<p>There are few other schools that are known specifically for the hyper-intellectualism of Chicago. I’m sure there are many other schools full of students that obsessively love learning, but only Chicago has that specific public image.</p>
<p>Case Western is definitely a nice school. Berkeley is fairly intellectual and competitive, but it is outside of your distance range, and the deadline has passed. I would consider Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore, but those are difficult to get into, and I’m not sure if that is the level your are looking for.</p>