<p>I went to GU and am a practicing layer in DC. I also love UChicago and its culture. I think you will find lots of intellectuals at GU (especially those interested in politics and law). It is definitely not a state school caring mostly about sports. There are also many very bright foreign students who are embassy brats. They see the world from a different perspective and make things interesting both in and out of class. Crime near GU not bad (same with UChicago where crime over blown there too). Overall, if you do not mind waiting a year, then go to UChicago. But a year is a long time and to quote Richard Posner (famous UC professor), the costs of sitting out a year waiting at UC are not worth the slight marginal utility gained by the difference in educational quality between the two schools.</p>