The University of Chicago

I just transfered from a large state school, and there are certain things i wish i knew. For one thing, my social life (I don't want to add to stereotypes, I'm speaking as a tranfer here) took a real nose dive for a while, and it's only beginning to pick up again. And i mean beyond the expected interim friendless period. It was a real experiment in extroversion. I think the people who make friends the easiest are in dorms, so do that if this is important to you (i live in a townhouse north of campus). Also, anyone with a general thirst for knowledge and unassuming naivety will make friends easier here with the slightly timid, but fundamentally substantial personalities to be found here. Also, it helps to be weird. Once I was nervous about walking around campus wearing a horse-skull Death costume for a film for fear of what it would do to my social life. The director said "... um, i'm pretty sure that would help you if anything."

There are no assholes here. you begin to really see what is estimable in people, with social niceties left to the side. people really care about learning, theory, and humility, i think. There is a very specific sort of person who makes this place tick. if you care deeply about defensible learning, not just jumping into radical theories for their own sake, if you have a respect for the origin of things, you're on your way.

For a more visceral image, I've been here 5 weeks and i've already been mugged once. A good number of my friends have as well at some point in their time here. be careful if you live off campus, invest in a bike (a good bike). And nearly 100% muggings occur after 10:00pm, though it gets dark early here.

but don't get the wrong idea. I love this neighborhood. I haven't even really seen the northside and I already love chicago based on Hyde park. They will feed you some carefully-worded crap about living in an ethnic neighborhood and the impression many Southhampton-types might get is to wall themselves up in their dorms. Don't even think about it! This is the best city in the country, and i've seen them all, lived in new york. explore, and this neighborhood actually has alot to offer, it is real america.

if you are interested in getting involved with film, this is the place to learn the trade. There is a fine student film club, access to great equipment, and they throw tons of money at it. Finally, UChicago is a place that knows and loves it's academic/intellectual traditions. in the public consciousness, this school is associated with Friedman economics and the Chicago School. Two thoughts on this: one, this school's more lasting and estimable intellectual tradition is that of respecting the classical origins of Western Thought, to err on the side of the Greeks. secondly, the econ department is by and large the most daring and innovative thinkers that i've seen, it used to be my major. As one professor put it "the people who are most inclined to question and challenge neo-classical theory are those who are REALLY INTO neo-classical theory..."