<ol>
<li><p>Ugly? I like the Reg (library), but Max (dorm) is just overwhelmingly awful from the outside. There are some so-so 50’s buildings on campus, but nothing actively ugly. As far as the city goes, the general architecture is some of the most interesting and diverse I’ve seen. The only thing I could call ugly is in a way aesthetically beautiful blocks and blocks of abandoned or burned out apartment buildings on the southwest side.</p></li>
<li><p>The University Bookstore is average, so yes, they will rip you off. However, getting used textbooks independantly can be a fine deal, and if you are not an econ or science major, you won’t need many textbooks. Classes tend to use readings and actual normal paperbacks, which are reasonable at the Seminary Co-Op bookstore (usually $10-25, avg 3 books per course, easy to find cheaper used).</p></li>
<li><p>Ice cream and coffee aren’t terrible at the dining halls, so they are effectively free. Hyde Park is average outer-city. Coming from San Francisco, this felt normal. There are crazy cheap chicken and sandwich places that look pretty clearly like holdovers from the 50s and some moderately nice restaurants.</p></li>
</ol>