<p>In my high school, UofC has a bit of a bad rep. Not many people apply and their reasons for that is that it's a very rigorous school with limited social opportunities. Granted, I doubt that the stereotype is completely true and have been told the complete opposite, but I'd like to know from students and prospectives the extent to which that may be true. I hear kids are so immersed in their own education that they hardly take time out for anything else. And, again, I can't imagine that being true... after all, the kids aren't zombies. But at the same time, how true is it when compared to the atmosphere for similar schools, especially the ivies like Brown, Penn, Columbia?</p>
<p>Um, in what world is rigor and immersion in one's education construed as negative?</p>
<p>When it turns people into social dolts, of which Chicago is (in negative comments) rumoured to be full.</p>
<p>jpps1. Were you not deferred by Chicago. Have you spent any quality time on the campus or are you able to define 4000 students at Chicago as "social dolts". Seems to me that some negativity may be creeping in from the deferral.</p>
<p>Not at all. I'm very optimistic, and seeing as how I'm an early applier (grade 12 of a 13-year program in Quebec), I could still apply next year should I be rejected. If you noticed my parenthetical comment, I was saying that oftentimes Chicago is negatively portrayed as such by others. It is not my opinion; I was merely stating what others say (although some people's postings on the site have made me wonder if this truly is the case).</p>
<p>UChicago, or any other college for that matter, never "turns" people into anything. If you're a "social dolt," you'll be one at any college. Frankly, you're spending the dough on education, so seriousness should be a positive attribute. You can go have fun with all the cool people you'll meet there for free! (Or for comparitively little, if we look at a sum like 40,000 dollars). :)</p>
<p>Sarah, I never said that rigor and immersion in education was negative. It can be negative if it is all that is taken out of the college experience. And I was merely trying to say that, from my contact with people, it seems as if it is a little TOO rigorous, to the point at which it takes away from social prospects.</p>
<p>however, I'm not saying that this is the case with Chicago. I like the school - I wouldn't have applied otherwise. I'm only trying to either justify or dispel things I continually hear from peers.</p>
<p>You all might be interested in the discussion of Chicago taking place on the Parents Thread. It is unfortunate that the discussion became overheated, but it is interesting nonetheless.</p>
<p>Wow, talk about a heavy read!</p>
<p>I know several people who go, and they all say its not as bas as the public believes.</p>
<p>Yes, but the question is: are these people the type who don't mind not having a large social circle and parties on weekends?</p>
<p>By the way, to avoid assaults from posters, note that the above only highlights the fact that the perspective of the students in question matters quite a bit.</p>
<p>But chicago does have parties on weekends. My D has sat with many a drunk dormmate this past year, making sure they don't b**f and choke. They don't pass the bottle in the dorm (not that the RAs play cop, she tells me) - they go to keggers at the local frats.</p>
<p>does getting drunk help your social life?</p>
<p>if you want drunk friends</p>
<p>Thanks for the link, jerew. I suppose what I felt it emphasized was the need for STUDENTS, and not their parents, make college choices, for they are indeed quite individual. For me, personally, I specifically am attracted to Chicago for its extreme seriousness and intellectuality, its core, and its intermingling of graduate and undergraduate level courses. All that excites me, and the prospect of going to college with thousands of other people who also find such things exciting also elates me. I realize that those are MY (and certainly not everyone's) college hopes and preferences. I will say this though: I think its fair to say that much of U of C's undergraduate population is attracted to the things I just listed. Obviously, the population is diverse, you can always find your niche, whatever that may be. But I'll tell you that social opportunities etc. never once made it on my list of desires for a college campus--frankly, I've always been able to hunt down friends wherever I go, and I'm even more positive considering the wealth of cool folk there are at Chicago--so maybe that's just something you should know about, at least for this future Chicago student.</p>
<p>You know guys, it's okay to have fun. I'm not even a wild person, but hell, I drink and go to parties.</p>
<p>Well, I hope to have some fun at Chicago, so I can feel like I didn't have to trait fun for quality. It is hard to watch all of my friends talk about how much fun they will have at college, as many are going to similiar colleges (Gustavus Adolphus, University of Minnesota Duluth, etc.) Many are opting for the school that gives them the most money. Lately, I have been wondering if I went wrong. I got into Chicago EA, but it is hard to receive any respect for it. Instead, it is "Real smart, now pay for it. I'm sure it's good, but hey, a college is a college. Try not to get mugged." Grr! Anyone else get these comments? As one college reviewer said, "The unfortunate thing about Chicago is that among the general population, it is hard for people to grasp the difference between four years of intense study and four years in a drunken stupor at MSU-Mankato." Completely true. To be honest, I am becoming a little more worried as college approaches. These types of things bother me, but then again, this is a good thing. </p>
<p>How will I know where I belong? How can I find who I am if I just stay with my high school friends and go to a college where I will again be a big fish in a small pond? Or will I pay an extra 100k and spend sleepless nights studying just to end up in the same spot as my friends? I assume these are fairly typical concerns.</p>
<p>Anyone come from a similiar situation? There are many on CC who are shunned for not applying to Ivies/top school. Yet, I am embarrassed to admit it. I have my trophy in Chicago. CEOs, college professors, etc who my dad knows respect it greatly. I didn't apply to Chicago or HPSM Cornell to receive recognition. I just want people to understand why Chicago is worth it. I too often have to tell them I am considering Cornell as well so they will understand what Chicago is like, quality wise, even though neither school is "better" as Chicago is over MSU.</p>
<p>I digress. Back to perusing CC to find those like me, because they are not in my town.</p>
<p>I think it is hard not to get cold feet with so many people (who didn't go there!) saying such negative things about Chicago, and dd and I are experiencing. Not about big cities, though, just that you are worked like a dog and no one is friendly. </p>
<p>When we were there one girl on the panel said that she had a good group of friends and just hung out with them and that was her social life. Well, that is dd's social life pretty much, except for cultural attractions and discovering new hole-in-the-wall places to eat when she comes home to the city. I doubt that she would particularly hang around people who were drinking and esp not in HS.</p>
<p>Among 4,000 undergrads, there has to be quite a variety of types and interests. You can certainly 'find your people'. But a girl we know came back from NYU and said 'it's all the same jerks who were in high school!" And I doubt this is so for Chicago. I'm sure there are many interesting people.</p>
<p>I'm cool with most people in my high school. I just think that some of them are too immature, and are not ready to seize life. There are just so many college kids who still live in their home town, at least mentally. They have a hard time letting go, so they just chose to skim through college. I guess I would be alright with so many more colleges if these people didn't make me afraid of their fate. I have this utopic vision of college, to be able to walk next to those ivy lined buildings in the same institution of nobel prize winners. To be able to be with other kids like me, to prepare to go to top 10 grad schools. I guess these things are truly not that important. Eduacation, life, etc are. But this is the part I look forward to. I would let myself down going somewhere else, even though I know I could be just as successful. I guess that is why I know so much about Chicago and admissions. Besides, what's an acceptance from Chicago, Cornell, HPSM if it isn't hard? I guess it is just hard. I am going to Gustavus tomorrow to help a friend get aquainted. (Because I know so much more about how to select a college, etc.) I am proud to say that I have become the college admissions guru of the school, giving mucho advice to friends. I am sure many of you have similiar experiences.</p>