It's a great school,, but you have to want it

Introduction
This is a great school if you want it, and if not, there's nothing that I can do or say that will make you like it. Otherwise, you'll be wondering why you're reading Marx, Freud, and Kant. You have to like school (at least somewhat) and you have to come to terms with the fact that you'll be doing more work for worse grades than a lot of other top schools. If you're willing to agree to those conditions, and you're looking for a school that will give you a great education and without a lot of the "fluff" of other schools, you've come home!

Campus Life and Social Life
Students divide time between the library, frat parties, and downtown. It's really up to you. The party scene is there if you want it, but it's not major. Alcohol is allowed in the dorms-- a lot of people have room parties too. Advertisement
Academics
Academics are GREAT-- focus on small, discussion-based classes, professors who will ask you to e-mail them with questions, and a great, individual-driven feel. Work is hard, but the profs work with you rather than against you-- they want you to understand the material.

Student Body
Some people don't know how to say hello. Some people are model-beautiful. Some people have pink hair and dreadlocks. Everybody really likes school :-)

In Closing...
Chicago is a kind of halfway point between the ivies and hermetic schools like Reed, St. John's, etc... you have a lot of people coming in from all over the spectrum. You'll meet all sorts of people here who will have all sorts of great conversations, people who are happy and relaxed and love what they are doing... but you have to know that you want it. I could imagine some people being miserable here, and it's unfortunate that this school has a bad reputation, because the students who want to come here really do like it a lot!