A Great Opportunity, If You're Careful

If I could go back in time to when I was applying to schools, I would still choose to apply to UChicago again. They gave me an incredible opportunity with great financial support to pursue what I wanted, and the connections I made after university were invaluable-- it is part of the reason I'm working where I am today. However, I would still be cautious and not underestimate the rigor of the coursework. The classes are challenging and their expectations of when you should complete assignments and the volume of text you have to read and essays you have to write can quickly become unmanageable if you let them slip, especially while maintaining your extracurriculars. The atmosphere of the school, while generally supportive, can still make you feel like you have to compare yourself to your incredibly bright classmates, which increases the pressure of your studies. I enjoyed the experiences I had but I would be lying if I didn't say my work ethic took a dive towards burnout before graduation. High expectations coupled with a slightly competitive class group and various extracurricular responsibilities make it feel impossible to stay afloat.

The course curriculum emphasized a well rounded, liberal arts approach to learning. As a Political Science major I still had to take classes in chemistry, calculus, and biology, as well as classes in the humanities, sociology, and history. They did not afford me research experience in their own but they did make me realize how important it was to be taking a core curriculum.

There were about 20 students to 1 professor in discussion sections, and about 50-70 students to 1 professor in lectures. They're all incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable, though not all of them are as good at teaching as they are in researching. I particularly loved a few of my TA/grad-student led classes, though these TAs have gone on to positions outside of UChicago. I really enjoyed Austin Carson's class on global empire and Leila Brammer's class on policy and persuasive rhetoric.

The extracurricular life of UChicago is thriving, with several organizations advertising, performing, and selling treats on campus. There is something for everyone, from a professional resume pad to a fun hobby to meet friends. The housing life tries to make you closer to your housemates through group activities (since you have to stay in campus housing for 2 years), but this was not as successful for me as I moved out after my first year. The libraries are plentiful, in addition to the student run coffee shops, all of which vary in aesthetic value. The wifi is decent-- often spotty but does the bare minimum of working. There are also two gyms on campus.

UChicago is a well-known university with lots of corporate connections. In the Political Science dept there was an institute of politics which would offer frequent internships at well-known think tanks, government offices, nonprofits, and consulting groups. There are also a lot of opportunities for those going into venture capital, investing, and consulting after college, which pay extremely well. These large corporations will do on-campus recruiting events through Uchicago.

I only lived in campus dormitories for my first year of college. I was lucky to get a single room where I didn't have to share (which is the case in certain houses in Burton-Judson). After that, I moved to an apartment a few blocks away. The rent for it was about $700 USD a month, though it has increased to $850 now. You have the option to stay in dormitories for all 4 years, but will probably need to be on a meal plan.

My scores: ACT 34/36, SAT 1440/1600, SAT II in Chemistry: 580 SAT II in Literature: 730 SAT II in Japanese: 580. I was not able to read my LOR, but they were submitted by my debate coach, English, and History teachers. I submitted a resume of my extracurricular experiences, detailing my time in Debate, Forensics, Key Club, Student Senate President, Student Advisory Board, National Honors Society, and Health Occupations Students of America. I had 1 round of an optional interview with an alumni of the school. It was to gather more insight on me as a student and supplement my application.

Tuition is around 70,000-80,0000 USD-- very steep but I was able to attend for free due to need-based scholarships and grants.

I got a Superintendent's Scholarship from my district which is $1,000. I also got a regional Elk Lodge scholarship which was $1,000/year. I applied for both of those. I then received a need-based Odyssey Scholarship which was specific to UChicago.