Does UChicago live up to its "extremely hard" reputation?

phuriku
Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:43:28 +0000

UChicago is what you make it. Since Core requirements are more demanding, the “lowest difficulty” is probably a peg higher than that of schools with less restrictive general reqs like the non-Columbia Ivy Leagues. That being said, if you’re someone the University of Chicago appeals to, most of the Core classes should be rather easy-going and enjoyable.

In my experience, the problem at UChicago is the same problem that other elite schools have, but to a greater extent. Put a bunch of academic all-stars in the same room and they’re going to naturally over-perform and over-study. Everyone at UChicago graduated at the top of their class - nobody wants to be at the bottom. There’s a reason that Harvard admits a lot of non-academic types, namely to improve campus culture and make it an appealing place for the sons and daughters of senators and billionaires who don’t want to fight teeth-and-nail with the most intellectual students in the country. (Noticed that Chicago has higher SATs than Harvard? Now you know why.)

You could come to UChicago and take it easy, find a nice, fun group of kids to hang out with, take a bunch of stimulating but not overly hardcore classes, have a blast downtown every weekend, and still walk out with a 3.5. The reason that most students don’t take this path is more due to internal motivation (positive or negative, depending on your viewpoint) than anything.