Columbia vs. UChicago

Nabokov · 10-15-2009, 07:03 PM

Hey, Columbians. High school junior here. I'm starting to think about where to apply next fall. Thus far, my favorite two schools have been CU and U of C. I really dig the idea of a core curriculum, the intellectual candor of students, Hyde Park and Morningside, the lack of overbearing frat/kegger scenes, and the fantastic philosophy, econ, and poli sci deparments. I could go on.

Anyway, at this point, I think I'd like like to apply early to either Columbia or Chicago. I presume a lot of you would have considered U of C for the same reasons I did. It would be interesting to hear what factored into your decisions.

Thanks.

xs0itg0esx · 10-15-2009, 10:32 PM

You can apply early decision to columbia and early action at chicago simultaneously. However, if you are admitted to columbia, than you must go there.

Nabokov · 10-15-2009, 10:42 PM

Right. If I apply ED to Columbia, I will also apply EA at Chicago. I just want to be sure that Columbia is a better fit before applying ED there.

srrinath · 10-16-2009, 09:37 AM

I'm applying ED Columbia and EA Chicago this year, but yes, please be sure to figure out if Columbia is the right school for you before making a commitment as large as ED.

Aristororty · 10-16-2009, 10:36 AM

That's tough. Also, really cool that you want these things and you're only a high school junior. Kudos.

Maybe do some visitations, just base it off of feel? Or maybe choose based on the city? That seems a little superficial at first, but if you think about it, you are going to be living somewhere for the next four years. It matters.

ratchutuni · 10-17-2009, 02:12 PM

What is ED and EA ? i never knew what it was, i saw this on a lot of the posts. anybody help ?

ImmanuelKant · 10-17-2009, 06:54 PM

I'm applying ED to Columbia and EA to UChicago too. I actually have a friend doing the same thing.

And have you read pale fire?

Dad_of_3 · 10-17-2009, 07:07 PM

To #6, ED is Early Decision - if you get accepted, you're notified in December and you are committed to going there. EA: Early Action you're notified early that you're accepted, but you are not obligated to go there. Many schools don't permit more than one EA. There are other variations such as Rolling admissions.

srrinath · 10-17-2009, 07:29 PM

ED Columbia - EA Chicago is a very popular combination.

Smithview · 10-19-2009, 02:58 PM

My son was torn between UC and CU. Did EA for UC and reg for CU. Got into both and ended up going to Columbia. Absolutely loves it. The city is amazing, the students are friendly and the academic rigor is what he was looking for.

admissionsgeek · 10-19-2009, 04:02 PM

As I PM'ed Nabokov. I have affiliations with both unis. Did my ugrad at Columbia and as most folks know on here, I am an ardent believer in what Columbia offers undergrads.

Though it seems natural to compare the two schools because they have similarities...I actually think that is oversimplifying. The culture at both is very different despite their location in cities and affinity to core curricula; I don't think you can confuse a Columbia student for a Chicago student.

For the most academically inclined I think that Chicago offers a very unique environment. But even for those students, there is a fine line between academic rigor and a cloister. Columbia is no cloister, and that is precisely why I think it offers a dynamic you wont find. Yes of course you may want to be a professor, a scientist, a bureaucrat. But also too I think that interacting with non-academic individuals is critical for personal growth, realizing one's own biases and developing a realistic outlook on life and the world.

No knock on Uchi. It is an intense place with very smart people (certainly folks that will revolutionize some form of thought). But there is a missing quality that makes it non-ideal for me, at least compared to Columbia.

CULion10 · 10-19-2009, 05:12 PM

Hi Nabokov,

What ultimately led me to pick Columbia was the overwhelming number of resources available to you as a student here. In terms of academics, you have the original Core Curriculum, which is an amazing experience (having completed it myself). In terms of activities, you will not find a better experience than Columbia. With a mix of over 400 student groups as well as the incredible resource that is New York City, student life at Columbia is absolutely amazing. Those two things are really what made Columbia my first choice.

If you haven't yet, I really recommend coming to campus and taking a campus tour, as that was what really made Columbia click for me!

silverchris9 · 10-19-2009, 07:05 PM

I also did Columbia ED and UofC EA. I picked Columbia because I thought it had a better arts scene. I was right. Also, the "great books" style core at Columbia fits me a little better than the UChicago core, even though I think the UChicago core is a little more rigorous/focused. (And also doesn't have Frontiers of Science, aka the worst class ever.)

Honestly, I would have been happy at Chicago too. It's probably a slightly more academic/intellectual atmosphere (which I would've liked, I think), but slightly less artistic (as in, music, theater, visual art) atmosphere, which would've been sad. Also, I believe Columbia is more diverse (in race/ethnicity, but also socioeconomically, I think), which is nice. And Morningside Heights > Hyde Park.