<p>O.K. I’ve got to chime in here. I lived several years of my childhood and adulthood in Hyde Park. I bundled up and walked everywhere. I took the CTA and Metra (used to be called Illinois Central) to downtown and northside. Driving is much worse than it used to be but still much more doable than NYC. I have driven all over the city and suburbs due to jobs and friends. I loved driving down Lake Shore Drive with the windows open and catching the breeze and seeing the downtown skyline. </p>
<p>Now for embarrassment - the frat in that photo is my S’s frat (BS '05) and yes it is much like Animal House! When I would go visit him at U of C, I could barely step inside there. They did do many updates to it in summer 2004. He loved it though and lives with two frat mates (graduated a year earlier) in NYC now and they all have great jobs and are enjoying NYC life (when they’re not working which takes up many hours!!). BTW, frats make up only about 8% of student life. I think U of C experience was very special to him because his g’parents live in the neighborhood who he regularly visited. He made friends for life there and he has an entire U of C network in NYC. He has brought about 8 of them here to CT and they all seemed like great young people with bright futures. I am always impressed by Chicago students.</p>
<p>My 2nd S got into there but chose NYU. He likes it there very much and walks all over the place. Now we are looking for college for D. It’s very possible that my D wouldn’t make it in to U of C. She is smart but not a great test taker and I don’t think she would appreciate the intellectual atmosphere there. They would probably be interested in her soccer abilities though. I guess we should do the official tour at U of C anyway.</p>
<p>U of C is more beautiful than ever, I think, with all the flowers and plantings. I’m not crazy about the architecture of the Max P dorms. The interiors are great though.</p>