Lots of people graduate from the University of Chicago with a love-hate relationship, but I tended to love it more than hate it. It's incredibly rigorous academically, and socially it's not a typical college experience for many kids. For me, that was a positive thing - I was there to learn, not to drink beer out of a keg while hanging upside down. If you're considering this college, I'd advise you to be serious about academics if you want to go. I would definitely recommend the college whole heartedly, and if I had to do it all over again I would go there again.
The University of Chicago is a great school. While there it is hard to avoid great classes, wonderful professors, and a generally excellent college atmosphere. However, the main thing to avoid is just spending all of your time in Hyde Park (the neighborhood around the university). Chicago is a great city with a lot to offer, and going out into the city and exploring can help add a lot to a well rounded education. The University of Chicago and the city of Chicago are both very impressive. Making good use of both together will lead to an amazing college experience.
If you are considering the University of Chicago GSB, I'd recommend attending a local reception to speak with alumni about the program. The GSB has receptions around the globe and details are available on the website. Naturally, the GSB is well known for it's strength in finance and if you are interested in investment banking or corporate finance, the GSB is undoubtedly your best choice. However, the GSB is also strong in other disciplines as well. Particularly many students find jobs in private equity and marketing after leaving the GSB.
The University of Chicago is not for everyone, but for students who are dedicated, more interested in Aristotle than alcohol, and committed to learning in an academic community, it should be a possible choice. The quality of education is very high and not marred by the grade inflation common to better-known east coast schools. There are many opportunities for undergraduate research and study abroad.
This is a college for uncommon intellectuals, those called to challenge themselves everyday and to revolutionalize their thinking. Be prepared to have your intellct stomped upon on the first day of class. The con of this school is the weather; classes are cancelled only if it's -50F outside! People should know that below its nerdy exterior is a beautiful core.
University of Chicago is full of some of the brightest individuals in the world. There are levels of intelligence that you never even knew existed. Given this, it is also so highly academic that oftentimes pragmatism is out the door. Do not expect to come away with any real world skills other than critical thinking and reading. I never wanted to pursue a career in academia but it seems that many if not all of my counterparts did. I was not only there to learn but also to apply and I would say that that has been very trying since I have left. There seems to be no appreciation for real world technique and practice just critique on how it could be better.
40 years ago, women used to score 50 points lower on the Math portion of the SAT than on the Verbal. Today, their Math and Verbal scores are nearly identical on average.
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The MyPlan.com Values Assessment Test scores and ranks 900 different careers based on how well they match your values system!
