The University of Chicago

Date: Jul 10 2008
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
I would like to give some advice to those who must choose a top college to attend. I feel like I am in a unique position to give this advice because I am a transfer student from a small liberal arts school (Creighton University), and so I can easily compare the differences between my old school and the University of Chicago. Furthermore, I have many friends at Ivy schools, so I will comment on that where appropriate. A few things I would like to comment on:

1. You will not find the opportunities for intense meaningful research at a small college. Don't get me wrong, the education may be good at a given small school, but the research opportunities are usually not as diverse and do not focus on training the student for success in the professional world. Furthermore, there is not a ghost of a chance you will be unable to find a research position. Just find someone interesting on the University website and then drop by their office for a chat.

2. The academics are challenging in different way than most schools. The work can be difficult at any school, but the end reward from my work at the University of Chicago has had a much larger impact on me than any class I've ever taken before. Other schools that I've seen have defined "challenging" by trying to cram as much information into your brain as possible. Here, by contrast, the challenge usually lies with yourself. How far are you willing to go? I think the experiences people gain here leave them feeling like they were color blind before. To put it simply: you will gain such a mastery of the world and your subject matter that you will be more independent and autonomous than any other school can make you.

3. The social life is pretty good. The people here are quite frankly some of the most amazing I have ever met. They provide intense debate and well thought out arguments generally whenever you feel like it. This is the biggest difference between this school and my old one: the students are extremely intelligent, driven, and amazing to talk to. Beyond this, the city offers many attractions, and there is a theater and a few museums right on campus with world-class performances. The only reason I didn't give social life an A+ is because your course work is so time consuming you may not have the free time to enjoy all of these things.

4. Hyde Park is quite safe. It is at least as safe as any other school located in a city. There are the Chicago police, the University police, and even the Secret Service for a few blocks where Obama lives. A little common sense is all you need.

5. The University versus Ivy Schools. Both the University and Ivy schools (plus Stanford) are great places to go, but they are very very different. At a place like Harvard, my friends tell me the emphasis is on socializing and meeting people to make connections for later in life. The professors are not quite as available, but on the plus side they have more free time because their classes are not as demanding (though I'm sure any motivated student could take advantage of the opportunities there). The University, on the other hand, is all about becoming the best of the best in your field. It may seem a little more dull at times, but if you love learning, it won't be an issue. To be as candid as possible: Ivy schools probably are more fun, but the education here is the best in the world, bar none. The only schools I can think of that really come close are MIT and Caltech.

6. The University versus a smaller school. I will admit I got more attention at a smaller school from my professors and administrators than I got here, but with a little effort I found I could also connect with professors here, and the opportunities offered make the effort worth it. Furthermore, you may find, like I did, that the financial aid is not as generous here as compared with the scholarships you received from other schools. Believe me, it is worth it. If you are the kind of person that loves discovering and debating and wish to be at the top of your field, it is worth it on so many levels.

7. I just want to mention that as I look at some of the complaints people generally raise about this university, they may have had an ideal in their mind that reality did not match, leaving them disappointed. I have to say that coming from another school to here, I am very appreciative of this school and what it has done for me. Some of the people who complain might never have been satisfied by any school.

8. A few odds and ends: The school is quite diverse, with people from all over the world. Most people are quite friendly and willing to pick up a discussion at any point if they are sitting idle on the quads. This school is not the typical college experience, and sometimes I wish I could party more or whatnot, so I know this place isn't for everyone, so do visit before you decide. This is a place for the academically serious students, but there is plenty of room for fun as well, it's all up to you how you use your time.