<p>What are your thoughts on both</p>
<p>Chicago—one of the most intellectually curious student bodies out there, top departments across the board, though probably slightly weaker in the natural sciences, very rigorous core curriculum that forces exploration across the disciplines, the city of Chicago is your playground. grade deflation compared to most schools</p>
<p>Davidson— a notch down in prestige. Very big on the honor code. also very strong in a lot of departments but probably weaker in the physical sciences (math, physics, compsci). Lots of students in greek life or eating clubs but not a hugely stereotypical frat/sorority environment. one of the few LACs with D1 sports and pretty intense school spirit (at least for basketball). In a very quaint suburb of Charlotte. Also has grade deflation compared to most schools.</p>
<p>Oddly enough, my Chicago alum interviewer was a professor at Davidson. Although the interview was ostensibly for Chicago, he did his best to convince me to apply to Davidson, a college he viewed as academically rigorous but with a superior social life. (This was just before Chicago underwent its dramatic ascent in selectivity and popularity.)</p>
<p>CollegeXC1993’s descriptions are fairly accurate, but the grade deflation statement no longer holds for Chicago. Many people have attested to rising GPAs there, but the reputation still seems to linger.</p>
<p>I have an opportunity to play football at both of these institutions along with many other top notch places and with my grades/scores I’m almost guaranteed to get in. Just looking for the best option others include: all ivies, and Pomona college</p>
<p>Davidson for sure. I am going based on what I have been told and read, a lot about. Most people who went to Chicago just seemed not that happy. It is a stifling and dreary place to be all winter. On the other hand, I have been told there is a “free-er” feel to Davidson.</p>
<p>I’ve never been to Chicago but live very near Davidson. It’s the quintessential quaint college town with all the big retail businesses of suburbia just a few miles away in the next town over. Then there’s Charlotte tens miles down the interstate.</p>
<p>Davidson students come from all over the country. The Davidson Honor Code is taken very seriously. The campus is beautiful. The weather is nice. The town is very supportive of the college. The town residents turn out for the football and basketball games. The basketball team has been great in recent years going and is changing conferences. They will now be in the Atlantic 10 for basketball. </p>
<p>Have only heard good things about Davidson in the 25 years that we’ve lived here.</p>
<p>Similar to UC versus Northwestern. Future professors versus future professionals. Well bred social smart kids versus unusual smart kids from many backgrounds.</p>
<p>If you’re into sports/social events I think you would like Davidson better.</p>
<p>Chicago > Davidson for everything except social life and sports.</p>
<p>Well to be honest, I’m a bit biased since I’m going to Davidson in the fall but I want to say that either way, you’re gonna get a great education. Davidson definitely has more in the athletic department while U Chic definitely has a reputation for intellectualism, but it’s really up to you what you want. Atmosphere wise, they’re fairly different so I think it’s important to think about what you want in a school. If you want a school that’s academically rigorous with a good social and athletic scene, I think Davidson would be a better fit. If you’re more intellectually inclined and want a thorough yet comparably rigorous education (especially with its core curriculum) I’d say go to U Chicago. </p>
<p>Both schools have their downsides though: both, though I’ve heard more about Davidson’s because I’m going there, can almost be too intense in the workload, with some grade deflation and stressful workloads. Both have Greek life but I think Davidson has a larger scene, which may or may not be a draw towards it. U Chicago is stereotyped as the place where fun goes to die, which might hold some truth. However, U Chicago also has more majors and more available courses due to its size and graduate program while Davidson is more limited. Also, it’s nestled in Chicago while Davidson is in a quaint college town around 25 minutes away from Charlotte, which isn’t nearly as large as Chicago. Either way, you’d only make a wrong choice if you feel like you don’t fit at the college you end up choosing so choose where you think you best fit.</p>