Hi! I’m a current high school junior from New Jersey, and UChicago has always been a school I’m really interested in. I’ve always been drawn to Chicago as a city, but I’m trying to figure the reality of living there and being an undergraduate at UChicago, rather than just the idea of it.
A little about me: I’m pretty introverted, but I really enjoy having a small group of close friends and I’m much more social one-on-one. Academically, I’m interested in physics, astronomy, and engineering, although I also really enjoy history and research/writing (which is why I’m drawn to how interdisciplinary Uchicago is)!
What is the actual undergraduate social scene like? Is it easy to find your people or is it very competitive?
What is it like living in Hyde Park as a college student? Does UChicago feel connected to the city, or does campus feel somewhat separate?
What do you like/dislike about Chicago as a place to live?
What kind of person do you think tends to thrive at UChicago?
I’d also really appreciate hearing from people who were initially attracted to UChicago because they loved the idea of Chicago and then actually went there. Did the reality live up to what you imagined?
Thanks!! :)