<p>I would have had no idea this 'nerd' thing was an issue if I hadn't read a lot of college review books and this site. I would have had no idea that the issue existed if I had referenced only U of C's viewbooks or website. Does every UC student know about the academic rigor or social scene that he/she is signing up for? I know that if I made a decision based only on how UC portrayed itself, I would have been surprised.</p>
<p>Same here, I never knew about this idiotic stereotype before coming to this message board, a place where stereotypes tend to propagate. I always thought people are very immature thinking that everybody in Chicago are nerds.</p>
<p>I don't even understand why it's even a problem. I simply think its ridiculous to assume that every single one of the 4000 kids there is a nerd in the worst connotation of the word. Thankfully those who are so narrow minded won't be attending....</p>
<p>Eh, it isn't a problem, it's a ridiculous non-issue. In a world-class university in a world-class city filled with interesting people, I wouldn't believe it and I wouldn't give the subject a second thought.</p>
<p>Its not about there being cool people within a 4000 person university, it is the sad fact that you have to find them. </p>
<p>For those not reasing outside literature/ college guides like Fiske, I seriously wonder if its prudent to not fully research what may be one of the most important decisions you ever make. That is not to say you wouldnt love Chicago after reading these guides, but to ignore them is silly.</p>
<p>I just care when I hear literally everyone I know say how much they didnt like their experience.</p>
<p>As I have said in another thread, my son who is very athletic, gregarious, and very conscious of his appearance, etc. found UChicago to be delightful. He thought the students were fun, the professors stimulating, and the food excellent. He saw students who had attended his HS in previous years, and found it easy to meet people and found them quite welcoming and open. All were smart, had great wit and fun.</p>
<p>Yea slipper, you have finally found your life's mission. And I really believe you, since everybody I know (about 7 thus far) said they loved Chicago. Why do you think I applied? Because I am a self abusing freak? Did you search up "people who hate uchicago" on google or something? Go, go thy ways to a psychiatrist.</p>
<p>"""""""""Its not about there being cool people within a 4000 person university, it is the sad fact that you have to find them.""""""""""""""</p>
<p>And you classify yourself as "cool"</p>
<p>Both sides of this argument: we're beating our heads against the wall.</p>
<p>I graduated from U Chicago last year and this sight really gives the school a bad rep. Yes, you are going to get a top notch education and have to do some work, but the people at the school are not all geeks or nerds or whatever you want to call them. You can find a party just about every night and students definitely like to have a good time. Its got that work hard, play hard attitude. I hate hearing people characterize chicago without ever experiencing the scene there.</p>
<p>slipper-who are you? what is your connection to chicago? I'm really not clear. seriously, I don't think that people should be overly concerned with the sterotype attributed to chicago students... I think that ones social experience undergrad is very important, but if that is the only thing that you wish to gain from your four years, then I sugest trying elsewhere, however, I don't think that anyone can plan on going to a top tier university and never see some one crack a book. Perhaps in the past the ivy leagues predominate admission of individuals based solely on social postion, meant that havard, yale, princeton, etc.. were populated with slackers, but nowadays anyone at these places worked very hard to get there, and I seriously doubt that they just gave up once they received their ivy admission.</p>
<p>Slipper,</p>
<p>If you didn't or don't attend U of C, you have no business criticizing the school or it's students. Nor should you even be on this board with all this negativity.</p>
<p>Find something more productive to do with your life. Maybe a session with Dr. Phil will help you with your problem.</p>
<p>Or, taking another tact, you could just be a person who is putting everyone on just to stimulate discussion.</p>
<p>In either case, you don't belong here.</p>
<p>thank you patsfan!</p>
<p>Hey everyone,
I'm an American kid who is currently living in Bangkok, Thailand. I visited Chicago in mid-April, and I just wanted to post some of my thoughts on viewing a small slice of U. Chicago.</p>
<pre><code>First, I wanted to say that I thought my tour guide was just awesome. She apparently does improv comedy every couple of weeks, and she was just hilarious. I did notice that she did put down Northwestern, but at the same time, she was clearly joking and using a hyperbole, and she also did make clear that it's mostly a difference in atmosphere between the two. She was great to talk to, and clearly didn't come close to exemplifying the typical "nerd" that Chicago seems to be famous for.
In addition, I did visit one of the classes, and the kids seemed like they were enjoying themselves, and I liked the professor. But what really crystalized it for me is that while I was waiting outside before the class, a group of about 8 guys came barrelling through the hall shooting each other with water guns. Now that might not exactly be the same type of fun as going to parties or clubs, it did show me that these are not the insanely serious, nerdy, and overly-studious kids that some people make them out to be. Sure they seem to work hard, but they have fun with the work, and they don't take themselves too seriously. Gotta say I liked their self-deprecating humor too (when their shirts say "where fun comes to die," i'm guessing it's a joke).
And the food was pretty darn good.
Finally though, I do have to say that after 4 years of high school in Bangkok, I have kinda overdosed on the party/drinking thing. I hear from most of my friends who graduated last year that they find a lot of the kids at their universities to be pretty immature about alcohol, etc..... a lot of people seem to go crazy about it when they finally get access to it all, and when they get a little more independence. For a lot of the people I know, it's gotten old. So I think that, for me at least, Chicago's different ways of having fun will be a big benefit.
Even still, I'm on Yale's (insanely long) wait list....so if I do, by some miracle, get off it--I'd probably go there.
Chicago still looked great to me though!
</code></pre>
<p>Hey</p>
<p>I am a upcoming freshman and i am very social. But don't worry about the nerds, all schools have them. It dosent matter what you got on your SATs. Turst me you'll find someone there that is just like you. Don't listen to the Princeton Review when it comes to the social enviornment of the school. The Princeton Review is good for one thing, basic info and ranking of schools. Great example, MIT is known for crazy math wizs and according to my many crzay,party animal friends who attend school in the Boston area, MIt throws the best parties. Don't worry if the school is a brunch of nerds, you'll find cool people to hang out with.</p>
<p>Oh and i am also in Yale's wait list too... good luck we find out in the next couple of weeks!!</p>
<p>I know a girl who's very social, and she loves it at Chicago...she feels like she fits in perfectly. I guess social is a broad term, and a lot of Chicago students are a different kind of social...I'm sure a lot of drinking goes on, as at all colleges, but as my friend mentioned above says, more Chicago students would rather do other things for fun (NOT studying, but exploring and hanging out in the city for example) than get wasted every weekend (which I'm sure some people do too).</p>
<p>Getting wasted is such a dumb thing to do.</p>
<p>No its not, getting wasted is fantastic.</p>
<p>Sure, if it floats your boat. Its just my opinion that getting wasted is a waste of time/life. This is coming form a person who got wasted many times in the past. Getting wasted is without a doubt something you do when you are bored and is without a doubt something you are not proud of afterwards = a waste of time.</p>