<p>The quality of the students and the teaching will be quite different at Temple vs. U. Chicago or Midd. It’s not just prestige----it’s everything at a top notch school vs. one that isn’t. Between U. Chicago and Midd I don’t think it’s that obvious. Chicago is great, but she should really examine the core requirements to make sure she’s comfortable with them. And actually “work hard play hard” is applied to schools like Middlebury more than to Chicago. The “playing” usually means partying on the weekends. At Chicago, although it has supposedly changed some, the “playing” sounds like it’s more intellectual— discussing books and plays etc. You’ll see on the U. Chicago boards that the whole “where fun goes to die” thing is misleading and outdated, but there are different types of fun and she should examine which she wants. Also, go to admitted student days. It can help with the nervousness.</p>