| Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the US and there's a lot to do outside of school. I've grown up in predominantly sururban regions in those upper-middle class neighborhoods that are quiet all the time except for the yells of little kids. Thus, I really want big city life with a great education. That would be similar to Columbia in terms of academic prestige and location, but Chicago offers better math and econ programs than columbia, both of which I'm interested in. Also, Chicago isn't walled off like Columbia is from the rest of the city. One problem would be the introvertedness of the student body, but I hear that college life is what you make it to be, thus I'm not too worried about that. Also, it seems like everyone at Chicago holds the same mindset about certain issues and thinks along the same lines, no doubt due to the core curriculum and the professors.
One thing that would be better about Chicago would be if it was more selective, thus making it more desireable and leading to that "wow" factor that some people have when they ask you about what college you're attending. | 
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