<p>JHS,</p>
<p>Chicago is MUCH worse than its peers in promoting undergrad achievement. </p>
<p>To use an example, most schools issue press releases when undergrads win major awards like the Goldwater. Chicago does not. For example, when a kid I know well won a few years ago, I emailed the press office to find out why. The person handling the college, admittedly new on the job, never even thought of it and asked me if other places put out news pieces. And to say “Undergraduates don’t usually have a lot of promotable accomplishments --” is just not true. They win Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Gates etc. every year. they also do notable things as undergrads. </p>
<p>It seems to be a Chicago tradition to just not talk about achievement. (like Lake Woebegon?) They only have one level of graduation honors. Jr PBK inductees are only identified in the Chronicle undergrad awards edition, and even there not identified as juniors. etc. </p>
<p>Many competing institutions are in the news because they do trumpet their undergrad’s accomplishments. Maybe that is part of why they are better known.</p>
<p>BTW, comparing Chicago to Georgetown, Dartmouth et al, schools with weak grad programs (if any) is really not a fair comparison.</p>