<p>I'm surprised how many people on here have never considered U. of Chic. as an elite school. I've heard there students recieve the highest MCAT scores in the nation. Their academics are rated a 99 on princetonreview.com..higher than any ivy league. I guess many people have not heard of U. of Chic., but I've heard it's an extremely good school, especially if you are going into the sciences.</p>
<p>Typo...their*</p>
<p>The University of Chicago is a very good school.</p>
<p>Filled with unattractive people and sorely lacking a social scene...</p>
<p>read for more first hand info:
<a href="http://www.tuckermax.com/uglypeople.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.tuckermax.com/uglypeople.html</a></p>
<p>It can't be that bad</p>
<p>Chicago is a great school. Their application numbers are somewhat lower than other elites because of the daunting application, which superficially makes them look less selective.</p>
<p>Chicago does have a reputation for being a school for serious scholars who are looking for an intellectually rigorous undergrad experience.</p>
<p>I've heard some bad things about U of C. When a research paper or something is given, students run (literally) straight to the library, and tear the pages out of books that deal with the topic at hand. They do this not only to secure the information, but to prevent others from finding it. </p>
<p>Sounds a little too nerdy for my liking.</p>
<p>scientist:</p>
<p>oustside of the NE, "most" people haven't heard of Dartmouth nor AWS either, and think Penn is the school where Joe Paterno coaches. However, any grad school or employer knows well the value of a Chicago diploma.</p>
<p>is the social atmosphere detrimental to your health? that bad</p>
<p>U. Chicago is a fantastic school, and most people around here seem to know it. It seems nerdy and quirky in a wonderful way. (That said, I'm going to Wesleyan, so... :P) However, it wasn't one of my top choices because of location only.</p>
<p>my daughter has several friends who attend(ed) UCHicago- they love it- and being in Chicago has been deciding factor.
She didn't like CHicago so she is @ Reed- liking Portland better- similar schools but different
She is jealous of their scavenger hunt though.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Scavenger_Hunt%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Scavenger_Hunt</a></p>
<p>I will get flack for this, but I have met nothing but unsatisfied alumni - at least ten of them. All I have gotten was "I wish I knew more when I was choosing schools". That said, these are social type people who feel like they missed out on a true college atmosphere. A true Chicagoan, likely a very focused academic student with less concern for a good time, will love it and it might be the best place in the world for this type of student.</p>
<p>I personally think Chicago is as good if not better than most of the "lower" Ivies. Granted, I wouldn't have enjoyed it there but I have a lot of respect for the school.</p>
<p>i got accepted...visited...but just got a feeling like if i go here...i will be so miserable. BTW, the U of Chicago is one of the most famous schools in the world--more so than many of the ivy league schools--Duke and other elites. It is a fabulous school, but its focus on academics is a lil too much for some ppl.</p>
<p>My response to Slipper is....bunk. He is a troll for Dartmouth and I believe is quite jealous and intimidated by U of C graduates. Sorry Slipper but I am so tired of your claims regarding Chicago when I do not believe you have ever set a foot on the Chicago campus.
Chicago is a special school. Probably the only one of it's kind in the nation. Check it out for yourself and see if it is right for you.</p>
<p>Visirale - If there was ever an "old wive's" tale, it has to be "students run (literally) straight to the library, and tear the pages out of books that deal with the topic at hand." As a Chicago alum, I laughed out loud when I read it. </p>
<p>Iamacrazyscientist - Even your online moniker sounds quirky and interesting, just the kind of school the University of Chicago (UC)is interested in. UC is actually getting much more talk/buzz these days as being an excellent school to attend for many individuals than years past, which is all to the good to me.</p>
<p>Regarding social life, what may not be happening on campus is certainly happening in the endless variety and charms of Chicago. As with any college/university, the social life is what you make it and you will certainly find like brethren quickly. From years past, let me tell you of a few boring people and what they did regarding social life. Second City - the famed live comedy troupe - that Saturday Night Live was patterned after was started by a quirky, off-the-wall group that included Chicago grads. Mike Nichols, the director of such films as The Graduate and numerous others, is a UC grad. A quirky classmate from my dorm who was the sports editor for the student newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, went on to be publisher of Sports Illustrated for Time Warner. A chief economist friend of mine from the College loved to go with a group of friends every quarter and find the grungiest, liveliest jazz bars throughout the South Side of Chicago. They studied hard and played hard. This tradition continues at the University of Chicago today.</p>
<p>And now a bit of homage to the "life of the mind" which is a defining characteristic of UC. UC has a reputation of being the "teacher of teachers". Over 100 presidents and chancellors of colleges and universities were undergraduate or graduate students at the University of Chicago (including the current president of Northwestern U.) </p>
<p>UC is quiet but powerful in its influence in American life from the arts (Saul Bellow, Kurt Vonnegut, etc.) economics (numerous names) to law (such as former attorney general Ashcroft) to science.</p>
<p>If you want bright, creative, lively, and quirky, just read Electric Kool Aid Acid Test by Kurt Vonnegut and it will give you a flavor of what off-the-wall brilliant Chicago students like Vonnegut are capable of both in social life and academically.</p>
<p>iamacrazyscientist - There's definitely room at UC for one more quirky, crazy, brilliant person. The next chapter is ready to be written.</p>
<p>iamacrazyscientist - I googled this up about the founding of the Second City Comedy troupe after I wrote my previous post --</p>
<p>"But in Chicago, a group of hip, creative and intellectual University of Chicago students were coalescing into a group that would soon revolutionize both comedy and theater forever..." </p>
<p>Sound familiar - "hip, creative, intellectual" - the boring, studious Chicago students of decades ago founded the most interesting, off-the-wall live sketch comedy around today which has morphed into its numerous versions such as Saturday Night Live and Mad TV. </p>
<p>And this "hip, creative, intellectual" tradition is alive and well today at UC.</p>
<p>Errr, Tom Wolfe wrote The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test (he was a Washington & Lee grad). Read Slaughterhouse Five for Kurt Vonnegut. :)</p>
<p>Vonnegut did his undergrad at Cornell anyway. And Chicago, where he did his grad work, rejected his master's thesis. Hardly a Chicago grad.</p>
<p>Oops - can you hear the air going out of my balloon on Vonnegut?? FFSSS... Next time I will be more careful about my googling. I meant to say "Slaugherhouse Five"... And if you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Another wedge of crow pie anyone?</p>