<p>
</p>
<p>That answer would vary from student to student based on what they like to do. Personally, I like to go out and explore the city, eat at cheap restaurants, see concerts both in the city and on campus, and hang out talking to friends, surfing the internet, reading, and watching TV. I also go to movies, concerts, lectures, and plays on campus to support my friends or to entertain myself. I am not a huge party person, but I do usually go to a bunch of small, informal parties every quarter and a few bigger parties every year. The informal parties tend to be pretty dorky (think: a bunch of people talking about philosophy and drinking beer) and the larger parties are more about crowding into somebody’s apartment and dancing foolishly.</p>
<p>My answer is probably pretty typical of any college student, but what makes me and a lot of Chicago students a little bit different from a typical college student is that we enjoy discussing “smart” things as well as “normal” things.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I am not an expert on graduate school admissions, but many programs look for qualities beyond a GPA-- research experience, academic rigor, strong recommendations from influential folks. For some of my friends, a strong recommendation from a well-known faculty member was a guiding factor in their graduate admissions prospects.</p>
<p>If you are interested in pursuing fields that are known to play close attention to GPA (med school, law school, etc.) then you answer the age-old conundrum of going to State U and possibly graduating with a great GPA or going to Chicago and not standing out from the pack quite as much. Personally, I would encourage you to go to the school you think you’d enjoy more and the school that will maximize your post-graduation options in terms of experiences and finances, not which school you <i>think</i> will give you a better GPA. The way I see it, you as a high school student are far too young to determine what you want to do with the rest of your life.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for medical, business, or other professional programs (journalism, etc.) but many current law school students seem to find the experience of law school disillusioning. The job market (particularly not now) is not as plentiful as it may seem and many of the careers are not financially or morally rewarding. One’s prospects might vary based on the law school one attends, but the way I see it, if you’re aiming for Harvard Law or another top law school, it’s a stretch from wherever you go to college. So you might as well go to Chicago if it’s what you really want.</p>
<p>(Perhaps JHS has his own view…)</p>