Hello, I am an incoming senior and I was wondering about these for applications as I know both are literature-heavy humanities schools. Thank you!
As a student who just had to choose between these two schools a week ago, I’ll try and answer this question. Obvious differences include Columbia’s location in Manhattan versus UChicago’s location well south of the center of Chicago and Columbia’s supposed “prestige” as an Ivy amongst the general public versus UChicago’s lesser-known name amongst the same public. Obvious similarities include the selectivity of both schools and their literature/humanities-based cores (as you mentioned). However, something I noticed was that UChicago aims to provide a more theoretical, academic education to its students while Columbia’s tends to become more career-oriented. Additionally, I got that feeling that internships were far more common and easy to manage during the school year at Columbia (of course, this is due to its location in the heart of NYC). Hope that was somewhat helpful!
Yes, thank you very much! @mattyhan How would you say that Columbia’s is more career-oriented?
I’d agree that Columbia is more career-oriented in that it has better resources and recruitment to land you internships and jobs in NYC. Along these lines, its courses would attempt to prepare you for these offerings more so than a more theoretical school like uChicago.
The students attracted to the two schools are also different. I’d generally classify the UChic students as more interested in nerdy granular data than Columbia. Like, both campuses attract super smart kids, and intellectual, but their interests are different. Maybe this is what people mean by “theoretical” and “career” oriented in above comments. We might be saying the same thing with different words. But to my mind the Chicago students I have known are super interested in factoids per se. Like if it’s a fact or cool in some intellectual way, this is the Chicago relatively geeky granular style. Columbia students as a rule have less of that, although I personally don’t think of Columbia as very career oriented. I’ve heard it mentioned, as a gross generalization but still a truism, that Columbia “doesn’t teach anything practical.” Obviously this is wrong because CS department, writing, geology, chemistryetc. But the idea expressed with that truism is that learning for learning’s sake is the norm and if you want to then go on to professional school, that’s the proper place for more practical endeavors.
So to my mind, both schools are intellectual, but in very different ways. Chicago being more data-fascinated, and clearly Columbia students use data to support points but the data itself isn’t going to warrent the “oh cool!” reactions that you’d get from a Chicago-type person. This is my opinion only! I’m sure there are others with different opinions that are also correct.
Thank you@ @Dustyfeathers @DeeperBlue25 If you chose between attending these, which would you choose?
Chicago has always been [quietly] known as the U where students are forced to learn how to think, and where future professors go to college, i.e the U to go if you want an academic career, vrs a career outside of academia. There is a reason that U of Chicago is famous for its emphasis on " the life of the mind" vrs most other U’s or colleges.
So the question is- so you see your self as a being a life long learner? or someone who wants to get a great Liberal arts education in order to be well prepared for life after college?
Both colleges will prepare you for careers - the question is where will you fit better?
@belindakoboi Really it depends on what you personally are looking for and what your interests are. I’ve known lots and lots of people at both. Many relatives at both. This is primarily where my information comes from. That being said, all I can know is what I’ve seen.
I disagree gently with @menloparkmom when she implies that you’d have a better chance at an academic career out of Chicago than Columbia (forgive me if I’m not interpreting your comment correctly). Both universities produce amazing academics (as in the profession). You can’t go wrong with either.
If you’re going to ignore your preference of cities and weather and campuses, I’d look deeply at who’s teaching what you’re interested in. Look at their research, how available they seem, how active they are currently (they may be on faculty but not productive currently and so not available to mentor you as a student). I’d sit in on classes.
You can’t go wrong at either school. In terms of prestige, Chicago is definitely considered among the Ivies that are outside of the athletic group.
I would also consider the location. Chicago is a great and wonderful city, often overlooked by either coast. Gorgeous architecture, art, food, nice people. New York is, well, New York. To my mind it offers access to things that are simply less available in the middle of the country. Basically in addition to the various industries there (arts, media, Wall St., international orgs, etc.) virtually everyone stops through NY at some point. And since Columbia is so prominent, many automatically try to schedule a visit. You can meet or see that many more people, not just famous people, but people who are prominent in the field that you want to enter. Check out who’s giving talks in the departments of both schools.
That being said, I would personally tell my kids to go to the school where they find the Mentor of their Dreams. Mentoring in the form of someone who will guide your research/ studies and entry into the next step of your career, is to my mind more important than the name of the school, location or what others my consider important. The world of academia is small and is competitive. There are excellent professors at teensie schools in places people don’t often consider on CC. Why? Because getting a job in academia is so hard. Why then do I say that academia is small? Because the professors across the disciplines know who’s doing interesting work. Prof. Neguchi will collaborate with Prof. Smith regardless of the institution each is in, if each feels that the other is doing good work. You as a student could work with either colleague. Your mentor can introduce you to the other who perhaps is in the more prominent school. In other words, maybe neither Chicago nor Columbia is right for you. Your mentor may be at a third institution. You are young and maybe haven’t chosen a major yet or maybe your intended major may change, but you should do your best to see what sort of guidance and mentoring might be available at your school of choice by looking at the departments and professors. You can figure out with whom they collaborate by looking at their research papers.
In the end, what will make or break your career is you. Your work and your imagination make the difference. Having a charming personality also helps! I’m sure that you have all three factors. That plus a little luck and you’re on your way. Best of luck
@Dustyfeathers Thank you so much for your response! It is really helpful!