<p>I was in a similar position, except Tulane was/is cheaper for me than it would be for you.</p>
<p>It honestly sounds as though you have wanted to attend UChicago for a while now, and I think that’s where you should go. You were just looking for people to re-affirm and/or justify this for you. Go with your gut; choose the place that most feels like home.</p>
<p>Now to contradict the subtle Tulane hate: </p>
<p>I couldn’t be happier to have chosen Tulane. Honest. I couldn’t have been happier with my freshman year. Say what you will about the “party-going” atmosphere, but grad schools/future employers will know you personally, and your fellow classmates won’t affect that. You’d be remiss to think any undergraduate college in the country, full of 18-22 year olds, doesn’t have their fair share of parties. Don’t get it twisted.</p>
<p>Enjoy UChicago, truly. One of the most beautiful things about Tulane is the community atmosphere, how students there love the school and the city, how we’re willing to look students at UChicago or wherever in the eye and explain to them why we love our school more. This is very much something we pride ourselves on, and people who don’t love Tulane as much as our average student does don’t fair too well. UChicago has a rep most schools would kill for, but I am confident enough in my own self not to rely on my school’s name sake–no offense intended whatsoever. Besides, undergrad only means so much. I never in a million years will believe a school–be it an ivy or a school of that kin–would turn me down because I “settled” for Tulane.</p>