W&M v. UChicago

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Already posted on W&M board, but I'd like some other opinions, because the Chicago board is generally Chicago leaning, W&M board W&M leaning naturally. I'd like to see the different arguments.</p>

<p>Sorry to annoy everyone with yet another one of these, but I'm having a really tough time deciding. Chicago's been my dream school, but I don't know if it's worth it, as I'm instate for William and Mary and was admitted as a Monroe Scholar. But Chicago gave me a $10,000 merit scholarship, which helps financially and indicates that they are perhaps as interested in me as I am in them. The more I look at them, the more similar they seem and the more confused I get. Help!!!</p>

2

<p>Have you visited? These are quite different schools and cultures in quite different locations, though both excellent.</p>

3

<p>Umm, if you got a 10k merit scholarship here, I think your probably more than qualified for Uchicago. I unfortunately know nothing about W&M other than that its one of the 1st colleges and in the south, but I like Uchicago so far for the various things it offers.</p>

<p>No matter what your interested (as long as its not traditional engineering), Uchicago has some form of it, and more often than not has an EXCELLENT form of it.</p>

<p>For example we have apparently a better math department than harvard (according to graduate school admissions or something), but more importantly we have the math pirate who taught all the teachers at the other top math schools.</p>

<p>For econ, we’re hands down the bastion of efficient market theory and monetary policy and widely regarded as the top program in the nation if not one of the 2 best in the world.</p>

<p>For physics, we built da bomb, nuff said.</p>

<p>Humanities: its really heavily focused here, so even if you don’t like it (me) you’ll still get your fair dose of it and appreciate it a bit more.</p>

<p>As for people, they’re just as diverse and excellent as the courses. There are traditional chicago kids who care about thinking and learning (and scav), go-getters who care alot about their careers, hipsters who smoke outside all the time, athletes smarter than those at state schools, live action role players, etc… take your pick.</p>

<p>Its really nice for me because on one end i can be a ****** as I want and hang out with people who want to be future ibankers, on the other hand I can fulfill my inner scholar and chat with people about obscure philosophy.</p>

<p>In summary, whatever you desire (other htan D1 varsity sports), uchicago has it. It might help for you to be on the nerdier side, but even if your a complete conformist there are still plenty of poeple just like you.</p>

4

<p>Two questions for you – </p>

<p>How much will each school cost you (and how much will you and your parents have to take out in loans for you to attend each year)</p>

<p>What is your major or main area of interest?</p>

5

<p>I faced this decision as well - I chose UChicago. I’d consider WM kind of like a small, in the middle of no where UChicago.</p>

6

<p>@idad - Yes, I’ve visited both. That’s part of the problem - I know I’d be perfectly happy at William and Mary, because it seemed great, but the Chicago visit was perfect in a sort of surreal (maybe too-good-to-be-true) way.</p>

<p>@hsmomstef - Chicago is about $25k a year more than W&M, merit scholarship taken into consideration. I’m interested in history, environmental science, chemistry, french language, and classical civilization. Not sure what I’ll actually major in.</p>

<p>@signitblank - Aren’t you transferring to W&M, though? Was UChicago a bad decision?</p>

7

<p>I probably won’t be going to UChicago due to financial reasons. I took a gap year this year, and my FA changed drastically on me.</p>

8

<p>The following is the general reputation:</p>

<p>Chicago >> U Virginia (the best in Virginia) >>> W&M</p>

9

<p>Did you apply to UVA? If you got Monroe, I wouldn’t be surprised if you didn’t get Echols or something similar at UVA.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I was denied by UVA (in-state, too - I don’t understand at all).</p>

10

<p>I am a big UChicago fan and believe it provides students with the best academics in the world, but $100,000 is not likely worth the difference between the two. And further, Jon Stewart attended W&M; that shows there are likely all kinds of fun folks there.</p>

11

<p>W&M is toughest admit, highest SAT scores in the state of VA. Has been this way for decades.</p>