Thoughts on UChicago

I figured I'd share my thoughts on aspects of UChicago:

Things I really like
-free speech emphasis
-intellectual culture
-core, hum/sosc classes based on Great Books program
-Unique, school-defining traditions replacing sports as a source of school spirit and pride (Scav, HvZ, Kuvia, bagpipe procession etc. etc.) [Less about school defining and more about no sports]
-lots and lots of grad students around
-basically no engineering
-Theoretical, rather than professional, oriented academics
-Very small classes and faculty:student ratio
-High %age go on to PhD
-Lots of opportunities for research
-Strengths in math
-Small undergraduate size
-no need for a car
-love of learning
-no greek life
-high percent of math majors

Cool
-Gothic architecture/looks like Hogwarts
-House system
-Urban environment but with a real campus (a la Columbia, not NYU)
-“quirky” students

Meh
-extensive core
-Lots of complaining
-very cold for most of the academic year

bad
-quarter system (?)
-little use of my ap/transfer credits, although good in terms of rigour
-doing work-study (?) + UChicago rigor => less time for other stuff