I don't think I'd be a good fit for UChicago after all (Overnight Session).

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
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<p>My opinion would be that if you felt out of place in a visit, you’re a better judge than us. You are under absolutely no obligation to like UChicago; if you feel out-of-place, you may very well be out of place. </p>

<p>Now, I’ve spoken with a few students-to-be; to me they’re all completely normal and very nice. But if you feel that you just don’t click (or if you suspect strongly that you won’t), don’t take a risk if you feel it unnecessary or significant. Just remember that you have a perfectly valid reason for not wanting to go to Chicago: you believe that you don’t fit in as well as the admissions department would’ve thought. As long as you won’t regret the decision, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the replies guys.</p>

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<p>I’m not just talking about appearance - I know better than to do that. I’m talking about personalities and mannerisms, too. Which I guess isn’t much less superficial, but that’s just the vibe I got from the students.</p>

<p>I probably should have spent the night, thinking back. But I just wasn’t feeling comfortable. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don’t really care that much about the prestige (I think that’s what is really keeping me from crossing UChicago off my list…as arrogant as that may be), and that I’m not really <em>that</em> intellectual (heh).</p>

<p>I get the impression most UChicago students <em>enjoy</em> studying, and I’m going to be honest here, I don’t really…I do it because I know it’s worthwhile, but I’d much rather be doing anything else. ;)</p>

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<p>Man, this is really unfortunate. Of course, the decision is up to you and you have to do what feels right, but I certainly had a different experience than you. </p>

<p>Full disclosure: I feel like we are similar in our attitudes towards school and a social life. I just got back from the 22/23 weekend with a firm reassurance that Chicago has a great balance of work hard play hard (if thats what you are looking for). I definitely got the feeling that there are some very, very, school-only oriented kids there (by school-only, i mean kids whose lives revolve SOLELY around academics). But on the same hand, I met many people who were pretty social. </p>

<p>If you had stayed overnight, chances are you would have gone to the frat party that night, and would have left with the same reassurance I did: kids at Chicago can certainly get down. The prospies that were worried about the social scene at Chicago managed to find their way to the party. It was a very conventional College party, so for those that are worried, really rest assured, its there. It sucks that the visit and the impression you leave with can be so subjective. I was very worried that Chicago would live up to its reputation of being no fun, but it certainly did not. I am sure that whatever you are looking for, you will find. If you don’t want to party, there are tons of people that you can have a good time with. Likewise, if you like to party (like me), there is plenty of good time to be had.</p>

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<p>It is hard not to notice that some people complaining here about UChicago are HYPS rejects. Given their perfect or near perfect SAT scores they felt that admission to one of the top Ivys’s was their birthright. Now they are in a fix. UChicago is a brand name school alright but they have to work harder to maintain that blemishless GPA. When the ultimate goal is to get a degree from an Ivy, who cares for the so called education one gets at UChicago? Some worry about competition from them asian kids and look for possible courses in which native english speakers have a leg up. Disgusting!</p>

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<p>I’ll just say this:</p>

<p>Thursday afternoon, I was about ready to cry because I was not having a good time. At all. I thought all the other prospies were just way to immature/nerdy/jerks… then, I made a real effort to talk to my fellow prospies and I ended up really liking them. I talked to a bunch of current students, too, and they were all really nice. Some were the nerd-type, but that really isn’t a bad thing. Some were a bit more jock or hipster. It was a good mix of people and perspectives that was SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT from everything else that day. I definitely deviated from the typical prospie experience. I got the best sense of things by staying a couple nights in several different dorms with different kinds of people. I think the overnight experience can skew it to the extremes so prospies don’t see the balance between work and play. i know the people who were big party-ers in Max were working on a paper before and after going out. The people in South were studying for midterms (there’s a stereotype that South is all parties all the time). Everything that I thought I hated during the day on Thursday turned out to be false.</p>

<p>I’m really sorry you had a bad time. I know I had an amazing time (I mean, where else could you go to an apartment party in a high rise by the lake AND learn to pick locks/handcuffs (workshop…), all in the same 24 hours?). A lot of it is where you end up for the night, let alone what you do during the day. It seems like you really need to talk to people to get a good sense of things, as those information sessions are pretty bleached (as far as I could tell). There are good intentions… but you really need to sample a couple different groups and dorms before passing judgment.</p>

<p>If you want a “cool” environment, I would highly recommend south or max p. Max is amazing, and south is pretty great, too. It seems like there are a lot of more “normal” people in those dorms, and the facilities are nice (better shower in Max than at home). There are also so awesome smart people there, too.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t judge based only on the overnight sessions, or only on one dorm. Try it out a bit more. I hope you find the school that fits! I know I did.</p>

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<p>kitkatkatie, did you change your mind about dorms after this? Earlier, I got the impression that you couldn’t imagine living anywhere else but Snitchcock. Did you get a chance to checkout other dorm besides Max and South? Thanks for sharing your experience here.</p>

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<p>Okay, maybe this is a bit silly, but I definitely agree with everyone’s assertions that the people are very normal… but almost a bit too much? When I visited I found myself kind of thinking “where is the nerdiness?” because I’ll admit, one of the main reasons I applied was because I wanted a nerd school haha (I’m not a huge party person, I like learning, etc). So someone please reassure me! there are still nerds around, right? and those intense philosophical conversations still happen at 2am sometimes, right?</p>

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<p>imbri3:
You have nothing to worry about.</p>

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<p>Parent of a second year and a current EA admit still deciding…both of them chose to visit at times other than the Official Dog & Pony Show (and not just at Chicago, but at the other schools where they were accepted, too). </p>

<p>Advice: if you know someone attending a college you want to visit (or if the friend can arrange for you to stay with the friend of your friend), take advantage of that opportunity. It made for much more compatible and realistic visits. (Also made it easier to sit in on classes of specific interest, since inevitably someone on the hall was happy to take a S to one of their classes.) The admissions offices at colleges do the best they can to get volunteers to host prospies, but they can’t make custom arrangements for partying/non-partying, etc.</p>

<p>S1 stayed at a couple of dorms when he visited, but wound up assigned to a different dorm as a first year. Has been extraordinarily happy. S2 stayed with his brother twice and when he went out in early April, was able to stay with someone in Pierce, which he thought might be a good fit. </p>

<p>A lot of the issues you all are discussing are an inherent part of the staying-over process. Four months from now, wherever you wind up, you’ll be negotiating a new life with a roommate, different values, priorities, sleep schedules, cleanliness standards, etc. This is part of the process.</p>

<p>imbri3: There are nerds, too. Very happy ones. :)</p>

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<p>My D had a similar story. She applied early, with the thought of maybe cancelling other applications. But when she stayed for a UofC-sanctioned overnight, she was not pleased. Her hosts suggested she stay in a small room all by herself to study, while they went elsewhere, also to study! But the next night, she stayed with a high school acquaintance, had a great time, and did indeed cancel the other apps.</p>

<p>These visits are just small slices. You can use them to help you make up your mind, but you should remember that they don’t necessarily have much to do with the bigger reality.</p>

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<p>OK… i just typed up a summary of my experience, but I don’t really want to post it here, because I could be very easily identified… so, maybe pm me for it.</p>

<p>I stayed in South and Max P, but I visited BJ, Breck, Snitchcock, Pierce, and I-House. I know… that’s a lot of dorms.</p>

<p>Overall, I came in most excited about Snitch. I was determined that I would love it. I ended up really liking it, but realizing that it might not be the best fit for me socially. I get along with the people there, but it didn’t click. It’s so amazing, though! I thought I would really like BJ… but I went in and met some people, and ended up hating it. I was really ambivalent about Breck, but I ended up really liking it. The people are great, and the dorm looks pretty nice. I think I would fit in there. Those were the ones I originally put on my app.</p>

<p>Now, the ones I was never interested in… South Campus was always too shiny and new for me… but, after staying there, it’s pretty cool. Everything is really well kept, and the people are nice. I didn’t feel like there was a specific dorm culture as strong as snitch, but there definitely was a culture. I liked it, especially the dining hall. Max was cool. It seems like there were a lot of cool people who are very social and more into the traditional college experience. I had fun with them, too. The rooms are great, and the colors I once thought were like a kindergartner drawing were actually really cheerful when compared to the weather, which was an unexpected plus. I had been somewhat conditioned to hate Max a little, but I think I like it. A huge plus is the proximity to the dining hall (which has amazing pancakes… in which I might or might not have poured M&Ms) and Ratner. It’s so close to everything. Pierce was just meh. I liked Max better, though Max is way more jock-y, which is a definite minus. I only walked by maclean and blackstone, and they were just way too far from campus for me. I need to be closer to the library to get work done.</p>

<p>All the dorms are really secure. Which is comforting. And the red line is not bad at all. it’s the green line that is bad. I took the blue line by myself having never taken the subway before. I was fine. Same with the buses. Public transportation is great, and mostly secure. I was careful to take a taxi to the airport late at night, though.</p>

<p>I just have to decide whether I want to go for proximity or Chicago-ness. Which, I do need to figure out at some point… soon.</p>

<p>I’d agree that there’s not much reality on these prospie weekends. Mine was ridiculously awesome. It was great to go to parties, but this week was a bit slow, so I got to see a bit more of a more normal-ish life. I feel like it will be different, but the feeling on campus will be the same. It just felt so good to be there.</p>

<p>Especially Ripple. Which was amazing. I got to talk to an MIT prof for about an hour… and got free deep dish from the MIT people. And then there’s the pure awesomeness of learning how to pick locks and break out of handcuffs. I mean, come on. That’s just ridiculous. I was thinking about doing splash for a while… I’m definitely doing it, now.</p>

<p>I was initially disappointed with being placed in South and Max… but I’m so glad I was, because it gave me a great perspective on the different cultures on campus. I definitely changed my mind on some dorms and have started to think about things differently. Definitely worth spending all my money to visit, if only to guarantee I’ll love my house and not be surprised by campus next year.</p>

<p>If you are having doubts, I’ll just say this: I had some serious doubts after all the prospie activities on Thursday, and it took spending more time there with real people to make me see that I’ll have a place there. Honestly, from who I’ve met thus far, i think there’s a place for everyone. nerd or jock. as long as you like learning, don’t mind wind (which is a bit hyped), and want to make the most of your college experience, you’ll be really happy. There are all different kinds of people on campus.</p>

<p><3 Chicago!</p>

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<p>imbri3, there are definitely nerds. The bottom line is that there truly are all different kinds of people there. I hung out with super nerds and super jocks, and a lot of people in between. You might have to put yourself out there a bit, but you will be able to find a group that fits you. I talked with some fourth years about this. It might take a while (as with any school), but you will find those life-long friends. </p>

<p>:) Don’t worry about that. Worry about which dorms to choose!</p>

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<p>Interesting report. Thanks!</p>

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<p>Uhm, I hope you’re not referring to me?</p>

<p>Well, it’s nice to get all of these reassuring replies. I know someone mentioned that having a friend or acquaintance at the college helps, and that’s one of my problems. I know <em>no one</em> at UChicago. I don’t think anyone from my high school has ever been there, either.</p>

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<p>^ Don’t worry about not knowing anyone… I see that more as an advantage than a problem! A small factor in my own college decision is that I don’t want to go somewhere where a ton of people from my school are. College is about meeting new people and stepping out of your comfort zone! if you don’t know anyone, you don’t have anyone to cling to, so you’re kind of forced to make friends :)</p>

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<p>

I know how you feel. This is true for a lot of people who have been admitted. </p>

<p>Have you tried to connect with anyone on Phoenix Facebook? I found it very useful to get to know a few people before I visited.</p>

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<p>S1’s contacts consisted of folks he knew from various other activities – a summer math program, folks who were on staff at that program, folks from programming competitions, etc. Not many folks from his HS head to Chicago.</p>

<p>I also recommend the Phoenix group and the Chicago FB 2014 group. Lots of folks with questions and everyone gets to know one another.</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t worry too much about not knowing people coming in. There’s all of O week to make friends, and there are tons of other people who won’t know anyone either. You’ll be fine. If you’re really worried about it, I might be able to hook you up to an admitted students chat on skype (VERY unofficial). Also, stalking the 2014 facebook group is a good way to meet people. The discussion boards have been really helpful-- I don’t think I would know half the people I do without that group. Which is kind of sad to say… but facebook is so helpful for meeting people with common interests that happen to be a thousand miles away. I haven’t had luck with the phoenix facebook… but it doesn’t hurt to try it out.</p>

<p>Seriously though, there will be tons of people in the same situation, not knowing anyone. It takes a while to find your group, but you can do it. The fourth years I talked to explained all of this to me. It will turn out just fine.</p>

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<p>kitkatkatie: good suggestion. What facebook group for UChicago discussions did you find helpful?</p>

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<p>um, University of Chicago Class of 2014… [University</a> of Chicago Class of 2014 | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook Public Group | Facebook”>Facebook Public Group | Facebook)</p>