The University of Chicago

Date: Aug 05 2005
Major: Sociology (This Major's Salary over time)
Overall, The College was a good fit for me.

On the positive side, I loved the intellectual challenge and met a lot of peers who I liked and respected. People, like me, who loved to talk about books and ideas - imagine that! I worked very hard, and I learned a lot. The things that I have carried with me are: good work habits, strong writing skills, critical thinking skills, an aptitude for statistics, cultural literacy, and the ability to stay calm and hold my own in heated discussions. These things will actually take you a long way in business. (I never thought I'd purse a career in business, but here I am.) The U of C had some great teachers, and they assigned lots of wonderful books.

On the negative side, I have to say that I did not find the professors or the administration particularly helpful or supportive. My college years were not easy ones from a family and personal perspective, and I was really on my own. This may have changed by now, but the school could seem extremely brutal. For that reason, I don't really recommend the U of C to prospective students, nor would I want my own child to attend.

In summary: a lot of gain, a lot of pain.

Consider it only if you love the life of the mind, and you have a lot of family money and family support behind you.