<p>There are always negatives at any school, business, or institution. Many times, a trait can be either negative or positive depending on your point of view.</p>
<p>Basically, Chicago is a school for intellectuals; people who like to learn, get a charge out of learning, and think learning is fun. Kids there (according to first-hand reports) stay up until the wee hours of the morning just discussing things for the sheer fun of it. To those who see college only as a place to punch a ticket, learn a profession, or run up a $200,000 bar tab on Dad’s and Mom’s account, Chicago would seem dreary, boring, and over-demanding. For the first sort of student, Chicago seems like a slice of heaven.</p>
<p>My impression as a Chicago dad is that the UC is a “place.” There are many colleges in the country, but only a few of them are so distinctive in culture, approach, shared experiences, etc. that they qualify for “place.” I doubt that many are or could be neutral about Chicago. It appears to be a place you love or hate.</p>