<p>Can you provide an example? I have a hard time thinking of a type of fun my S didn't have this year.</p>
<p>"As you can see from responses, UChicago is the school for a special kind of person - person for whom learning means everything, and things outside of learning mean nothing. These people have typically no interest (or negative interest) in social life (if not related to academics), sports (if not related to academics), quality of life issues - dorms, food, safety and convenience of campus, etc. (again, if not related to academics). These people are quintessential nerds (nothing wrong with that)."</p>
<p>I don't know who you are talking about at Chicago but it is not my S who is anything but a "nerd" and has an active social life. He has many outside interests that are not academic related such as music, sports, karate, concert-going and the like.</p>
<p>I am tired of the labeling of Chicago students as nerds. Not necessarily true.</p>
<p>DTan: I'd have trusted you if you did attend UofC. Did you? If the answer is no, then i have no further question.</p>
<p>At no point of time I made absolute statement labeling all the students as being nerds (again, there is nothing wrong with being a nerd). There are various types of kids at UChicago with various levels of "nerdiness" (you have to be one at least to some extend in order to get in such a selective institution). I also did not state that UChicago students don't have social life. It is just that "making a 15 min. movie where the script had to be entirely written in a (very difficult) language" is not what most of the students at other top schools would consider a top "fun" activity. Again, it is not bad, it is actually what makes UChicago different from other schools. </p>
<p>There is no need to get defensive. If somebody wants to get possibly the best education in the world, UChicago is the place to go. But other (non-academic) aspects of college experience are important as well and UChicago is NOT the best (probably closer to the bottom of the list along with JHU for top 20-25 non-purely-engineering schools) when it comes to those aspects (social life, sports, friendly student body, dorms, food, safety of campus, study abroad programs, alumni networking, etc.)</p>
<p>Drummerdude is spot on. </p>
<p>Chicago is a better school than WUSL, and Chicago is a better city than St Louis. Chicago all the way between the two, but I would broaden my choices too.</p>
<p>While Chicago is without questions better city than St. Louis, area around UChicago is not in the best part of Chicago. There is a reason you have to pass 2 sets of doors when you enter a dorm at UChicago. There were numerous robberies and muggings in the area (with victims including UChicago students). WashU area is very safe with walkable campus, 2 sq.miles park with free museums, zoo, etc. next door.</p>
<p>daren_s : I guess DTan attends/is going to attend/at least applied to UChicago. As much as DTan hates UChicago, as much as DTan loves UChicago. I can tell. :-)</p>
<p>UChicago's campus is walkable, too, just not at 2 a.m. by yourself. And there's parks all over Hyde Park. Smart Museum of Art, and Oriental Institute are on campus, and the Museum of Science and Industry is 10-15 minute walk towards the Lake. Hyde Park may not be the best part of Chicago, but it's not bad, and the rest of the city is easily accessible by public transportation. </p>
<p>I would not agree the Chicago is not the best in non-academics areas. It's not going to make a list of Top 10 Party/Sports schools, but if that's what you want, you probably aren't looking at either UChicago or WashU. </p>
<p>To quickly address the some specifics
Social Life - Sometimes during the quarter, work gets a little heavy and can cause some issues with social time, but this is pretty rare for people who put value on social life. It's more than possible to have a full social life and do just fine at UChicago.
Sports - this is one place where UChicago is probably not as strong. While the Women's Soccer team played in the national championship game this year and the football team won the UAA championships (sparked by a 27-0 victory over WashU), it is true that athetlics are not the strength of UChicago.
Dorms - There's only one dorm that isn't pretty nice, and they are building a brand new one that looks to me like it'll be even nicer.
Food - The most popular dining hall is often ranked quite highly by whoever ranks them. Some people who eat there a lot complain, but that seems to be more "grass is always greener on the other side" than anything else. There's Italian, pizza (several), Thai, Cajun, Middle Eastern, Southern, Greek, and Mexican (at least) restuarants within easy walking distance of campus, too.
Friendly Student Body - I think folks are friendly here. Maybe not always outgoing and overtly cheery-friendly, but not unfriendly.
Safety - Is it as safe as a small town in Iowa? No. Will you get mugged going to dinner? No. It's in an urban area, but coming from a small town in the middle of nowhere, I was expecting a much more dangerous atmosphere. It's probably a little less safe than the admissions office claims, but a lot more safe than "south side of Chicago" sounds.
Study Abroad - There's a lot of programs. A lot of people do it. I have no idea how the programs compare, but I'd say ranking them bottom 10-25 would probably be wrong.
Networking - This has traditionally been a weakness. It's changing. One thing to consider is where UChicago alums end up. Usually it's in pretty good places, so it's a matter of getting everyone connected, which is a major emphasis of the university (partly so they can ask them for money, but it builds the network nontheless).</p>
<p>Obviously, I'm biased. But they are both good schools. To claim that one is far superior to their other in any area is probably ridiculous. That doesn't mean everyone would be happy both places, but you aren't foregoing social life/safety/housing/sports by going to Chicago.</p>
<p>I have seen no evidence to suggest that there is much difference in social life between Chicago and any other top private school. Indeed, not only is there the traditional college fun, but there are even more types of fun experienced by Chicago students as evidenced by the movie example above.</p>
<p>Years ago a poll was taken that suggested that Chicago was ranked 300th in a list of fun campuses. George Will writing in his Newsweek column, I believe, reported that when a U of C student was asked to comment on the ranking, that he looked at the questioner rather quizzically and asked, "And who is asserting that fun is linear?" From that Will commented that that was what made Chicago so special and the students so much fun.</p>
<p>U of C please.. I beleive Wash U is very overrated and just a school trying to be an Ivy League</p>
<p>I got accepted into Washu too. I chose Uchicago. It's your choice. While listening to opinions here, don't forget it's your own future.</p>
<p>"As you can see from responses, UChicago is the school for a special kind of person - person for whom learning means everything, and things outside of learning mean nothing."</p>
<p>That is so wrong it hurts. "The life of the mind" does not mean a life consisting of spending every day at the library pouring through books, fretting over your next problem set or essay or exam. That's hardly a life at all.</p>
<p>But academics, yes, is important. It becomes part of who you are while you're here. It is a focus, and for some <em>the</em> focus, but for most people it's just one of many passions. We take education seriously and the life on campus reflects that, but education and academics is not all there is to a "life of the mind." In a way it's as if the distinction between "academic life" and "non-acdemic life" vanishes.</p>
<p>In a word I'd call people here passionate. They're usually passionate about education, but almost always passionate about at least one other thing, too, whether it be performing in a choir, painting, theatre, technology, or whatever else. I love going into the city. Last weekend my girlfriend and I spent the afternoon wandering through Millennium and Grant parks and then went to see a musical at the Storefront Theatre.</p>
<p>I am a mathematics concentrator, but that does not mean my interests end when talk of cohomology, abelian categories, or para-compactness does.</p>
<p>So, DTan, remember: wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen.</p>
<p>Interesting response, Diocletian.
a. intolerance to alternative opinions
b. getting really defensive about UC
c. just had to use advanced words "cohomology, abelian categories, or para-compactness" to get way ahead in this discussion
d. Not to sound one-sided (mathematically) and to get ahead even more had to use german ("wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen"). </p>
<p>It is not as much "the life of the mind", as it is "in love with your own mind".</p>
<p>DTan,</p>
<p>One at a time.</p>
<p>"a. intolerance to alternative opinions"</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but I disagree strongly with your opinion. Your statement about Chicago is one of the few that will actually rouse me to defend her because it means the person making it either hasn't really experienced Chicago or doesn't really understand it. It's made all the worse by the fact that it's being spread in front of people who are considering applying here.</p>
<p>"b. getting really defensive about UC"</p>
<p>Does that mean you were getting really offensive about Chicago?</p>
<p>"c. just had to use advanced words "cohomology, abelian categories, or para-compactness" to get way ahead in this discussion"</p>
<p>Well, you got part of my point right: those terms are nothing special and anyone who is a math major would know them. Woop-de-doo. Unfortunately, you missed the more important part of my point: they're also nothing special in the grand scheme of my life here at Chicago and "the life of the mind."</p>
<p>"d. Not to sound one-sided (mathematically) and to get ahead even more had to use german"</p>
<p>Sorry, but I speak German. That's what happens when you have German-speaking parents, I guess. It's nothing more special than you being able to speak English. What's more, it's a pretty famous line from a pretty famous book, so I didn't think it would be totally lost on you. Won't make that mistake again.</p>
<p>Finally, since you confused me attacking your statement with me attacking you and decided to turn this personal, I'm going to end it. Sorry if I ruffled your feathers. Feel free to reply, but I won't do in kind. I think anyone who wants to evaluate what life is like here at Chicago has enough information to do it, so continuing would be irrelevant.</p>
<p>Diocletian, why are you named Diocletian on here?</p>
<p>Diocletian? I have philosophical reasons (and no, it's not because I hate Christians or something stupid like that), but mostly because I like early European history. One of the best professors I ever had outside the math department taught European Civ and I can't get enough of it now.</p>
<p>./nod</p>
<p>Just intrigued, normally Diocletian is automatically associated with religious persecution.</p>