Midway rink. If you’re feeling hardy and up for a challenge, there’s also Kuvia/Kangeiko, a weeklong mid-winter dawn ordeal of calisthenics and yoga as the price for seeing the sun rise over Lake Michigan. Then you get a T-shirt. </p>
<p>Apologies, splam, for highjacking your thread. Back over to you.</p>
<p>Hi there, I’m deciding whether I should attend UChicago as I’ve heard many things about harsh weather conditions. Coming from the South, I’m not used to cold winters but I suppose I can get used to it… in your opinion, did you find it hard getting used to the harsh weather?</p>
<p>Thank You so much spike9! :)</p>
<p>^@spike9 [like]</p>
<p>@spike9:
AHAHAHA your son must be in my year!!!
I remember that day and the info session!
Her name is indeed Isra, not Isma, and she was quite funny. I’ve talked to her a few times on campus actually but she graduated in 3 years and is no longer here.
And I believe the word she used was “weenie” and not “wimp.” 
</p>
<p>Also another interesting comment from the student panel was in response to a question about Chicago’s essay topics. The optional essay was just to write about your favorite things, like books, movies, etc. I forgot who, but someone in the panel said that this question “is such a simple one, but yet, such a good one. Because when you first meet someone, you don’t ask them, ‘What is your greatest triumph over adversity?’ (laughter from audience) but what their interests are.”</p>
<p>Blw923,
You’re most welcome. If my little anecdote was useful for you, I’m glad</p>
<p>Thank you, mam</p>
<p>Smart man-horse,
Remarkable! Yeah, he’s ’14. I’ll defer to your memory – I’m sure it’s more accurate than mine. But whether wimp or weenie, the moment was priceless, I thought.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1328136-concerts-student-life-uc.html#post14260508[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1328136-concerts-student-life-uc.html#post14260508</a></p>
<p>I really want an insiders scoop on this. Thank you!!</p>
<p>While I’m going to be attending UChicago as a freshman in the fall, I can vouch for Chicago weather since I’ve lived here all my life. The worst part of the weather isn’t just that it can get cold: Chicago weather is horribly unpredictable. </p>
<p>For example: a year ago in February, we had Snowpocalypse. There was more snow than buildings. While it was crazy during the storm, I will admit that I enjoyed the 6+ ft snow drifts. This summer, it barely snowed. Maybe 10 days in total, I don’t know. However, a few weeks ago, it was in the 80s. Now it’s in the 60s. </p>
<p>So yeah, unpredictable. You get used to the cold and there are lots of cool activities to do (snowball fights, skating, etc.), and Chicago heats up during this time and can be very enjoyable. Just my 2 cents. While I’m not a huge fan of the weather, having visited Cali and NY a ton, I still think Chicago is one of the best cities in the world.</p>
<p>Just a quick question --are the community bathrooms at MacLean coed?</p>
<p>
Ouch! :P</p>
<p>how generous is the financial aid for internationals? i really need the aid if ever i apply to a school in the US…</p>
<p>^The financial aid is the same “generous” for all admitted students. The only difficulty for internationals is getting accepted in the first place as UChicago is not need blind for internationals. Once you’re in, the aid will be determined regardless of the fact you’re international.</p>
<p>Wow, thank you all for answering all these questons!!! I actually do have a few of my own.
<p>And lastly, I’m going to visit the campus in 2 weeks-any tips on what to see other than the campus tour and info session?</p>
<p>Thank you soooooooo much!!</p>
<p>Try by all means to visit Rockefeller Chapel and go to the top of the tower. On a clear day the view is magnificent. They may even have the carillon tour.</p>
<p>
I don’t know the answer to all of these questions, and it’s not my thread, but since the OP probably doesn’t check this out anymore I’ll give it a shot.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You probably aren’t going to get a good answer for this on CC, unless you try the graduate school forum. Then again, a lot of people are going to tell you that you shouldn’t worry about this until later in your college career, and they’re probably right.</p></li>
<li><p>Majors definitely get taken into account in consideration with the rest of your application. If you have a lot of accomplishments in physics, for example, it might benefit you to say you want to be a physics major rather than a political science major (unless you have work in political stuff as well). I think it’s easy to overstate this impact, though. Colleges want to see demonstrated interest to back up stated interest, but they also recognize that many people have dynamic interests and, more often than not, will change their decided major. </p></li>
<li><p>There are definitely a lot of groups that hang out together. Housemates, athletes on the same sports team, people who work at the same student cafe, members of the same RSO etc. University Theater is known for being particularly “cliche-y.” But I don’t think this is all that different from what you’d encounter at any other school. You’re going to hang out with a lot of people with similar interests and college experiences. However, you’ll never be excluded from hanging out with other people, either. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>As for things to do while you’re here:</p>
<p>Explore Hyde Park. You’ll be spending a lot of time here as a student and it’s a really great place. Go for a stroll (it’s quite beautiful), see the lake, and try out some of the better dining options (Z & H, Valois, Medici, Istria, Rajan Cajan etc.).</p>
<p>Visit some of the campus buildings that you won’t see on the tour. Try to get into a few academic buildings, Harper Library, Rockefeller Chapel, Logan Arts Center, the Oriental Institute etc.</p>
<p>Go to the Seminary Co-op Bookstore. It’s moving next year so this is one of your last chances to see it in its current location. Regardless, it is still one of the best academic bookstores in the world. </p>
<p>Visit another neighborhood in Chicago. Yes, you could go downtown, but you probably won’t spend a lot of time there as a student. Get tacos in Pilsen, check out the scene in Wicker Park or Bridgeport, see what’s on the North Side, maybe go to Chinatown. The other areas of Chicago have a lot to offer.</p>
<p>Couple glosses on dunbar’s helpful post:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>PhD programs rarely care about what your grades were in unrelated fields. They want you to have done well in your relevant courses – and even there, if you are a credible candidate they will pay attention to which actual courses you took, and what your story is. If you took a really challenging course, got a C in it, and the professor is recommending you based on work you did with him later, that’s better than an A in an introductory course.</p></li>
<li><p>Your intended major on the common application means next to nothing. If you have a bunch of accomplishments in physics, that will mean something, but it won’t mean you will be slotted as a physics major. I’m not certain the intended major even makes it into the summary sheets the admissions staff uses to make decisions. Of course, lots of people mention it in their essays, too. You could probably hurt yourself by saying you want to major in English, and being a terrible writer, or going on and on about how engineering or business is the only field for you (and Chicago doesn’t offer those as undergraduate majors).</p></li>
<li><p>UT may be cliquey, but it also has more students participating than any other organization, and only maybe 5% of them are majoring in theater. Anyone who wants in on that “clique” is welcome. My kids found friends in lots of different places. One of them never attended a single varsity athletic contest in four years at Chicago, and yet was good friends with the person who wore the Phoenix suit at all of them.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hi thanks for being here for us:)
if there is anything I really want to learn about, I want to know what do you think made UChicago choose you? Yeah I understand the good grades, nice test scores and extracurricular, but what is unique about you that Chicago loves about? what about you, except for grades, standard testing and extracurricular activities, managed to stand out among other applicants and shined??? personality-wise? or other factors???
Thanks a lot. I am dying to learn about the kind of students they are looking for</p>
<p>How liberal are the student body and the faculty, respectively? (with respect to general political views, but particularly the prominence of feminism and lgbtq activism?)</p>
<p>Additionally, I know that UChicago is famed for it its econ department; how difficult is it to major in econ here? How manageable would it be to double major with something like anthropology or environmental studies? What about an econ/math or econ/stats double major?</p>