<p>I know there is already another thread about other schools people applied to, but I have a slightly different question...</p>
<p>Are there any less selective schools out there with an academic environment comparable to that of Chicago? I'm trying to think of a few safety schools, and I'd like to know where other people applied. Thanks!</p>
<p>I applied to St. Olaf College and Lawrence University as my back-ups, and I visited them and was nt comfortable at either one - though everyone is different. St. Olaf has excellent depts. in two areas in which I am interested (math and classics), which led me to apply, and Lawrence is nearby, as I didn't want to go to a school too far from home. But all I wanted to do was go to Chicago.</p>
<p>Comparable schools to the U. of C. I would think would be Reed College and St. Johns College, both of which are worth a look. I didn't apply because I decided they were too far away - though I probably would have if they were in the Midwest.</p>
<p>I feel the same way about Chicago; that's what makes it so hard even to think about other schools!</p>
<p>St. John's is an excellent college, but its set curriculum may be a little too extreme for my lifestyle. Pretty wild and crazy. It's definitely worth considering, though.</p>
<p>Bard is also quite similar, academically. (And the president is a Chicago alum, but that's just an interesting factoid XD)</p>
<p>If you are eligible for the honors program at your state university, that may well provide a financial safety (an important element of any list!). Other colleges of interest (more matches than safeties) would be Reed, Wesleyan, Brandeis, NYU, Case, Penn State, U of Rochester. If you are female, you're lucky - Smith and Bryn Mawr are both wonderful.</p>
<p>Chicago is certainly a different kinda place... the only other school that I liked and also applied to was Georgetown, and they are incredibly different... i guess thats why I like Chicago so much... it has its own thing going on!</p>
<p>I second ohio_mom.</p>
<p>I applied to the University of Pittsburgh honors college and got a full ride [Chancellor's Scholarship] there...which I will be turning down to go to UChicago. :-) </p>
<p>The environment of the university <em>overall</em> is of course not like what you'll find at U of C, but all the honors students I had contact with had great academic/intellectual curiousity.</p>
<p>Also: the support for students wishing to apply for Rhodes, Goldwater, Truman, Udall, etc. is great. And the success rates are very good for a public university. </p>
<p>Just my thoughts.... I hope you find what you're looking for! :-)</p>