<p>Okay, what I mean is that I enjoy learning a lot. I mean I really like talking about things like string theory, consciousness and the mind, metaphysics, especially anything related to biology. And a lot of my friends are like that, they are really intelletual type of people who read a lot and stuff. BUT, I have heard that:
1. Nobody ever leaves there room, they are locked inside of it studying. I am not one for study whores. I mean when I think of an intellectual I think of someone who not only studies and reads a lot, but also TALKS to others about such stuff. I'm just making sure that people actually talk with each other a lot about such stuff
2. Although I do like learning, there are many times I like to just chill with fiends and talk about stuff that isn't so important.Y'know, typical college ki stuff, and like go to the movies...like normal kids...does that happen here?
3. Many kids are white elitists....Okay, I'm brown and like to think down-to-earth. Are there other brown kids there? Any diversity? Are they really elitists? </p>
<p>There are some kids who never leave their rooms, I'm sure, but I don't know any of them (perhaps because they never leave their rooms...). Everyone I know goes out on weekends to the city or goes to the frats or stays in to watch a movie and hang out. There's not a lot of free time for most people during the week, but on the weekends most people loosen up and have a good time. </p>
<p>Some people here have a lot of intellectual conversations during meals or after class or whatever, but tons of people rarely talk about class outside of class. I don't particularly like having deep conversations with my friends outside of class. Other kids love it. Overall people here are intelligent, clever, a little dorky, and always interesting. People have different ideas of what to do for fun, but there are tons of people who will want to do what you like to do.</p>
<p>It's like a lot of places, I think. Some people are white elitists (or elitists of a number of other races). I'm very down to earth, and I think a good number of my friends are, too. There isn't tons of diversity, but my friends include Latinas, Indians, Blacks, etc. My humanities class is probably half white and half everything else.</p>
<p>I don't know about diversity numbers wise, but because of the strenuousness and self-selecting qualities of the university, I would probably call the U of C the LEAST elitist out of all the top 15 universities. Why? There are far fewer kids choosing Chicago because mommy and daddy went there, because they are heavily recruited star athletes, because they are priviliged and have been planning to go to U of C since the age of 9, or because mommy and daddy are wealthy and donated a $5 million new building. Not all of these are always bad things, but let's face it: most kids choose U of C not for it's elite rankings or athletic programs or elite social networks, they want to work their butts off, live the life of the mind, and get the best education possible rather than just get INTO the "best" ranked school.</p>
<p>again, nobody's asking you to be an intellectual superhero all the time here. Some people limit their intellectuality to class and schoolwork, others kind of take it around with them. I have been witness to enough conversations about James Bond, the Chicago Bears, and cockroaches to know that Chicagoans can be stupid when they want to be.</p>
<p>On Fridays and Saturdays, you can always find a good time, however you may define that.</p>
<p>I took a class at U-Chi this past summer and I was shocked by the abundance of normal people. There were eight other students and none of them were total nerds. Similarly, a friend's brother said he was able to handle playing baseball despite the workload, while maintaining a social life.</p>
<p>On the other hand, a recent graduate I know swears that every student studies on Friday night. She said that there was so much reading that it ruined her eyesight and now she wears glasses.</p>
<p>It really depends how ambitious you are. If you take the hardest courses possible, you'll have trouble leaving your dorm. If not, it will be slightly more difficult than another school (i.e. Cornell, Georgetown).</p>
<p>thats good to know. i'm so suprised that there are so many smart kids in a school that has such as a high acceptance rate. I mean according to collegeboard its 40 percent. its the only school in the top 10 that is not like uber selective as far as admissions. but then, i hear most of the ppl are pretty damn smart, how does that work out</p>
<p>omgz i kno right? like, how can it be, that there are liek, smart kids, at liek, at school with more than leik, -253 percent admissions rate. it's liek, crzy.</p>
<p>wort. one werd:un-common application. UChicago in't like the common app schools, where you apply to schools you want to go to, and 20 other schools that are similar, just because you can. I guess since it isn't as (a little bit of me dies as I type this word) "prestigious" as let's say; Harvard, less kids are apt to apply to it. BUT THE KIDS WHO DO APPLY, REALLY WANT TO GO THERE! (like me) I guess "life of the mind" is attractive to intelligent individuals, that's why the kids who go there are "pretty damn smart". GO VONNEGUT GO!</p>
<p>Yeah, a lot of people are probably pretty turned off by the crazy essay prompts and such. Plus, not a lot of people have heard of it, so... yes.</p>
<p>"Yeah, a lot of people are probably pretty turned off by the crazy essay prompts and such. Plus, not a lot of people have heard of it, so... yes."</p>
<p>See, thats what I don't get, if Chiacgo is such as good school, then why haven't more people heard of it. For example, JHU is a good school, and is even rated lower than Chicago, but more people seem to have heard of it. i mean i just don't get why a top school like Chicago is not heard of as much?</p>
<p>Huh... now that I think about it, it is pretty weird. I guess it's well-known in the Midwest, but where I live, most people haven't even heard of it, or think it's a state school or something. Maybe because it doesn't have as many grad students? ...I have no idea.</p>
<p>Pulkit, Chicago also is known for it's grade DEFLATION, in other word you have to work HARD for your grades, unlike some Ivy's, where, if you get in, the rest is reletively easy sailing. That is one reason why you don't have hordes of kids applying it Chicago. That plus the pretty brutal weather at times, the common app. the core ,all serve to filter out most students who don't REALLY want to work hard and LOVE to learn.</p>
<p>Uh, I think Chicago is pretty prestigious. OK, so maybe the average Joe is unfamiliar with the school, but a degree from Chicago is sure to get you a job anywhere you want. That's not always the reason a person applies there, but it is always a factor at top schools.</p>
<p>no school will just get you a job anywhere you want, but i think what he meant to say is that it is a prestigious school in the academic sphere, and combined with hard work will be just as good for success as other top schools like HYMPS and ivies</p>
<p>hmmm...why isn't chicago more heard of than it is? </p>
<p>well because its a very special school. only a few students would be interested in it. the rest might know its a good school but wouldn't want to go. they wouldn't be able to take it.</p>
<p>i have people telling me: you're going to chicago? wow you must be a little bit crazy. so stressful and so difficult! </p>