<p>As an admit for the class of '12, I must say that this conversation and the contentions of some on here are somewhat frightening. Throughout high school, I always knew that I would most likely end up at Uchicago, and because of this I put less emphasis on grades and more emphasis on learning what I wanted to learn. Luckily, the University agreed. (for anyone’s information: I had a 2220 but around a 3.5 with hardest courseload [and a few C+'s] at a very competitive public school).</p>
<p>The thing is, if Zimmer is the sort of insiduous character that people are describing him as and if he does really intend to turn Uchicago into a mini-ivy via rankings, he’s headed in the completly wrong direction! It seems very clear to me that the trend is moving away from “rankings”, especially the US News and World Report ones. I know a conglomeration of reputable schools recently decided to remove themselves from the ranking, but even things like the SATs don’t really hold the same weight they once did in admissions. </p>
<p>I’m sort of conflicted though. Several people have mentioned to me that Chicago is a “hot” school, or is “on its way up”; the thing I like about this (besides self-interest) is that this reputation is built not on the pre-existing name (like Harvard, for example) but really on the quality of the students that are coming out of this institution. So on the one hand, I appreciate this aspect of Zimmer’s changes, but I am weary of my (future) school “selling out”–why compete with Harvard and Yale when the university already has one of the greatest intellectual records in this country?</p>
<p>And if that anecdote about Ted’s speeches is true, it’s saddening indeed. I guess I’ll see first hand next fall…</p>