<p>And plan a trip to the chicago opera and get all excited about it.</p>
<p>So let me get this straight: you think that out of all of the high-performing HS students in the U.S., the most intelligent and brightest students go to HYPCS. You assume:</p>
<p>1) There are enough spots at these colleges to take in all of the smartest, most interesting students.
2) The admissions committee makes no mistakes, ever, and thus no equally smart, bright students end up going to other colleges.
3) Every smart, bright student accepted at these colleges ends up attending that place.</p>
<p>If you are willing to make those assumptions, then have at it: your conclusion stands. However, that is faulty logic.</p>
<p>"It's not just about smarts. It's about talents in sports, music, drama, career plans."</p>
<p>Sports... lol.</p>
<p>No, of course the committee makes mistakes all the time. But it would be faulty to believe that the HYPCS student body is less brilliant and charismatic than the Chicago student body. Chicago is about academics and HYPCS is about much more.</p>
<p>"Sports... lol."</p>
<p>I don't see why you laugh about sports. Sports are important.</p>
<p>Chicago is also about "the pursuit of knowledge", LOL. Please: you can learn anywhere.</p>
<p>
[quote]
But it would be faulty to believe that the HYPCS student body is less brilliant and charismatic than the Chicago student body
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And vice versa.</p>
<p>Oh snap, I have to leave. Well Lakers, its been fun quarreling, but the point stands: People choose Chicago because they BELONG at Chicago. There is a reason I'm going there in the fall, and there is a reason everyone else is already there. For me, the eccentricity and the desire of the student to learn were the deciding factors. The people concerned about prestige and money can go to HYPSCSDFASDJKLSDFH; take them! </p>
<p>As a disclaimer, in no way am I saying that everyone that goes to HYPSSDFKJLSDJFJHDSKFHD are concerned with money and prestige; I am simply saying that most people at Chicago aren't. =P Cheers Chicago students; see you in the fall!</p>
<p>"The best and the brightest do not go to Chicago. The best and the brightest go to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and Stanford."</p>
<p>Haha. That is, I must say, a bit ridiculous. I can't even find the words right now to refute it. If you have something against Chicago, obviously you are not meant to go there; but please, for heaven's sakes, don't attempt to question the quality of its student body, especially by method of comparison. It's a fruitless endeavor.</p>
<p>It is not the entering student that is more brilliant, it is the academic culture one finds once at Chicago that distinguishes it from other places. It is what happens to the brilliant student in the process of being educated. Chicago has a long standing reputation for being what some have called the "purest of universities." At Chicago, the pursuit of ideas is valued above all else, including employment. Though it hardly matters, there is no evidence that where one attends school has much impact on future earnings.</p>
<p>From a Princeton University study:
[quote]
...It appears that student ambition, as reflected in the quality of the school to which he or she applies, is a better predictor of earning success than what college they ultimately choose or which college chooses them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Princeton: 9% accepted</p>
<p>Chicago: 35% Accepted</p>
<p>Enough said.</p>
<p>What's funny about all of this is the that, as I scan the latest posts and return to this silly thread to refute the OP's argument, I see "insert top school name here" vs. Chicago; evidently plenty of students are admitting to HYPSC in addition to Chicago and the choice is not so easy.</p>
<p>People, we don't have to convince lakerskingdom. If you're really that concerned with prestige and want to say, "hey, I went to (insert HYPS)," thats fine. UChicago's not right for you and theres no reason why we should try to convince you that it is. However, if you love the intellectual and quirky atmosphere that UChicago provides, along with the knowledge that you'll leave Chicago intellectually prepared for all future obstacles, then come here.</p>
<p>I've applied and been admitted to several Ivies. If I told you that prestige played no role in my decisions, then I would be lying to you; however, prestige and the "name" shouldn't be the only thing that attracts you to the school. As of now, I have still not made my choice because I am still considering the best path for me. I'm not insulting any Ivy's here, its ludicrous to say that UChicago is the only school where one can receive a great Education just like how you're saying that HYPS are the only places that you should go. In the end, its a personal choice of whats the best match for you so please don't try to humiliate the people who believe that UChicago is right for them.</p>
<p>Deep Springs College < 7% </p>
<p>SAT - Verbal Range (25-75%): 750-800
SAT - Math Range (25-75%): 700-800</p>
<p>If those are the criteria...</p>
<p>the people that find there "little niche" at chicago are those that coudln't get into HYPSC</p>
<p>Oh PULEEESE. not EVERYONE is a PRESTIGE WHORE LIKE YOU.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Princeton: 9% accepted</p>
<p>Chicago: 35% Accepted
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Harvard said that 75% of its applicant pool is qualified to attend. Lets assume they gave a higher number to make the rejects feel better, and only 40% are qualified to attend. This means that, to choose the 10% that are admitted, admissions become a crapshoot. Harvard said if it denies the first 10% and accepts the next 10%, there is almost no difference in the quality of the student pool.</p>
<p>Chicago is different in that most of the people qualified to attend are accepted and not subject to the luck of the draw. The quality of the student body is therefore no worse than that of Harvard or Princeton. When taking the "fit" of the school into account, people would choose Chicago.</p>
<p>There aren't many people out there who choose Chicago over HYPSC. Hmmm.. I wonder why.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There aren't many people out there who choose Chicago over HYPSC. Hmmm.. I wonder why.
[/quote]
</p>
<ol>
<li><p>No source or statistics.</p></li>
<li><p>Even if true, just because a majority on High School students think HYPSC is "better" doesn't mean it's right.</p></li>
<li><p>College is a personal choice. Everyone is different. Some people prefer Harvard, others prefer Chicago. If a person wants an intense, academic learning environment, they choose Chicago.</p></li>
<li><p>Those schools give better financial aid because of bigger endowments.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>lakerskindgom,</p>
<p>I personally know a fourth-year physics major here at UChicago who turned down Harvard. No regrets on his part. He loves it here.</p>