Harvard ED vs UChicago ED

JBStillFlying
Wed, 13 Jan 2021 16:58:46 +0000

skieurope:

“Expected” would not be my descriptor. There is a different real estate reality in Cambridge vs. Hyde Park. There are few affordable off-campus options for Harvard students.

That’s true. My relative was probably speaking from the perspective of the parent community and conversation (as well as what classmates were doing) as opposed to any specific mandate or strong encouragement from the school itself. Harvard has a significant residential culture, for whatever reason, that UChicago doesn’t have. The latter is due to an awkward history of messing up housing throughout the decades, the collapse of undergrad enrollments in mid-last century, and its founding and early years as primarily a “commuter school.” Their most recent dorm just came online this year so once things return to normal they will be able to house 50-60% of the undergraduate student body - but no more than that. Most 3rd and 4th years will still leave campus. UChicago does have a house system which is really great, but they’ve been shifting that around to re-boot house culture with the addition of the newer dorms. Like most everything else about UChicago, residential living is a moving target.