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| Bright |
After reflecting on my fellow classmates’ progress and looking into the numbers, the College seems to break down into seven groups of roughly equal proportions. I think a knowledge of each type of student gives you a good sense of what you are getting into as a prospective student. Keep in mind, it’s the median students in each band that is under consideration, not a single, anecdotal individual.
1. Academic Gods – (3.7+ GPA). Work solidly seven days a week either at their own desk or in the library. Extracurricular activities include research for professors and writing papers for essay contests, summer internships and etcetera. Occasionally will be involved in some type of intellectually intensive club, oftentimes related to their major. Headed to the crème-de-la-crème doctoral programs in all fields usually with a year (Yale law, Stanford math). Most aspire to teach at some point in their careers, even if as an adjunct. The faculty dotes on these students.
2. Strong students- (3.5 - 3.7 GPA) The same as above but with less polish. Procrastinate a little more, cut out of the library a half hour before they should, don’t finish all the reading and so on. Still know how to play the academic game well and are amply rewarded. Also headed to a well-known graduate program of with a few years (Harvard Business School, Cornell Engineering).
3. Respectable – (3.25 - 3.5 GPA) Some gunners try to break into the graduate programs that group two gets into despite their softer numbers. Have a wide variety of study habits and intellectual ability. May be involved with a fair number of extracurriculars.
4. Middling – (3.0 - 3.25 GPA) In a different league for graduate school, most of these students will look for jobs in the private sector with success through on campus recruiting or try to gain relevant research / niche work experience to boost their application for further studies. Once again, have a wide variety of study habits and intellectual ability. May be involved with a fair number of extracurriculars.
5. Weak – (2.5 - 3.0 GPA) These students either do not put in the time for various reasons or really are not cut out for the school. As Chicago has gotten quite competitive the past decade, most of these students see their grades and prospects for the future suffer as a result of their own behavior. A fair number of the fraternity crowd fall into this band.
6. Struggling – (2.0 - 2.5 GPA) These students see it through to the end, usually taking a quarter off for a breather to work or study elsewhere. Oftentimes shortcomings in required courses for majors keep them around for an extra year because of a botched sequence or two. Graduate school prospects in the immediate future are nonexistent for this group, as is much success in on campus recruiting. Investment banks and consultancies (the two fields students seem to find palatable) all have listed GPA cutoffs about a 3.0. Eventually stumble into a stereotypical “office space” type job that they could have gotten having gone to any run of the mill school, e.g. Michigan State. Generally fairly bitter about their experience, and remind you of it by their persistent grumblings.
7. Fail out – (Usually below a 3.0 GPA) The U of C - six year mind you - gradation rate is around 87%. Where do the rest go? Either back to their flagship state school if they are luckily, or to an overpriced liberal arts college if their parents can afford it. Most do not drop out due to the social environment alone; almost all cite academic concerns. If you hear U of C horror stories, this is where they come from. Most of these students profoundly disagree with the schools academic policies: the harsh grading system vis-à-vis other schools, the burden of the general education requirements, and the amount of work assigned. | Education Quality: A+, Surrounding City: D |  | | |
| | Jan 13 2006 | 4th Year Female --
Class 2005 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Super Brilliant | Fun doesn't come here to die, everything comes here to die. | Surrounding City: A, Social Life: F | | | |
| | Mar 04 2005 | 5th Year Male --
Class 2005 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Quite Bright |
The problem wasn't U of C -- the program was rigorous; the staff and faculty were friendly and approachable. The problem was my field of study.
I chose to be an analyst for government applications, during a time where government appears to value analysis least of all commodities. Nowadays, it's cronyism or dogma that'll get you further in the public sector.
If I'd bagged a Master of Jesus-ology at Regent, I'd be an Inspector General or a Cabinet undersecretary by now. As it is, I've been either un- or under-employed since graduation. I understand perfectly the economic and political forces that keep me down; what I cannot seem to do is get a decent job with this knowledge.
So I blame U of C for nothing, in fact it was probably the time of my life. But study something other than Public Policy unless you're already rich and connected, otherwise you won't get to do much afterward. | Preparedness: D+, Reputation: D+ | | |
| | Sep 07 2008 | Alumnus Male --
Class 2000 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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| Quite Bright |
The University of Chicago could be a pretty good experience, and it could (perhaps, more easily) be a horrific experience, depending on the people you are around and how you spend whatever spare time you may have. The only thing that I can confidently say that is good-- or at least, worth it-- is the academic environment. It is undeniable that this school has a good reputation for a reason, and while the core can be tedious and irritating at times, it truly does "round you out" as an intellect... If anything else, the core probably is the most helpful in that it gives you the opportunity (and TIME) to figure out what you're interested in. That way, you can be more confident about your major, and you are less likely to be pressured to declare a major ASAP.
So yeah, we can all agree the academics are great. But most UChicago students will also agree that the U of C's excellent reputation comes with an extreme downfall: lack of a quality social experience. This school requires you to work in order to really gain that proper academic experience. Of course you'll find that "easy A" professor here and there, but for the most part, you won't get away with BSing papers and exams. And if you have never experienced an "all nighter," you'll definitely know what one (or two, or three hundred) are like if you attend the University of Chicago. And because of this, you'll have a hard time getting out of Hyde Park to go to that awesome concert or play, when you have a midterm and two essays due on the next day.
In other words, this school doesn't want you to have fun. They don't want you to be normal. They want to keep you nice and safe in Hyde Park, which by the way, isn't that safe at night. A lot of surrounding communities aren't too fond of the U of C (for good reason), which causes tension between the students and the members of the Hyde Park/south side communities... Your average UChicago student will tell you not to go "there" (i.e. south of the campus). They'll say "don't use the green line, it isn't safe"... And then they'll get mugged after walking down Kenwood at midnight. You need common sense in the city of Chicago, and avoiding the south side because Papa Zimmer told you to isn't going to cut it here. Especially when you're already IN the south side.
The bottom line is, if you don't want to fall into this trap, you must avoid it. Make friends with people who will actually make your experience worthwhile, and avoid those who aren't interested in going out and doing something that doesn't relate to Marx or Durkheim. Make an effort to really be a member of the city, and not just another UChicago student. The city itself is one of the best experiences you can have, if you actually explore it. | Education Quality: A, Social Life: D+ | | | |
| | Aug 09 2008 | 1st Year Female --
Class 2012 | | Blog it!Blog about this comment from your webpage or Blog, or MySpace account:
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