<p>Hello everyone! I've narrowed down my college options to these two, Stanford and UChi. I applied early to UChicago and was deferred and then accepted; I applied and was accepted in the regular round to Stanford. I really wasn't expecting Stanford and have had my heart set on UChicago for a while, but my varying interests makes choosing one school tough. I want to double major in Economics (behavioral) and Visual Art. Chicago's Econ department is of course legendary but from what I've seen of its arts department, it wasn't so impressive. I don't know much about the Econ dept at Stanford but its art department is great. I feel more at home at UChicago, and I love the intellectual vibe, which I feel isn't as prominent at Stanford. I've stayed at both schools during the academic year and sat in on classes at each, and they both have their strong points which is making it so hard to decide. </p>
<p>Stanford is giving me 2k more/year of FA and their package requires no loans. Both schools require me to complete a work study program, which I'm a little worried about at Chicago in terms of keeping my grades up to par, due to the intensity of the Core. Also I'm a bit scared of the dreaded "Chicago Winters."</p>
<p>Could anybody give any insight into these two schools and the concerns I have raised? It would greatly be appreciated as I must make my decision in the next two weeks. Thank you :)</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the Core. It’s not particularly intense (more of a relaxed introduction to deep academic matters); it’s easier to get good grades in the Core than in classes for your major.</p>
<p>As for art, Chicago’s set to open a $100-million art center next year. </p>
<p>Although it’s true that Chicago’s art department isn’t as well-established as its physical science or humanities programs, it will probably benefit substantially from the new arts center.</p>
<p>My daughter’s best friend her first year at Chicago had turned down Stanford for Chicago. But she was a little, um, tetched. That wasn’t quite a rational thing to do.</p>
<p>Much as I love Chicago, if Stanford is giving you a meaningfully better financial aid package – and no loans is certainly meaningfully better, unless you have to pay a lot more out of pocket – you really have no excuse not to go to Stanford. Yes, Chicago has a more intellectual atmosphere, but in part that’s because the actual atmosphere at Stanford is so unbelievably nice that it’s hard to look all thoughtful and tortured all the time there. You will find plenty of intellectual kids to talk to there. The quality difference between the economics departments at the two universities is not likely to make a difference to any undergraduate – they are both first rate. I don’t know much about studio art at Stanford, but I know the program barely exists at Chicago. There’s little or no chance Stanford’s program is any worse. Chicago, of course, has one of the great art museums of the world accessible by public transportation, and lots of other art, too, more so than Palo Alto, certainly, or even San Francisco. So what? You will still be nuts to borrow money to go to Chicago over Stanford.</p>
<p>I have to agree with JHS. Avoid loans like you would avoid the plague and go to Stanford. Students there are just as intellectual as at Chicago, they just aren’t as “in you face about it”. Remember these 2 sayings that pretty much sum up the differences schools- at Chicago, intellectual discussions are considered a “combat sport” and at Stanford, students are like ducks- they may look like they are floating effortlessly, but underneath the surface they are paddling like crazy.</p>
<p>Given the information you have provided, I think UChicago is for you. It is true that the arts have traditionally lacked the necessary space to really thrive at the U of C, but as phuriku said, the Logan Arts Center is going to change all that. And the Econ department here really can’t be bested. If you feel most at home here, that in itself is a reason to come.</p>
<p>Shying away from Chicago because of the “intensity” of the Core is grounded in a misconception about what the academic climate here actually looks like. It is not the weed-out set of courses that people seem to envision but rather a way to introduce underclassmen to the fields that constitute the framework of what an educated person should know. It is more of a leveling of the playing field so that everyone can start their personal educational explorations from a common set of texts, ideas, and conversations than an intensive process designed to fail people. It is, more simply, the university’s attempt to put the next few years in context. It may push you beyond your comfort zone, but in general the classes for your major will be more challenging. </p>
<p>The winters are cold, but they are absolutely doable. It is only as cold as you dress, so get a long coat and a good hat. Four years here will be absolutely worth it.</p>
<p>Well, what menloparkmom says is really misleading. Intellectual discussions are not anything like a “combat sport” (or contact sport) at Chicago. There is probably more of a culture of mutual respect and tolerance there than I have seen anywhere else. And while menloparkmom is right about the ducks paddling furiously under the water, that absolutely contradicts the “just as intellectual” statement. There absolutely are many intellectual kids at Stanford, but it’s perfectly possible to be a non-intellectual at Stanford, and there are lots of those, too, whereas at Chicago there just aren’t that many students like that.</p>
<p>But . . . so what? Stanford is one of the great universities of the world, no less so than Chicago, certainly (being kind to Chicago). If Stanford is undercutting Chicago on price, and you aren’t a vampire (i.e., someone who would burn up if exposed to direct sunlight), you pretty much have to go there. The economic advantage, perfect weather, more beautiful people, higher prestige, and universal admiration will have to make up for the fact that everyone isn’t using big words 24-7.</p>
<p>If the loans are small (less than $5,000/year), I think I’d choose Chicago. But Stanford is one of the best universities in the world too, and no loans is better than small loans, and you really can’t go wrong here.</p>
<p>I’m a city person and a lover of cold weather, so in my eyes Chicago trumps Palo Alto (and Los Angeles) every time, but it’s true that in California you’d be wearing shorts and sunglasses all year long, which some people find very appealing.</p>
<p>Stanford’s art department may be better than UChicago’s, but UChicago is working to improve its reputation in that respect, and Chicago itself offers incredible cultural and artistic opportunities.</p>
<p>I don’t know what to tell you. I’m biased toward UChicago, but I don’t want to give you biased advice. Just close your eyes, think about where you want to be four years from now, and your gut feeling should do the rest.</p>
<p>Or just flip a coin. You really can’t go wrong with these two schools.</p>
<p>My roommate made the same choice between Chicago and Stanford. He chose Chicago because he liked the vibe there much better than in Palo Alto (which he thought looked like a Taco Bell on steroids). All things considered, though, I think Stanford is the place for you. I can pretty much assure you that visual art will be much bigger and better there (our program is TINY) and that the econ departments will be a wash for undergrad. Pay less, get more, IMHO.</p>
<p>I’m a huge advocate of UChicago (i’m going there myself!) but if going to UChicago means taking loans north of 10,000$ then JHS is absolutely right, go for Stanford.</p>
<p>as248 In light of the fact you advised a previous poster to attend Wellesley b/c of its physical proximity to Harvard and MIT and the strong chance of landing a mate from that pond, it is clear your advice on choosing schools ignores academics and should therefore be limited on this site.</p>
<p>Loans for uChicago are marked at 2,000$ a year. My financial aid package at the two schools is 36k/yr at Chicago vs. 38k/yr at Stanford, the 2,000$ difference being loans. I’ve lived in Florida for the majority of my life so I am a little weary of the warm weather, and I love seasons. I’m still deciding between the two but I feel as if I am leaning much more towards Chicago. I’m having a difficult time convincing my parents that throwing away a Stanford education is a good idea. Thank you all for your responses- it’s given me a lot to think about. Hopefully I will make up my mind within the next couple of days</p>
<p>Why do your parents think Stanford is that much better for you? do you have any older siblings in college now? That will have an effect on the future costs of your FA package once they graduate. Food for thought? The Chicago weather is not fun for someone who is not used to it, believe me. We live right next to Stanford and DS spent 1 qtr at Chicago and that was enough for him. The weather here allows you to be active outside all year round, without the extremes of either Fla or Chicago.food for thought.
Have you compared line by line the required classes you will have to take for Chicago’s Core vrs those at Stanford?The core takes up most of the first 2 years. I think Stanford’s is less restrictive.</p>
<p>Living in Chicago if you are from a warm place will require an investment in a suitable jacket, shoes, and long underwear. (You also need hats, scarves, gloves, etc. but S got plenty of these from extended family as Christmas presents). Plenty of kids from FL and other warm weather states attend UC every year and somehow manage to cope. Its not like, as a student, you have to shovel the snow yourself. You do get to have snowball fights, though, followed by hot chocolate in the dining hall.</p>
<p>I wish you the best. As a parent whose kid just decided what to do in deciding between Stanford and a University of Chicago equivalent, I know the stress is great. I agree with getting into the details of what courses each offers in the departments you will invest yourself in. Look at the finances, the cost of travel, any family or friends nearby? Stanford has brilliant minds which present themselves in laid back ways that may be foreign to other campuses. I was impressed by the friendliness and support that seems to be a part of the culture. Ultimately it is your future, your choice. Input from your parents does count, research and your own knowledge of who you are and what you are seeking all deserve a place at the point of decision making. Take the bits and pieces of info here and add it selectively- in other words don’t let the internet forums have more sway then they should. Own your decision, don’t give it away.</p>
<p>OP, I think it would be better if you post this in stanford’s forum (if you haven’t yet) and see their response too. That will help provide a bit more “balanced” perspective on the issue.</p>
<p>Both are great schools, and the difference between them would be marginal. Were I in your shoes, I would pick Stanford (even without FA) over UChicago.</p>
<p>Hey everyone, just letting you all know that yesterday I paid my deposit for UChicago. Some may call me crazy, but I feel that I made the right choice… to me, Chicago feels like home, which is a feeling that Stanford never really evoked in me the many times I visited and stayed on campus. Thank you for all of your input!</p>
Some may call me crazy, but I feel that I made the right choice… to me, Chicago feels like home, which is a feeling that Stanford never really evoked in me the many times I visited and stayed on campus. Thank you for all of your input!</p>