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<p>this is like asking if Obama is the first black president in USA.</p>
<p>Based on what I hear from my son (now a third year), it’s not just that the program is rigorous: we all know that. What really impressed me is that well renowned faculty members are willing so spend so much time engaging undergraduate students. As a first year (lowest on the totem pole), he had no problem getting hours worth of air time with his faculty members - as much as he wanted.</p>
<p>My son’s term papers are sometimes returned with comments from the faculty that is longer than his original paper (no, it’s not because his work is shoddy. We are talking about papers that got him A’s). He could stop by and talk with the faculty members (not TA’s) for hours. One faculty member tutored him for an afternoon and waived two course sequence prerequisite for an advanced course which my son thought he could only audit because he did not have the mandatory prerequisite courses under his belt). It goes on and on.</p>
<p>If you are looking for solid undergrad education, it will be hard to beat U Chicago. In other matters, Chicago may not be a good fit for you (certainly not those who think big time sports and vibrant Greek scenes are part of a well rounded undergrad campus experience)</p>