University of Chicago

Apollo1331 · 12-19-2005, 05:27 PM

ok..

so i got in @ rice ed, right? and then i got deferred from U of chicago early action...what's up with that?? did ne one else get accepted/rejected/deferred who applied to rice ed? and is u of chicago BETTER than rice??? no wayz...

nspeds · 12-19-2005, 06:17 PM

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is u of chicago BETTER than rice???

1) It depends on the department. For some majors, UChicago is, indeed, better.
2) UChicago is known for being one of the most academically oriented universities. From where were the phrases 'UChicago is where fun comes to die' and 'the only thing that goes down on you is your GPA' derived?

rufio055 · 12-19-2005, 06:19 PM

It's cold in Chicago, you're better off where you're headed now. Trust me.

Apollo1331 · 12-19-2005, 06:47 PM

lol. i know! im soo excited about rice!!

misterme2009 · 12-20-2005, 12:23 AM

this kind of thing happens all the time. just because you werent accepted to u of chicago doesnt mean they are better. each college is looking for different types of things in an applicant.

pilebay · 12-20-2005, 02:26 PM

Well according to U.S. News and World Report University of Chicago is actually ranked better than Rice. I think that it is like 15 and Rice is like 17. I got about halfway through my University of Chicago application and than decided that it was not the school for me. And I also find it a little odd since Rice has a 22% acceptance rate and University of Chicago is like 45%. I personally think that Rice is a better school and am glad that it is where I am going.

misterme2009 · 12-20-2005, 02:35 PM

The difference between two places in the US News ranking is negligible anyways.
And I didn't realize chicago's acceptance rate was that high.

nspeds · 12-20-2005, 04:05 PM

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And I didn't realize chicago's acceptance rate was that high.

I believe this is because of its low yield, which, I heard, is because of its location and rigour.

boethian · 12-20-2005, 04:54 PM

Low yield is not a good thing, that's why ED/EA options are good for colleges. Are you implying that is should be higher?

nspeds · 12-20-2005, 05:05 PM

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Are you implying that is should be higher?

It depends on what type of student you are; UChicago attracts students who have serious academic interests and want a rigorous education. That is not to say that Rice students do not; however, Rice university does not parallel the academic rigour of UChicago - all of the Ivys do not, either - and only a few students possess the desire to subject themselves to it.

brooke_u · 12-20-2005, 05:16 PM

uchicago is one of a kind. and i agree with nspeds. only certain types of students would do well at uchicago. academically, i'd say uchicago is the best you can get, but if you are looking for other things in a college as well (as most people are) then uchi may or may not be the best place to go.

obviously i'm partial to uchicago, though, because i am going there next year.

Apollo1331 · 12-20-2005, 05:47 PM

i agree, if you're looking for a well-rounded experience with great people and professors, come to rice.

but if you need a place just to study to attempt to maintain a 2.0 gpa, by all means, go to uchicago

nspeds · 12-20-2005, 06:00 PM

I was thinking of applying to UChicago last year, but I need to go to grad school and law school, and I do not think they care that the institution from which I am applying suffers from grade deflation.

nspeds · 12-20-2005, 06:02 PM

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if you're looking for a well-rounded experience with great people and professors, come to rice.

UChicago has great professors and students; it just suits a different type of personality. Just as not everyone is suited to attend MIT, some students are not suited to attend UChicago.

boethian · 12-20-2005, 06:30 PM

I also like Chicago and want to go to grad (probably law), but yeah honestly I don't want work to take over my life AND have a shoddy gpa. It is sometimes hard to go to all your classes, sit in on guest lectures, hang out a little, browse around the library, waste time on CC, do your work, and prepare enough to get law school-level grades. The 25-75% ranges are ~3.8-3.95, so you want maybe 3.7+, and that's an A minus! Forget it.

Sometimes what you learn does not justify the grades. If you take a course which you don't feel was very helpful, and then you get a bad grade, it is pretty pointless. If grading is going to be arbitrary, let it be arbitrary on the high side.