Why Chicago?

<p>So... why do you all want to go to Chicago? Or not go, if you're ED somewhere else or for some other reason not going.</p>

<p>I personally am waiting for financial aid to be the final determinant. I really like is quirkiness and it's emphasis on intellectual pursuit rather then where you're going to get a job. I love that they DON'T have an engineering program. I like theoretical physics thank you very much. I also wanted to go out and explore the world. I live in California, and that's nice and all, but I want to see what it's like not being surrounded by the nature I adore and having to deal with four seasons and the dangers/surprises of a big city. I could go on and on, but I want to hear everyone else's reasons!</p>

<p>I have to visit before I know for sure, but...</p>

<p>I'm a big fan of learning for the sake of learning as opposed to for a grade. I really like the idea of people not being overly concerned about their GPAs, and instead spending their time thinking about Latin American history or neuroscience or Romani language and linguistics. This goes hand in hand with the "emphasis on intellectual pursuit rather than where you're going to get a job."</p>

<p>I love the course catalog and, of course, the quarter system, because it allows for taking MORE awesome courses.</p>

<p>I like the quirkiness, the great anthropology department, the size, the fact that it's in Chicago, the fact that it's rigorous but not cutthroat competitive-- even the core.</p>

<p>Pretty much everything, and if I don't like it in person, I will be very upset.</p>

<p>I love that everything isn't geared toward just getting the grade than getting out, I like to discuss what I learn. The discussion based classes really got me interested. Now I am just waiting for the fin aid estimate to make it official.</p>

<p>I like the quirkiness, the intellectualism, the relative warmth/friendliness I feel from the campus, it's amusing history, the fact that it's connected to a huge multicultural center and yet still has a bit of an isolated feel on campus (it's not integrated wholly into Chicago like BU is into Boston or something like that). The quarter system rocks too! Oh, and I wanted to stay in the north, where there are 4 seasons. :>)</p>

<p>I want them to send me a decent FA package before the end of the year so I can just accept there and not have to finish all these other apps and waste money on app fees.</p>

<p>It's all about learning for learning's sake which I totally love. I am the kind of kid who always does the reading or even reads ahead in a textbook to understand the concepts, for myself, rather than simply reading and then complaining about the reading. They have every language possible to study and so many interesting classes. The campus itself it truly amazing and I love the diversity of Hyde Park.</p>

<p>oooh oooh oooh! I'm a current student, so I can talk about stuff!</p>

<p>Okies. The quirkiness, the intellectualism, the focus on the discipline rather than the career. I love the disregard of application and practicality. Joining academia is, I strongly believe (though I have no actual facts to defend myself with), a more popular ambition at UC than anywhere else I've visited. I love that the heaviest partiers in my dorm love philosophical and epistemological arguments as much as I do.</p>

<p>I adore the discussion classes, which I desperately wish I could've had in place of abysmal English classes in senior year. My performance in a class correlates strongly with the intellectual effort it actively demands of me; I strongly tended to bomb classes that emphasize busy-work. (Being at UC allows me to use the past tense in that sentence ^_^) I fought hard for an A- in Human Being & Citizen this quarter, and at UC, I harbor no doubt that I earned it. That's a lovely feeling.</p>

<p>I have absolutely zero impression of competitiveness. None whatsoever. It's gorgeous.</p>

<p>My other options were Mudd and MIT, both engineering schools, and I will admit that going to Chicago probably necessitated some loss of depth in my fields of interest. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER, however: as a high school senior I had already narrowed my field of expertise considerably beyond what most sane people should have, with the effect that the previous statement connotes a specificity that one would normally expect applied to graduate school applications. (Apologies if that was overly verbose.) Chicago is, overall, very strong in my general field, it simply has certain minor weaknesses in that field that correspond closely to my own areas of preexisting expertise.</p>

<p>The result is that I will take certain graduate classes considerably earlier than most students in my field might, and because graduate students generally take fewer classes than undergraduates, there are fewer total classes for me to keep myself busy with. The natural response is twofold: to aggressively move for research opportunities, and to diversify beyond my narrow subfield of preexisting interest. This isn't quite so satisfying a conclusion, I'll admit -- it is difficult to constrain my interest in a field that so piqued me as to inspire such aggressive pursuit in high school -- but I honestly consider it an acceptable sacrifice because I so love the humanities discussion classes, the wonderfully intellectual classmates and housemates, and because...gah. You know.</p>

<p>In retrospect, Freud might suggest this was more an effort to work out unresolved angst about my own decision than discussion for the benefit of prospective students. Freud, however, can do whatever unspeakable action your mind fills into this sentence. I've talked about things from the standpoint of someone who's grunted through a full quarter of these things, rather than visiting for a day or reading an admissions brochure, and that's the best I can do.</p>

<p>PM for arbitrary questions, comments, what have you.</p>

<p>I am going to UC because it is the High caliber tight knit intelectual school I always wanted. I thrive off disscussion and huge lecture halls and impersonal don't do it for me. I can't wait for the fall.
The fact that UC is in the city but also beautiful is a big plus. The Neogothic buildings are AWSOME!
Everything about this school calls to me. I also wanted a school where people wouldn't wanna burn me for being a pagan. lol.
(Though I got in it would seem me spelling stil sucks slightly. =) sorry)</p>

<p>i just finished applying to uchicago.
i applied because of its diversity. the fact that it's a large school lovated in a large exciting and vibrant city. it has the coolest school traditions i have ever heard of. the most incredibly interesting courses. the fact that its building are modeled after those of oxford and cambridge (schools in england, i LOVE england). it has an absolutely gorgeous campus. very supportive environment. to sum it it all up, uchicago is my dream school however, i am sad to report that i will most like not get in. </p>

<p>i did apply to american, ohio state, and new york university. none of which i will get into. looks like i'm going to take the year off and travel to europe where i will take up many odd jobs and enjoy life. BITTERSWEET RIGHT?</p>

<p>Awwwww. Why do you say you won't get in?</p>

<p>University of Chicago is my dream school. I guess I essentially agree with what everyone else has been saying, especially arkleseizue's reference to "the disregard of application and practicality." I always joke with my science teachers, telling them that I want to major in math because I don't want my work to have any application to real life (even though calculus is EXTREMELY useful for physics/engineering.. I'm more interested in theoretical math/linguistics.) I haven't visited campus yet, but if I'm accepted I am definitely going for a look-see, and I really hope I love it. =)</p>

<p>Located in the best city on the planet,
and thus incredible night life, internships, museums, music, art</p>

<p>and then the physics/math/econ departments and the ability to take classes in the Booth school are awesome</p>

<p>haha, i dont want to get flamed, but
Chicago offers some of the best pre-professional oppurtunities as well,
especially for someone who wants to go into business (law and medicine are really good too, although very difficult)
The beauty of it, is that paired with the quarter system and the core,
you also get the well rounded education that rounds out a person in incredible ways, and creates some of the most intellectual and successful professionals in any field</p>

<p>Gross! U. Chicago: Where fun goes to die.</p>

<p>Go to Rice. It's way better. Go Owls!</p>

<p>Phoenix burns owls</p>

<p>I second the above/. Fun thrives @ UChicago. Phoenix lives forever!!!!</p>

<p>As a current student, I say:</p>

<p>FALSE.</p>

<p>If anyone has questions about the status of Fun, please ask :)</p>

<p>This is a little bit of why I love Chicago, from the Class of 2013 website:</p>

<p>
[QUOTE=Top 13 Traditions at UChicago]
10. Raucous all-nighters in the A-Level

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I don’t know whether the adjective applies or not, but… “Raucous.” To describe an all-nighter in the library? YES, thank you.</p>

<p>[20</a> Top 13 Lists for the Class of 2013](<a href=“https://classof2013.uchicago.edu//20_top_13.php#2"]20”>https://classof2013.uchicago.edu//20_top_13.php#2)</p>