Visiting UChicago and Northwestern

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Hello guys!</p>

<p>In just a few days I’m flying to Chicago to visit the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. I’m so excited! The University of Chicago is currently my top choice – I plan to apply EA this fall – and Northwestern is certainly another school I’m very interested in. </p>

<p>Of course, I’m going to do the usual information session and campus tour at both schools, but I was wondering if any of you have suggestions for what I should do while I’m there. Are there any “must-sees” on either campus, or things I should definitely do while I’m there?</p>

<p>In addition to visiting the two schools, I’m going to have roughly one free day to spend in Chicago. Any particular thing in the city I should see? Trying deep-dish pizza is just about the only non-college visit activity I have planned.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>When I go in August, I really wanna check out The Bean haha :slight_smile: and Skydeck. I’m going for LeakyCon and squeezing in a trip to UChicago. Have a great trip!</p>

3

<p>At least for UChicago, if you stop by at the admissions office, there is a list of classes that are available for people to sit in on. Find one you like and absorb the knowledge :)</p>

<p>And being the music nerd I am, you could always try the Chicago Symphony Orchestra?</p>

4

<p>The #1 non-stupid tourist thing to do in Chicago is to take the Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Tour on the Chicago River, if you can. It’s a super introduction to the city. It’s not cheap, though (about $40, and you have to reserve in advance).</p>

<p>For free, go to Millennium Park, see the Bean and the Pritzker Pavillion. (Try to go when someone is performing there.) Window shop on the Michigan Avenue “Magnificent Mile”. Also, at UChicago, the Oriental Institute (if you like archaeology and ancient civilizations at all), the Point (a great view of downtown Chicago across 6 miles of harbor) and the 57th St. beach.</p>

<p>Chicago has world-class museums – the Art Institute, which is amazing, and the Field Museum (natural history) and Planetarium. </p>

<p>There’s a ton of culture, high and low – theaters, concert halls, and clubs all over the city. At any time, there are probably 10-12 plays being mounted somewhere, several classical music performances, and heaps of jazz, blues, hip-hop, and indie rock, as well as big-name stadium type shows. Look in the local weeklies for free performances in the park or in-stores, which are common.</p>

<p>And you can find great cheap food in almost every neighborhood. If you have hours to kill, and don’t mind being nowhere near Northwestern or UChicago, you can go to Hot Doug’s gourmet hotdog stand. That’s really popular, too, and ten times better than deep dish pizza. (Almost anything is better than deep dish pizza, though, if you ask me.)</p>

5

<p>Sitting in on a class is something that I really wanted to do, but I think I’ve read somewhere that UChicago doesn’t allow class visits during the summer quarter. :(</p>

6

<p>You might enjoy Second City.</p>

7

<p>You’ll love Chicago! I’m from here so I definitely have some reccomendations. As far as touristy things go, I would definitely visit Navy Pier and take a nice walk down State Street or Michigan Ave.
If you’re looking for some good food at UChi, the BOOTH business school had a great dining hall! When I went, my Dad knew about Booth so he took us there and there were lots of undergrads there for the food, so don’t worry about being out of place or anything(:</p>

<p>oh and if you can, get lou malnati’s pizza it’s DA BOMB DOT COM</p>

8

<p>All of the above plus Harold’s Chicken. Take the IC from U of C to downtown. You can then take the El to Northwestern. Chicago is an easy place to get around.</p>

9

<p>Skydeck was fun but I don’t know if it was really worth the money. I got some nice pictures though! I got to sit in on a biology class when I went to UChicago and I really enjoyed it. Also the food was seriously top of the line! It was just as good as any chain restaurant I’ve been to, and there are so many options. </p>

<p>Unfortunately I only had one day to visit because of money, but if we could have stayed longer I would have loved to tour campus with my family. Try and go into the library if you can; I have heard it is amazing. There’s also museums galore on campus and in the city, so I would try to go to at least one if you have time. Walking down the Magnificent Mile was a waste of time imo just because everything was expensive and I would have rather done more educational things, but if you have money to spend and like to shop then I’d recommend going!</p>

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<p>One more thing: Drop by the official University Bookstore if you want to pick up a logo t-shirt or something. But if you want to see the REAL university bookstore, go to the Seminary Co-op on University south of 57th St. It’s one of the beating hearts of the University of Chicago, and if you are a Chicago-type person it will curl your toes.</p>

11

<p>I’m out of touch; when I was in school I heard the seminary co-op had to move to make room for the Milton Friedman Institute. Did that not happen?</p>

12

<p>Thank you all so much! These are great!</p>

13

<p>

It is happening–just not yet. I think it will be fully moved in the fall. If you go now you’ll still be able to see the classic location, along with the memorial project that’s going on now. The new location is box-like and above ground, which, if you know anything about the co-op now, is a sad change. Especially given the Friedman Institute’s role.</p>

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<p>The move will happen during the 2012 fall quarter, after textbook season and its 50th anniversary celebration.</p>

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<p><a href=“Almost%20anything%20is%20better%20than%20deep%20dish%20pizza,%20though,%20if%20you%20ask%20me.”>quote</a>

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<p>Agreed! Deep dish pizza is an abomination in the eyes of God. Pizza was intended to be flat. And cut into pie slices, not checkerboard slices (shudder).</p>

16

<p>Agreed with the above, just thinking about deep dish pizza makes me nauseous. I hate it.</p>

<p>But Chicago is seriously the best city ever! I guess I’m a little biased but I really think you’ll enjoy it. There’s something really friendly about Chicago that I really can’t seem to find anywhere else in the country.</p>

<p>I did the Northwestern/UChicago tour thing too, I will warn you if you do Northwestern after UChicago the people will seem like they talk REALLY fast. My dad seriously also thought one of our tour guides from Northwestern was on steroids because he was able to walk backward down stairs</p>

17

<p>Things to do in Uchicago, (from the perspective of a current student on the prospective student committee):</p>

<ol>
<li>Visit the Henry Moore sculpture, next to the Mansueto Library. It is still radioactive (just not at a dangerous level.)</li>
<li>Visit the admissions office, but try to have a conversation there with a current student to learn about what is an average day as a student at Uchicago. All the tour guides are current students I believe.</li>
<li>Visit the Harper Reading room in the Harper Memorial Library</li>
<li>Restaurants on 53rd street (near Kimbark Plaza). This is where most students spend their food money on.</li>
<li>Visit Hutch Commons and eat there as well? (DO NOT step on the Uchicago seal on the ground, rumors have it that if you do, you will no graduate in time.)</li>
</ol>

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<p>The UChicago seal rumor is indeed a tradition. But some students also go out of their way to walk across it. And they typically graduate on time too! Not only is there no causation, but there’s no correlation either ;-)</p>

19

<p>Go to a game at Wrigley Field.</p>

<p>Go to the top of the Hancock Tower on Michigan Ave. They have a restaurant up there where you can order drinks.</p>

<p>Walk along Astor Street to see the beautiful old townshouses</p>

<p>walk along Lake Michigan (start walking north from the Hancock Tower)</p>

<p>Also, go to the Lincoln Park Zoo.</p>

<p>And walk around the Lincoln Park area.</p>

20

<p>One of the best views of campus, although you have to climb over 300 steps, is from the top of Rockefeller Chapel on a clear day (do a carillon tour if available). It’s a different angle (and an elevator ride) from the new Logan art center but still a wonderful view (air conditioned if you look from the small concert hall on the 9th floor). Recommend for everybody to read The Devil in the White City (by Eric Larson). Great background on Chicago architecture and a suspenseful thriller.</p>