<p>I have a child who is a third year at Chicago. It was her first choice and she turned down schools like Johns Hopkins to go there. She absolutely loves it and is by no means withdrawn, nor does she feel that she lacks a sense of community. She created that community by participating in three major choirs where she has lots of friends and participates in their social functions. She has broadened her horizons in other ways as well, such as taking martial arts and swimming. In short, the school has really been well rounded for her. She enjoys going to the city with friends, doc films, cultural events ( i.e. international dinners ,speakers,on campus concerts), going out to eat at the many ethnic restaurants in Hyde Park and around the city, the museums, etc. In short she is very happy there. While she is not a partier, she has acknowledged having fun and even having a few drinks now and then. The school has been very supportive and she is now a finalist for a major fellowship. Her grades are excellent and she cares about working hard and doing well, but she doesn’t talk about her grades with others and doesn’t really care how other people are doing. She has never considered the school to be cutthroat. In fact, quite to the contrary. She loves to learn and will not be upset if she doesn’t get an A in a course that stimulates her. As a parent, I couldn’t ask for more for my child.</p>