<p>I think this thread is silly, but I’m actually less optimistic about UChicago’s stature as a research university over the next 5-10 years. Of most importance, high-end research (especially STEM work) is a big money endeavor now. If you look at UChicago’s research expenditures/funding, it’s relatively small potatoes. </p>
<p>As seen here: [National</a> University Rankings 2012 | Washington Monthly](<a href=“http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/national_university_rank.php]National”>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/national_university_rank.php)</p>
<p>In 2012, UChicago spent ~400M in research. That’s significantly smaller than virtually all the other top schools (Stanford, for example, spent $800M, MIT $700M, etc. In the future, big-time STEM research will be a big, big money endeavor. UChicago doesn’t seem particularly well positioned so far for this. Additionally, being in the midwest may hurt the school - it seems as if the west and east coasts will continue to be major hubs for the forseeable future. Unless a new business booms in Chicago and UChicago latches on to that, it’s prospects for major STEM research may be in question. The school is investing significant resources into this, but the amounts it can throw in this direction are, again, relatively small potatoes in comparison to Harvard and Stanford and MIT. </p>
<p>UChicago will probably maintain its standing in the less money driven fields (e.g. classic humanities fields, economics, etc.). As private institutions become increasingly dependent on research funding and STEM becomes more and more important, I’m unsure about UChicago’s long-term ability to compete with the big boys. Currently, it has the academic stature of Stanford with the research expenditure of Case Western. It’s in a strange spot. </p>
<p>(Finally, I think the next 5-10 years will really be marked as a rivalry between Stanford and Harvard. Yale and Princeton both don’t have the vast resources and comprehensive excellence across so many fields like H and S. These two may soon be on a level of their own - if they aren’t already - and Stanford may very well take the mantle from Harvard as the premier American university.)</p>