<p>UChicago has been one of my top choices for a few years now, but I'm still unsure if I would fit in. I often hear it described as "the place where fun comes to die", and I'm hoping that's a bit of an exaggeration. I'm not a party animal, but I don't think I go along with the socially awkward/geeky stereotype that UChicago students have. Of course, I'm okay with standing out a bit, I just want to make sure that I wouldn't be completely alone in my mostly non-nerdy habits.
Is it possible to find parties there?
Would the type of person that prefers Gossip Girl to Doctor Who feel uncomfortable?</p>
<p>Dr. Who is ass. You’ll fit in, don’t worry. Source: current student</p>
<p>track2015: One way to make sure is to visit if you can and see for yourself, right? I know not everyone can do that but if you can visit (preferably overnight) and walk around and visit a number of classes I’m sure you’ll get a good feel for whether or not you’d like it there. That’s what I would recommend.</p>
<p>It may depend if you are a boy or a girl. I haven’t met many UChicago boys who prefer Gossip Girl to Dr. Who (some would answer “neither”). Among the girls, my sense is that it would be about 50-50. Homeland and Game Of Thrones would smoke either of them.</p>
<p>Let me break down the party scene as best I can, as I haven’t seen anything on this so far:</p>
<ul>
<li>Greek life isn’t as big here as at other schools, clearly. “Frat row” on University Ave. consists of three (or four?) houses. There are fraternities with houses elsewhere, but some do not have a house. Sororities do not have houses. </li>
<li>There is a fraternity that hosts “Bar Night” every Wednesday. </li>
<li>Most of the parties you attend will be at apartments or in the dorms. </li>
<li>People typically are too busy during the weekdays to party because this is UChicago. </li>
</ul>
<p>I live in South Campus and there is something going on every weekend in my house. South is filled with fairly social and “normal” (I hate using that word) people. Max is the same but has a higher presence of athletes due to its location to the gym. I can’t speak for the plethora of other smaller dorms (e.g. Maclean, Broadview, Breckenridge, Blackstone, ect.) but I imagine there are parties there as well. </p>
<p>Just to give you an example of my plans for this weekend…house trip downtown, formal dorm party, and then two fraternity parties. </p>
<p>During midterms/finals things tend to slow down because people are studying. </p>
<p>Overall the party scene here is very open to those who want to participate, but not overbearing. Academics are a priority.</p>
<p>My first reading of @JHS 's comment was, </p>
<p>“Some University of Chicago students would rather smoke up and watch Game of Thrones than watch Gossip Girl,” to which I thought, “Gee, sounds just like MY college friends!” but then I realized he said something different.</p>
<p>One thing I did like (and I hope it’s still true) is that the traditional college scene aspects of Chicago were fairly nonjudgmental. I went to more than a few frat parties in my day and had no idea that at some schools you have to be invited to such things. </p>
<p>I think there are also different ways of being awkward or not-awkward, and for a lot of people I met at Chicago their inner dork only emerged through conversation. I think I can get by for about 10 minutes of conversation before people realize that my hobbies don’t line up at all with most 20 somethings. </p>
<p>anyone who overthinks the “party scene” probably won’t have to worry about getting accepted anyways. just being honest</p>
<p>@beckervross I wouldn’t be so sure about that. I’ve seen my share of party types crank out a problem set or an essay like it’s nobody’s business. The smartest people I know don’t put in “around-the-clock” hours to be successful. Yes, be envious of the rest of us mortals who can’t pretend we don’t work hard. </p>
<p>You took my post the wrong way. No real contenders are applying to UChicago and worrying about “the scene”. The OP talks like someone who doesn’t have a chance to get in</p>