I’m considering applying to uchicago, but I want a college experience of working hard and playing hard. I know Greek life is quite robust and I’ve been told that the top fraternity and sorority, Delta Upsilon and Theta, are very exclusive. What’s you’re experiences?
Don’t go to UChicago if you’re that interested in fraternities or sororities. Try Duke or Dartmouth or Vanderbilt or even Emory.
where are you getting that DU/Theta are the “top” frat/sorority lmao
(though I am currently procrastinating on work instead of actually going to DU rn so that should tell you about my personal biases…)
UChicago has been called the place where fun goes to die. Frat row is so quiet unless you saw the identifying signs you’d never know they were frat houses. There is fun to be had to doubt but it’s lower key.
If you want the all around university experience at an excellent school in Chicagoland, try Northwestern. They have frats and all that implies.
I cannot comment on Greek life at UC, though I certainly wouldn’t identify it as the place “where fun goes to die.” A collection of grad students goes out consistently every week (i.e. people I’m friends with). If we can manage graduate school and still go out, then I’m quite positive undergrads can do the same.
Are there stereotypical house parties? Probably not. UC is the most policed campus in the country, as UC has the (apparently) second largest private police force in the world. So, having large house parties on/near campus is not a terribly good idea.
@NYU2013 I definitely agree that grad student life at U of C is vibrant. Having a pub on campus is awesome for the grad students. But other than that there are very few bars near campus unlike most other colleges. Very little of the typical undergrad silly stuff. If someone comes for undergrad expecting frat parties and bar hopping they will be disappointed.
@NYU2013 that’s just blatantly incorrect. UCPD has better things to do than bust random house parties, and there are plenty of them. They do occasionally bust frat parties, but only if they get really out of hand (like certain over-advertised o-week parties that half the first years showed up for).
@dcplanner the whole where fun comes to die thing is a comment on the culture here, where school comes before everything else, not the lack of parties. Certain subsets of the student population parties quite a bit (particularly in Max P and South), they just spend the day being massive nerds. There is a decent proportion of the school that doesn’t like partying at all (and I’d wager to say this proportion is larger here than at other schools), but that’s not to say that the frat houses are empty and quiet every night.
Also, the frat houses are super easy to identify walking by them. They have greek letters on them and they have the frat boy types hanging around outside, often with alcohol (and again, UCPD does not care, they are here to keep us safe, not bust parties).
@YogSothoth My post was very clearly purely speculative. It’s not like we grad students go around crashing undergrad parties.
our son is a third year at the college and in a fraternity where I can assure you fun is alive and well. There are regular social and community events. They have parties on weeknights and weekends. Uchicago is a school filled with extremely bright and interesting students. It is a very student center school where Dean Boyer has worked very hard to ensure the quality of the undergraduate experience. The endless conversation about the lack of social life is perpetuated by people who actually have no idea about the experience and have some unexplainable desire to talk about the school in a negative manner. It is an extraordinary institution and if lucky enough to gain entrance a student should consider themselves blessed.
As the parent of a second year student, I agree wholeheartedly with @Barbie4. Although my son is not involved in Greek life, there are ample social / party opportunities, Greek and non-Greek, open to all students. There is plenty of fun to be had, but students also understand the balance needed to tackle the rigor of the curriculum.
Interesting theory @barbie4 but you are incorrect. Everyone has different experiences and impressions. I loved every minute at UChicago but it is not for everyone. The original poster is interested in “playing hard” and that is not an experience typical of this school. Why encourage someone to go somewhere that seems like a poor fit for them?