<p>I was accepted to both schools and I've visited both. Unfortunately, I love them both and it's extremely hard for me to pick one over the other because they both have things that would make my college experience amazing.</p>
<p>Academically, they're similar, so I was wondering, from an enrolled student's perspective, what makes Chicago unique (socially, academically, whatever). Thanks!</p>
<p>Ummm, <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1123788-duke-vs-uchicago.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1123788-duke-vs-uchicago.html</a></p>
<p>Yeah, I saw that… it’s more focused on econ and specific things that thealt wants in a college, whereas I’m just looking for a general idea about how people like the school.</p>
<p>If you liked writing the essay Find X then Chicago is your kind of school.</p>
<p>Lol that was actually the one essay I liked writing. I got a good vibe from UofC when I visited a couple days ago… but I’m intimidated by how tough everyone says the academics are, and somewhat by the core.</p>
<p>Duke is not a pushover academically either but I suspect other campus activities alleviate some of the stress. </p>
<p>The main differences I see are the campus settings (urban land locked campus vs a huge campus), almost no sports vs division I teams and the basketball mania at Duke.</p>
<p>Also, from what I hear, Duke is much more fratty and it has way more school spirit (because of its D1 sports). But being located in a city, Chicago has more opportunities… also, I’m not sure how I feel about the quarter system. I like the idea of being able to take more courses and not being stuck in a course for a whole semester if I don’t like it, but people say that it seems like there’s a test almost every week in all of your classes… :/</p>
<p>U/Chicago = Pure Academics.</p>
<p>I Am Charlotte Simmons is hyperbolic, and parody, but it is recognizably a hyperbolic parody about Duke. That’s Duke in there, and don’t let anyone tell you differently. I don’t think it would work as a parody of people’s experience at Chicago at all. Things are just too different.</p>
<p>So, what did you think of it? (If you haven’t read it, or at least started it, drop everything right now and go read it.) If you are attracted to the social lives described in that book, you would probably love Duke, and feel like something was missing at Chicago.</p>
<p>I haven’t read it but I’m definitely going to find it… thanks!</p>
<p>“I don’t think it would work as a parody of people’s experience at Chicago at all.”</p>
<p>Ha! I got a chuckle just imagining that.</p>
<p>She would have had French Lit in French, at least.</p>
<p>My Northwestern friend tells me, “fun goes to die at UChicago”. But she might be bitter…</p>
<p>There are schools out there were you can get a good education; then there are schools out there where you can get a great education (like UChicago and Duke); and then there a few school out there where you absolutely fall in love with the University and it becomes a part of your life. These are schools like Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Stanford etc. Of that list, only Duke and Stanford really meat the academic prestigiousness you are probably seeking if you are looking at Duke and UChicago. Go Duke!</p>