Even though I'm only taking 3 classes this quarter (3 or 4 qualify as full time), it's definitely a sizable load. The 10 week quarter has gone by extremely fast, with tons of material covered every week. The pace is great for an avid learner, and if you are taking courses you are interested in, you will have plenty of opportunity to learn more than what's in the textbook. Even outside of class, everyone has a passion for knowledge that easily rubs off on you, and learning becomes a full-time activity. For example, at a party at the end of 3rd week, I got a rundown of the history of the Irish Civil War over beers while at a party.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
But don't let the predilection for intellectual stimulation fool you: there is plenty of fun to be found here, whatever your definition of fun may be. The parties may not compare with some other campuses, but they are better than you might expect. I'm in one of the residence halls with a reputation for hermitic behavior and complete lack of social life, which should be saying something when the same reputation has been given to the campus as a whole. And yet, that stereotype has been completely disproven in my experience, both for this residence hall and the rest of the campus. Moving along: being in Chicago is especially great if you are from a smaller town. I'll admit I still miss Seattle and would say I prefer it, but it is undeniable that the diversity and magnitude of opportunities available in the Second City are appreciable. Overall, the people I've met, opportunities I've had, and unique experiences available here have caused me to enjoy my time here immensely.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
With 3 classes costing the same as 4, given a class with three 50 minute lectures per week, it comes to between $125 and $175 per class. Honestly, I wonder about the bang for the buck sometimes. Overall, I believe it will be worth it in the end. The unique education, the quality of student life, and the experiences afforded by that arguably exorbitant tuition make it, in my opinion, worth it—but it's open to debate.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Although, ironically, the University has moved to the Common Application, probably just to inflate application numbers, the application was traditionally called the Uncommon Application. Now it's just the Uncommon Essay supplement to the Common Application, but this should lead you to a certain inference: that essay is probably the most important part of the application, so make sure you know how to 1) think and 2) write before you start it. Other than that, I seriously encourage visiting, because that's the only way you'll know if this is the right place for you. You probably hear that all the time, but it is especially important for a quirky place like the University of Chicago.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
If you don't sincerely enjoy the pursuit of knowledge, you won't like it here. You run into far more students who say they don't particularly care about the increased paycheck foreseen for college graduates than who list that as a top 5 reason for coming here. In fact, of the six or so people with whom I've discussed post-graduation plans, four have said they would be perfectly happy doing menial labour for pay and pursuing their interests in their spare time. In reality, most of them will become fabulously rich one way or another (even if it's the route of Tucker Max). But both of these illustrate the types of people who thrive at the University of Chicago: people with an insatiable drive for knowledge, and people with whatever quality of passion is associated with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Even though I'm only taking 3 classes this quarter (3 or 4 qualify as full time), it's definitely a sizable load. The 10 week quarter has gone by extremely fast, with tons of material covered every week. The pace is great for an avid learner, and if you are taking courses you are interested in, you will have plenty of opportunity to learn more than what's in the textbook. Even outside of class, everyone has a passion for knowledge that easily rubs off on you, and learning becomes a full-time activity. For example, at a party at the end of 3rd week, I got a rundown of the history of the Irish Civil War over beers while at a party.
But don't let the predilection for intellectual stimulation fool you: there is plenty of fun to be found here, whatever your definition of fun may be. The parties may not compare with some other campuses, but they are better than you might expect. I'm in one of the residence halls with a reputation for hermitic behavior and complete lack of social life, which should be saying something when the same reputation has been given to the campus as a whole. And yet, that stereotype has been completely disproven in my experience, both for this residence hall and the rest of the campus. Moving along: being in Chicago is especially great if you are from a smaller town. I'll admit I still miss Seattle and would say I prefer it, but it is undeniable that the diversity and magnitude of opportunities available in the Second City are appreciable. Overall, the people I've met, opportunities I've had, and unique experiences available here have caused me to enjoy my time here immensely.
With 3 classes costing the same as 4, given a class with three 50 minute lectures per week, it comes to between $125 and $175 per class. Honestly, I wonder about the bang for the buck sometimes. Overall, I believe it will be worth it in the end. The unique education, the quality of student life, and the experiences afforded by that arguably exorbitant tuition make it, in my opinion, worth it—but it's open to debate.
Although, ironically, the University has moved to the Common Application, probably just to inflate application numbers, the application was traditionally called the Uncommon Application. Now it's just the Uncommon Essay supplement to the Common Application, but this should lead you to a certain inference: that essay is probably the most important part of the application, so make sure you know how to 1) think and 2) write before you start it. Other than that, I seriously encourage visiting, because that's the only way you'll know if this is the right place for you. You probably hear that all the time, but it is especially important for a quirky place like the University of Chicago.
If you don't sincerely enjoy the pursuit of knowledge, you won't like it here. You run into far more students who say they don't particularly care about the increased paycheck foreseen for college graduates than who list that as a top 5 reason for coming here. In fact, of the six or so people with whom I've discussed post-graduation plans, four have said they would be perfectly happy doing menial labour for pay and pursuing their interests in their spare time. In reality, most of them will become fabulously rich one way or another (even if it's the route of Tucker Max). But both of these illustrate the types of people who thrive at the University of Chicago: people with an insatiable drive for knowledge, and people with whatever quality of passion is associated with an entrepreneurial spirit.