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What are mental health services like?
The people who work at SCRS are really nice, and they're interested not only in counseling (they do short-term counseling and referrals out for long-term) but also support groups and such.
Student Counseling & Resource Service at the University of Chicago
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Is the Ratner Gym/Henry Crown open crazy long hours to accommodate the insomniac fitness enthusiast in me?
Ratner's open 6am-midnight most nights, and Henry Crown might have slightly shorter hours.
University of Chicago Athletic Facilities Hours of Operation
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How do the dining halls work?
Each dining hall has a dorm assigned to it. The breakdown:
Max P, Snell-Hitchcock, Blackstone, Stony Island: Bartlett
Shoreland floors 2-7, Burton-Judson, Breckinridge: Burton-Judson
Shoreland 8-12, Maclean, Pierce: Maclean
Bartlett is a la carte and the "best" dining hall; BJ and Pierce are one swipe all-you-can-eat madness. Your first year, you will be allocated primarily Bartlett dollars or meal points with a little bit of wiggle room for the other dining halls; your second year, you have some variability in your meal plan. Bartlett is the best dining hall if you keep Kosher.
I know it sounds a bit weird to be told to eat at a certain dining hall, but all of the dining halls are centrally located and a walk to one is as easy as a walk to another.
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What's O-Week like?
A lot of fun and a lot of stress, only you'll be stressing about silly things, like placement tests and gym tests. There are three required seminars, a meeting or two with your advisor, but other than that this is your time to have fun, meet people, go to parties, and explore Chicago. Just careful on the party bit-- O-Week is supposed to be a dry week and the upperclassmen O-Leaders may not point you in the direction of parties, but there are many around. If you're concerned about having fun and meeting your crowd, start getting to know the upperclassmen who come back to campus early for the express purpose of getting you drunk.
I should also add that it's very easy to stay dry during O-Week, as parties in the dorms are a BIG no-no during O-Week.
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If I splurge on one decorating accessory for my dorm room, what should it be?
A lamp.
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Which on-campus coffee shop serves the best coffee?
Div school coffee shop, no question about it.
You can also check out Classics Cafe (second floor classics), Cobb Coffee shop (basement of Cobb), Gargoyle Cafe (basement of Stuart-- that's where you'll see all of the future world leaders and current econ students), C-Shop (Reynolds Club), Hallowed Grounds (second floor Reynolds Club), and, if you're a noob who likes pricey coffee, the Starbucks at the University of Chicago "bookstore" on 58th and Ellis.