<p>Hi everyone, DD will be a first year this fall, and we are so thrilled! We believe it is such a good fit for her, and are looking forward to September. </p>
<p>My question is about introducing others to UChicago when they ask where she is going to matriculate. I would love advice on crafting an "elevator speech", as so many people we tell have never heard of it, and several are perplexed as to why she is going to a "state school out of state," etc.. </p>
<p>If you have advice how to describe UChicago in a nutshell, being realistic without sounding arrogant, I'd love to hear it! :)</p>
<p>This is an interesting question. In the past, I’ve met a few UChicago alums who, not knowing that I went to U of C as well, delivered their elevator speeches to me. My favorites are the ones where students demonstrate humility but also open themselves up to some questioning from the ignorant listener. For example, one recent admit told me:</p>
<p>“I feel so lucky to be going to the University of Chicago!”
<why is="" that?="">
“Well, just to start, it’s such a crapshoot to get in there - nowadays they’re about as selective as MIT or Princeton, and I can’t believe I got in!”
<i didn’t="" follow="" up,="" but="" this="" would="" probably="" spark="" the="" ignorant="" listener="" to="" ask="" some="" up="" questions="" about="" what="" was="" great="" school,="" and="" student="" could="" then="" answer="" as="" needed="" -="" e.g.="" whatever="" drew="" u="" of="" c.="" when="" a="" really="" has="" that="" starry="" eyed="" look="" uchicago,="" such="" conversation="" comes="" across="" sincere.=""></i></why></p><i didn’t="" follow="" up,="" but="" this="" would="" probably="" spark="" the="" ignorant="" listener="" to="" ask="" some="" up="" questions="" about="" what="" was="" great="" school,="" and="" student="" could="" then="" answer="" as="" needed="" -="" e.g.="" whatever="" drew="" u="" of="" c.="" when="" a="" really="" has="" that="" starry="" eyed="" look="" uchicago,="" such="" conversation="" comes="" across="" sincere.="">
<p>Put another way, the best elevator speeches I’ve heard is when students/parents can take listeners’ ignorance as a chance to educate (what a U of C thing to do!). </p>
<p>Similarly, as long as you feel this sincerely, when people ask you where your DD is going, make sure you express that enthusiasm tinged with a bit of disbelief. With accept rates where they are these days, I certainly would be dazzled by my child’s acceptance to Chicago (or Princeton, or Duke, etc.).</p>
<p>(Also, as I’ve recognized the value of my Chicago education more and more over time, when I get the question of where I went to undergrad, I always make sure to say I was lucky enough to go to U of C, or that I’m still counting my lucky stars because I was given a chance to go there. These days, I’m not saying this to educate people - more because I really do feel lucky, especially with how the school has developed and improved over the past 10-15 years.)</p>
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<p>@Cue7, thank you so much! That is very helpful, and along the lines of what we’ve been trying to do, but more succinct. </p>
<p>She was so humbled she got in, she waited until the snail mail arrived to be sure the offer of admission was real, indeed! She isn’t the type to brag, so it has been awkward for her to describe what a wonderful opportunity this is without sounding arrogant.</p>
<p>Truly, this really does seem like a place where she will thrive both academically and socially. We are still trying to let it all soak in. UChicago has been a class act since the beginning. We are so very happy for her.</p>
<p>As a parent, the lectures during Admitted Student Day were so fantastic, I absolutely cannot wait to see what they have lined up for Family Weekend. </p>
<p>You’re welcome! Glad I could help. It’s funny, and perhaps this is U of C of me, but the ignorance of some listeners could very well be a chance to educate. The few times I heard “elevator speeches” from Chicago alums, I always liked it when they viewed the interaction as a chance to inform. </p>
<p>When people ask you, I think it’s fine to say whatever is heartfelt. If someone asks why your DD is going to a “state school out of state,” it’s fine to beam and say “actually, it’s a relatively small private school in Chicago, and we still can’t believe our DD got in! It’s a crapshoot at Chicago or Princeton or any of these schools, and she now has the chance to [insert reasons here].”</p>
<p>On a superficial note, I always wonder about drawing associations between Chicago and other top schools (like Princeton, MIT, etc.), but these schools have built tremendous traditions over time, can be pooled together, and are comparable in so many ways. Drawing such associations can then serve to “educate” efficiently, while also demonstrating the luck that’s associated with acceptance at any of these places nowadays. </p>
<p>Finally, glad to hear you are so enthusiastic about Chicago! A Chicago education is truly powerful, and welcome to this great, burgeoning community. </p>
<p>Authormom, I don’t really have any advice but want to say congratulations to your D! Chicago is indeed an amazing place. I’ve seen so many variations of “nobody has heard of UChicago” on this forum. As an interesting geographic (and no doubt socioeconomic) note, here in our NYC suburb, not only has everyone heard of UChicago, but virtually every time S told someone (of any age) he was attending, he got a variation of “Whoa” in response which sometimes seemed to mean “Impressive!” and sometimes seemed to mean “you’re nuts”. It got to point where I wanted to ask people how they knew of the school.</p>
<p>Also, the lectures on Family Weekend are FANTASTIC! The rest of activities are fun the first year, but don’t require repeat participation imho, but the lectures are not only fascinating in their own right, they give you such a wonderful taste of your child’s experience. S is studying abroad this fall, and DH and I are only half joking when we say we want to go to Family Weekend anyway…</p>
<p>Over time, what I found was this: at the end of day, for people in the know, there is no need for any elevator pitch; for those who are not as informed, an elevator pitch may not be sufficient to do anything in their mind.
That said, with an on-going successful marketing effort that UChicago has done and if The University could eventually win the bid to land the Obama Presidential Library location anywhere near the Campus, the pitch may get a little easier if you care to do the pitch at all. </p>
<p>If you give it another ten years or more, it is plausible that UChicago will become a household name across the nation and around the world. </p>
<p>In my experience, which probably reflects the fact that I am an academic and live in a college town, people have both heard of UChicago and are impressed that my S is attending. </p>
<p>An exception was the elderly relative who spends a lot of time watching Fox News and Glenn Beck who was horrified due to concern about some sort of potential Obama influence (even though he’d already been in DC for several years at that point). The antidote for that was to point out that Milton Friedman had been there, too.</p>
<p>Thanks so much to everyone for your replies!</p>
<p>This appears to be summing it up for us:</p>
<p>@theluckystar
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<p>We’re getting lots of glazed over looks the moment we mention the name of her school, as well as “couldn’t be bothered” to hear more about it, so choosing to move forward and not let it bother us. The few who do know about it appear to have a mantra of, “Wow, wow…oh, WOW!” when she tells them. UChicago, at the end of the day, seems like a fantastic fit for our DD, which is what a lot of this college search has been all about (“fit”), and we are both humbled and excited for her to begin this next phase of her life. </p>
<p>Now off to find “cute” shirts for her. We’re open to advice on this one as the bookstore fell short. :)</p>
<p>UChicago is like UPenn lol. Joe Schmoe will think UChicago is unheard of the same way many think UPenn is like Penn State. However, in terms of getting employed or grad school admissions, you’re in the top of top tier schools. </p>
<p>There is little need for that speech. Just came back from the convocation and everyone I spoke to seems found a good job or a graduate school. Names like google Amazon Facebook LinkedIn or Georgetown Oxford Cambridge are mostly mentioned. No need to advertise. </p>
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