(UChicago) I decided to attend the University of Chicago on

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Date: Dec 13 2005
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
I decided to attend the University of Chicago on a whim, after graduating at the top of my high school class. It was the only college that did not offer me a scholarship; in fact, it offered no financial aid package until late in the first quarter because of an admin error.

It took me longer to adapt to this College than it had taken before or has taken since for any other environment, and I tend to adapt quickly under fire. Mostly I learned from my peers in class and from highly tenured faculty; there was only one course that was run by TAs in four years. During the 1980s, the quality of instruction was outstanding, and the standards for good grades were generally very high. The undergraduate experience at Chicago forms a foundation in my professional life that I now immensely twenty years later.

Chicago is a true school of the mind, if one is brave enough to ignore the hype, erstwhile inferiority complexes, and pre-professional nonsense. True intellectual mentors and role models abound and the Hyde Park culture, while somewhat tainted by the liberalism and tuition inflation of most top American campuses, retains its own unique gravitas stemming partly from its strong research roots, and partly from its geographical isolation through those long Chicago winters.

I strongly recommend the school to anyone who wants to pursue a career as a scientist. Somewhere during the long adaptation process, the University of Chicago imparts a valuable education.

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I agree about the adaption process.

The education in the 00's is nowhere near as good as in the 80's, or so it would seem. I have two classes taught by grad students, one of who comes into class without any preparation whatsoever and expects us to have an interesting discussion. His laziness is maddening, although I've heard that others have more interesting classes. I came here to be able to study things which interested me, and not have to compete for grades, and what am I doing? Fighting amongst overachieving premeds to make a decent portion of the Gen Chem bell curve. I haven't had one interesting class since I've been here. What's up with the U of C education?

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