| Chicago didn't accept me (wait list). If they did, I would have gone.
I decided to stay here rather than transfer because looking at the situation now, I realize that Reed really will give me a better education. Chicago is a somewhat easier school (or at least can be, if you're seeking that), and more competition-based (meaning there are curves and the like). I got the impression that at Reed, a professor might give a really hard exam and you'll get a C. At Chicago, a professor might give an exam, and you'll get an 85, but after the curve, it will turn into a C (ahem, Gen Chem, cough cough). The schools are difficult differently in that regard. Reed seemed to be more focused on student learning, and Chicago on student evaluation.
Also, the quality of teaching and mentorship from really, really bright minds is unparalleled. I didn't really factor teaching quality / caring about undergrads into my college search, but now that I'm a student, I realize how important it is. (Think about how your favorite high school classes were influence much more by the teacher than the actual material - now imagine if you could have an awesome teacher in anything you were interested in.... Reed). I don't think I can emphasize this enough, even people who dislike a class will readily admit that the professor teaching it is a baller, just not their style. The teaching really is AWESOME.
Go to Chicago if you're looking for more to do outside of school (although I still hear that nobody has fun there... not sure how true that is anymore). And if you don't mind compromising a little (learning from TAs, potentially poor teachers, etc.). If you're big into research, or want a research U type environment, you might want Chicago.
Go to Reed if what you really, really, really want more than anything else is an unreal undergraduate eduction with a bunch of accepting, slightly strange individuals. There are drawbacks to this choice, but for me, it was worth it.
(And I'll negate everything I just said by telling you that wherever you end up going you'll probably like. I spent a lot of time hanging around universities in high school and developed pretty specific interests - I even applied based on the recommendations of my mentors (who were U profs). I applied to Reed two weeks past the deadline on a whim because I heard it was the most intellectual school in the country, which sounded badass. Never prospied. Never visited, ever. Love it.) |