<p>I’ve heard that the Chicago’s community and student body are very intellectual from others and my Chicago-grad teacher. How did Chicago become well known for having intellectual student body? In what ways are the students ‘intellectual’? The word ‘intellectual’ is quite subjective and obscure that it is hard to prove or gain universal agreement. What features do the students carry that present themselves intellectual?</p>
<p>I think it’s probably a range of factors. The Core is probably the biggest though. Having to take so many required courses, and having them be so difficult on top of that, would be a huge turnoff to anyone who isn’t really passionate about learning and thinking.</p>
<p>They also try and accept people who have a passion for learning.</p>
<p>^ Other top schools also accept students who have a passion for learning, the difference is that on top of that the students in other schools will generally be more interested in extra curricular activities as well. The Core definitely helps promote intellectual discussion, just because you can meet a random person and chances are that he/she has read at least one of the books you have in your Hum/Sosc. The nature of the seminar style discussions in class also helps to foster your general desire to have those types of discussions.</p>
<p>This will provide a little background: [The</a> Idea of the University Colloquium: Donald N. Levine](<a href=“http://iotu.uchicago.edu/levine.html]The”>The Idea of the University Colloquium: Donald N. Levine)</p>
<p>I can’t answer how Chicago became well known for its intellectualism initially, but Robert Maynard Hutchins’ ‘Hutchins Plan’ and the introduction of the core were probably contributing factors.
In fact, as others on this thread have noted, the core probably has been the single most important driving force behind perpetuating intellectual discussion. But its not just the core that does a good job at attracting and nurturing intellectual minds. Another factor is the self-fulfilling nature of the visage of intellectualism. I have heard of, and even met, several students who, despite having the credentials, opted out of applying to UChicago because they felt uncertain about the intellectualism (not rigor), and as such, the people who come to the college are either very bold, or are the proverbial round pegs, seeking they’re round holes.</p>
<p>But I know this doesn’t specifically answer your question. I don’t know what “features” the students carry. Like you, I just have the (apocryphal?) tales of CC’ers to go on…</p>