<p>My son is very interested in Chicago. Can you get a good feel for the school by scheduling an overnight visit during the summer? I know visiting during the fall term would be better, but the timing isn't going to work out for him.</p>
<p>Overnights are not available during the summer. Your best bet is a Summer Information session (<a href="http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level3.asp?id=435%5B/url%5D">http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level3.asp?id=435</a>) and visiting some places on your own (<a href="http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level2.asp?id=356)%5B/url%5D">http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level2.asp?id=356)</a>. </p>
<p>In my experience, taking visitors to Hutchinson Commons and the Divinity School Coffee shop was more than enough for them to get the "feel" of the place. Hyde Park is minus some 3,500 undergraduates over the summers, but I think if you spend enough time on campus and in the immediate neighborhood you'll get a sense of what we're like by examining where we live.</p>
<p>If you want to get a dorm-ish and campus-ish experience, see if you can rent a room at International House (<a href="http://ihouse.uchicago.edu/)%5B/url%5D">http://ihouse.uchicago.edu/)</a>. It doubles as a dorm for undergraduates and graduates as well as a hotel for visitors. Plus, there's an airport shuttle right out front.</p>
<p>Thanks, unalove. Your posts are so helpful.</p>
<p>I'm going to be visiting in the beginning of August. I'm so excited!</p>
<p>more summer visit tips:
*Take the public transportation to the Downtown– you'll see how easy and convenient it is.
*I made the awful mistake of wandering up and down 57th st. (Where the Medici Bakery is) during my summer visit, and I assumed that this was all of Hyde Park. Definitely explore Hyde Park, the Midway Plaisance, and get over to the Museum of Science and Industry.
*Buy a "Where God Drinks Coffee" t-shirt when you visit the Div. School Coffee Shop
...and enjoy yourself while you're there, because I am very jealous of you!</p>
<p>-class of '11</p>
<p>We visited last summer and my D got a really good feel for Chicago...certainly reinforced all our (positive) expectations. Because it's a university, there was more going on than at some of the LACs we visited. Be sure to see the COOP bookstore, and enjoy!</p>
<p>The Midway Plaisance? Isn't that the gorgeous castle-like building? Is that close to the university, and if so, do students ever sit on grass near it and study/discuss while drinking Starbucks?</p>
<p>^ I really want to do that.</p>
<p>Is it possible to sit in on classes during the summer? The website says that you can during the regular term, but I can only visit in the summer and I'd like to visit a class while I'm there if possible.</p>
<p>PM me about this. I'll help you find a class to crash.</p>
<p>And as for the Midway, it's a giant stretch of grass along the south border of campus. Burton-Judson residents and Under Construction Dorm residents get to cross it every day. Pics:</p>
<p>The building by the plaisance with the two towers (one of many gorgeous, castle-like structures) is Harper Library. In it, there are classrooms, offices, and a gorgeomundo reading room.</p>
<p>Most of the coffee+chatter is on the quads or in coffee shops.</p>
<p>Whoa, it's possible to sit in a class during the summer? I'll probably PM you too, unalove.</p>
<p>Does anybody know where to buy the "I'm Uncommon" t-shirt?</p>
<p>They are unofficial t-shirts, and I just remember buying mine in the Reynolds Club... hmmm.... I have no idea who makes them.</p>
<p>I'm deciding between an overnight visit and a summer visit, and I really want to go to a class. Do you get to go to class during an overnight visit?</p>
<p>I think you can on your own. I've noticed that a lot of overnight visitors want to go to classes on Fridays, when the fewest classes meet.</p>
<p>I think the overnight visit is not as informative as a thorough campus walkthrough, tour, info session, class visit, and lunch in the dining halls. As a student who has hosted overnighters, I have to admit that it's hard to keep my guests entertained when I have readings to do and a paper to write!</p>