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Why did I decide to come
to the University of Chicago? Why Chicago? This is a very loaded, emotion evoking question for me. You see, I was born at the University of Chicago. Even though I live in Texas, I have always thought of Hyde Park as my home. My decision to come here was governed both by my heart and mind. I saw the U of C as a place of beauty, made up of big grey stones, Ivy, and Memories, but I also saw it as a place where the mind becomes free from its fetters. I knew that if I came here, I would be allowed to participate in my education. Students at the University of Chicago are players on the pedagogical field rather than spectators in the stands. There is something about the U of C that makes you feel like you belong there. It's like a faint whisper in your ear that seems to emanate from every stone in every building. Chicago begins its dialogue with your mind by uttering a comforting "Welcome Home." — Karl Haraldsson, first-year studentI came to the University of Chicago because I realized there was no place on Earth I'd rather be. Every day I revel in the ridiculous perfection of being here- whether I'm feeding squirrels on the quad with friends, seeing that what I read in Sosc is perfectly compatible with a stupid conversation I have on Instant Messenger at 2 AM, or sitting in the Reg working on a problem set with the Jackson Five blasting in my headphones, I am continually amazed at how much I'm learning, enjoying myself, and would never want to be anywhere else. — Grace Chapin, first-year studentI decided to come to this school because of the diversity of the student body--everyone has different passions and ideas. People are intellectually curious and love to get into in depth discussions late at night. All in all, what it came down to was "the gut feeling," cliched as it may be. It just felt right to be surrounded by such different people. — Willa Wail, second-year studentI had read the literature about University of Chicago, and I was pretty excited about the school, but not completely sure. Then I visited- I took a tour and hung out with some current students for a few hours (one went to my high school and volunteered to show me around). I was sold, they were so interested in their classes. In high school, I felt that no one was interested in the material outside class. Even if we had a great discussion going in class, once the bell rang that was it. Here I found students discussing their classes within their rooms, in the quads, and in the dining halls. It was just the atmosphere I was looking for (of course, it didn't hurt that all of the current students I hung out with were super nice and friendly!) — Julia Rotondo, fourth-year studentI decided to come to the U of C because it has a great location (near but not in a big city), a beautiful campus, outstanding faculty, varied housing options, decent food and most importantly...AWESOMELY COOL, quirky, fun AND intellectual people. And I feel like I fit in here and can be my true nerdy self. — Katherine Bierce, second-year studentI came here because I want to be involved in academics in my professional career, and I had been told that UChicago was one of the best places for people interested in that sort of thing. I also didn't want to miss out on being in an amazing city full of professional and academic opportunities. — Jarrett Fowler, second-year student I wanted my college to be a community of thought, and U Chicago was it. The school respects us as thinkers and as people, and we respect each other too. There are a lot of places where people are smart, but here, we are all supportive of each other too. This is the school for discussions about anything and everything that last until 5 am. This is the place where, back at your dorm, you are still talking about what you were discussing in class hours ago. That's what I saw when I visited, that's what everyone I knew who went here said, and that's what I found here myself when I arrived.
I wanted a college that I thought didn't exist. I wanted the community feel and the connections with professors that a liberal arts college offered; I wanted to be in a research university where I knew that things were always going on. I wanted to be in an urban environment; I wanted a campus with lots of trees in a quiet neighborhood. I wanted to go to a school where students who were academically motivated; I wanted to go to a school where students didn't focus on grade-getting. I wanted to go to a school where I could just feel comfortable being me. Chicago was my school when I was a high school student, and it will continue to be my school long after I graduate.
always felt a little out of place in high school. I was always super nerdy and always felt confined by this label. At the University of Chicago everyone is nerdy (a term which I personally think is synonymous with "intellectually curious"), and then when you find your niche here, it's with the basis that everyone is already serious about learning. I wanted a school where I could wear my love for learning on my sleeve, and still have a good time in the stereotypical college way. Fun comes here to do random things--whether it's at a frat party or during Scav Hunt. I don't think there's any other school where you can see two jocks come to blows over a passage in Kant (seriously, that happened my first year!)
I came to the University of Chicago because I knew this was a place that cared about the intellectual endeavors of thier students rather than some later grade. I also liked how being the wierdest person ever meant being the coolest. It is a wierd switch.
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