WHY IS THIS SCHOOL AWESOME?
The University of Chicago lies at the nexus of a giant web of opportunities for students, both academic and social. Situated in the neighborhood of Hyde Park on the Southside of Chicago, Illinois, UChicago students enjoy the luxuries of a complete college campus in a nice neighborhood while also having downtown Chicago just 30 minutes away. With about 80 top-ranked programs to choose between, UChicago students have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of classes, all of which feature the Socratic Method in which a professor conducts a roundtable discussion with students each time the class convenes. Students enjoy participating in over 350 student organizations outside of class in addition to reaping the benefits of the entire city of Chicago, allowing for a great balance between top quality academics and a plethora of social opportunities outside of the classroom.
5 WORDS TO DESCRIBE CAMPUS?
GOTHIC (UChicago’s neo-gothic architecture is often cited as looking like Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series!), LUSH (the campus was designated as a botanic garden in 1997), PICTURESQUE, FAST-PACED, LOUD (you can always find someone playing music out on the quad).
THE "TYPICAL STUDENT"...
Academically-driven, passionate about learning, always eager to start a discussion, and ready to have fun when time allows!
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE?
With 10% of the student body hailing from outside of the United States and 72 countries represented on campus, students and faculty alike have constant exposure to new perspectives and cultural elements inside and outside of classes. To better foster this international perspective, UChicago offers about 40 study abroad programs reaching more than 20 countries around the world.
TIPS FOR THE APPLICATION PROCESS?
UChicago wants to see how quirky you can be. On the optional essay (which is by no means genuinely optional), make sure you choose a prompt that will allow admissions counselors to see into the mind of the applicant whose essay they are reading. They want to more than your grades and extracurriculars; they also want to know who you are, and especially how you think. Additionally, a visit to campus is an absolute must; UChicago pays very close attention to the demonstrated interest of all of its applicants.
FUN FACTS?
One of the libraries on campus, the Mansueto Library, has the capacity to house 3.5 million volumes. Similarly, this building was also used to film parts of the movie “Divergent,” specifically the Erudite branch.
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