UChicago, Bye Chicago

UChicago wasn't anything like Northwestern. Both the sessions and tours gave off entirely different vibes. These past two days, I have noticed many aspects to both universities that appeal to me, and others not so much. I feel as though Northwestern was calmer and more tranquil, whereas the atmosphere at UChicago was a little bit tense, almost formal.

The session for UChicago took place in the Rockefeller Chapel at precisely 8:30 AM. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a couple of students and asked to find seats wherever we pleased.

The inside of the chapel was a work of art. Stained glass windows and intricate woodcarvings adorned its every crevice. An organ player started us off with some music. Despite the fact that there were hundreds of people there for a tour, I didn’t hear a noise from anyone in the crowd. I know that I can’t speak on behalf of everyone present, but it’s probably safe to say that the chapel’s beauty rendered them speechless. 

Because we did choose to sit in the front row, it was easier for us to not only get a better view but also start up conversations with tour guides and current students. Jared and Rafaela, both UChicago undergrads, were particularly helpful. They answered the “What makes UChicago unique compared to other highly selective universities,” question for us based on their own personal experiences.

Many of their answers had to do with not only the houses and people who have shaped their time at the university, but also Greek Life. I have noticed these past few days the overwhelmingly large group of students in sororities and fraternities. I admit I wasn’t and still am not the biggest fan of Greek Life and it isn’t something I would ever want to consider, but knowing now that there are specific types of sororities and fraternities dedicated to social work makes them seem a lot more interesting and therefore worth joining.

Stained Glass Windows at the chapel

James Nondorf, the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, also gave a speech about the university in which he discussed application processes, financial aid, and life on campus in extra detail. I enjoyed listening to the Dean speak; he was confident and had a presence, the kind that demanded attention. It was easy to tell that the man took a lot of pride in his position and the university that he was representing.

I made lots of mental notes, but also jotted facts, quotes, and numbers down in my handy dandy notebook so that I wouldn’t forget anything. Something that stood out to me was his words of encouragement for upcoming seniors, “You are going to be a fit somewhere.” It was a nice, very important reminder.

Via the dean, we heard a lot about UChicago’s one of a kind housing system. The system is in many ways similar to houses assigned at Hogwarts (Harry Potter). Unlike in Hogwarts, students at the university are not placed together based on similar personality traits and shared values. Instead, people of various educational, economic, national, and cultural backgrounds end up sharing halls and dorms. That way, you come out of the experience a more knowledgeable student, exposed to and familiar with individuals who might not share the same perspectives as you. 

The Regenstein Library 

It’s also important to note that there are a total of 38 houses (3 dining halls) each in UChicago with their own background and traditions.  Resident Heads start hosting activities and field trips in addition to organizing events year round. Apparently, it’s tradition for one of the houses to have their residents jump into Lake Michigan every November 1st.

The Dean also spoke about financial aid at UChicago. The university is very big on grants and scholarships.  They are “need-blind and full-need.” What that means is that they don’t care if you can/can’t afford the schooling. They view you as an individual first. Full need is more concerned with the amount of money that you can be offered as for families.  Merit scholarships are also available and utilized by 10% of the student body works. The tuition for those scholarships ranges from $5,000 to full tuition (granted to kids of Chicago Police Officers and Teachers). All in all, there are plenty of opportunities available for financial help and aid if needed. 

Omni Hotel Lobby

There are many things that I love about UChicago, so I’ll list them. I’m a big fan of the quarter system, because it’s efficient and fast. The architecture is also beautiful, and there are many food trucks on campus. I also find their essay prompts super fun and interesting, which is one of the reasons I would apply in the first place. The internship and shadowing opportunities available are a big deal, especially because they’re paid for by the university for the most part and don’t involve merely fetching coffee.

As for awards, John Jacob "Jay" Berwanger of UChicago was the very first recipient of the Heisman Trophy (before it was called the Heisman Trophy) and, according to our tour guide, they’re undefeated against Notre Dame, despite the fact that the schools haven’t played one another in a good 50 years or so.

I personally am not a big fan of their common core. I’m more into open core systems in which you can focus on your field of study, because the former does seem to me like a huge waste of time. Of course, one should have developed their Basic English and Math skills, but it makes no sense to take someone who’s studying medieval architecture and place them in a chemistry class.  The university also focused heavily on research, and it seemed as though the arts were cast aside at times. Other than that, I really did like the place and wouldn’t mind visiting again. 

After our tour, we grabbed lunch at the food trucks and went back to the hotel to pick up our luggage and leave for Newark. I dreaded leaving the hotel room for another flight. The bedroom was comfy and I had gotten used to the luxury of spending my days somewhere as fancy and elegant as Omni. Never will I ever find as great of a mirror in any other bathroom.  Sadly, I had to leave it all behind.