UChicago vs. Notre Dame Program in Liberal Studies

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Hello, guys. I am having a very hard time deciding between U of C and Notre Dame (two very different schools, I know) and could definitely use some help. I don't know exactly what I want to study in college but I am definitely more liberal arts-oriented. I want to get a good, challenging education that will teach me to think and write well so I can take advantage of whatever opportunities come my way. Ideally, I'd like to pursue a career in law or business and then run for political office. Yeah, I know this makes it sound like U of C with it's core curriculum would be the obvious choice.</p>

<p>HOWEVER, Notre Dame has a thing called the Program in Liberal Studies, which is a full-on great books major. This is almost exactly what I'm looking for. I've also been offered a spot in the Glynn Family Honors Program, which means I'd take some of my non-PLS gen-ed requirements in smaller, seminar-style classes, too. Furthermore, I'm a pretty devout Catholic. While there's nothing wrong with a good secular school, having my education framed in a Catholic context does appeal to me (though I'm not sure to what extent this would occur at Notre Dame.)</p>

<p>Outside of school, I am definitely NOT a wild child. Drinking and hooking up does not appeal to me. I want to get an education in college, not a hangover. I am very social and very extroverted, though, so I love to have fun with people. However, my idea of "partying" does not include binge drinking. Sounds like I should go to U of Chicago, "where fun goes to die," right? Not necessarily. After staying overnight at both schools, I can honestly say that the UChicago people I was with partied at least as hard as the Irish. Maybe harder; the Notre Dame guys weren't actively trying to get me drunk. I stayed in Shoreland at U of C and O'Neill at Notre Dame, both of which have reputations as "party dorms." </p>

<p>I understand my experience at UChicago probably wasn't representative of the school as a whole. Still, that was the experience I had, and any further thoughts I have about the university will be affected by that experience. Also, I liked the people at Notre Dame better. Despite their reputation for intellectualism, I found most of the U of C students in my dorm to be loser-ish stoner types. One of them even told me he was a drug dealer after getting drunk enough to lose his discretion! In UChicago's defense, I will say that the women there seemed much smarter, classier, and more friendly than the men. Being a guy, though, I'm going to need some guy friends, too. </p>

<p>I'm afraid that my uncharacteristic experience at UChicago has clouded my judgment and could lead me to make a less well-informed decision. I've heard so many great things about the school, but my experience of it was not in line with it's reputation. I'd really like to hear from some U of C and ND students so I can get a more balanced perspective on both schools.</p>

2

<p>I’m not a student, but here goes:</p>

<p>

No. To me this makes it look like Notre Dame is the obvious choice. Really. Especially if your Catholic identity is important to you, and your political base would be in a Catholic community and/or Catholic professional associations. Notre Dame is a magic name there, and it is an important place to network with other people like you.</p>

<p>Also, you should be aware that the Chicago core is NOT a straight-up Great Books program. </p>

<p>There are lots of reasons to choose Chicago over Notre Dame (starting with, um, Chicago, vs. South Bend). Chicago is a cutting-edge, world-class university. You are surfing the wave of academic inquiry. Notre Dame is much more focused on providing a solid education to undergraduates. I think the differences in the intellectualism of the students will be significant over time (but it’s certainly not like ND doesn’t attract a lot of intellectual students), and the same is true with partying in the other direction (but, again, as you noticed, partying is hardly unknown at Chicago).</p>

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<p>I also had to make that decision this month, and I was offered the Glynn Scholars thing as well. However, I had to choose UChicago. While I very much liked the Catholic environment and the student body as a whole, the education, opportunities, and resources at University of Chicago are truly world-class. I spent a night at each school, and I thought the drinking was a lot more prevalent at Notre Dame, and the students I was with didn’t seem to have the intellectual/quirky nature that I enjoy at UChicago.</p>

4

<p>Chicago is the superior academic institution, but Notre Dame is that for Catholics who want that dimension to their educational experience. If you feel better at ND then go.</p>

5

<p>University of Chicago is known world-wide for its top academics across the majority of disciplines, go there.</p>

6

Been wondering which school did you end up going to?

7

tromboner’s post above, more than six years ago, was his last on CC. Wherever he went to college, he probably graduated two years ago. You are not going to get an answer to this question. Let sleeping threads lie.

8

I know that. No need to be rude. Mine is not random curiosity.