In this blog post, we’ll cover everything UChicago is known for. You’ll learn about UChicago’s legacy of excellence in research and economics, its reputation as the “quirky” Ivy Plus university, and more!
The University of Chicago has a reputation as the “oddball” Ivy Plus school. This is reflected in the school's supplemental essay questions, its traditions, and its attitude of creativity in problem-solving among the students.
UChicago is primarily known for:
UChicago’s 217-acre campus is home to around 7,500 undergraduate students. Students can choose from 53 majors, 59 minors, and 60+ study abroad programs. The student-to-faculty ratio is 5:1.
The phoenix, a legendary bird that rises from its own ashes, serves as UChicago’s official mascot. This symbol was chosen to represent the city’s "rebirth" following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 — and, of course, because it looks cool. Although the university’s official mascot is the phoenix, UChicago’s sports teams call themselves “Maroons.”
UChicago is ranked at #11 out of 436 National Universities by US News & World Report. Other notable rankings include:
The University of Chicago has produced 97 Nobel laureates, 53 Rhodes scholars, and 28 Marshall scholars. Fifteen members of the Class of 2023 were Fulbright Scholars.
Given its status as one of the nation’s best universities, it’s considerably difficult to get into UChicago. Its acceptance rate is around 5% — in line with the best and most competitive universities in the country.
The University of Chicago has made a name for itself as a global leader in scientific advancement. You may have heard of some of these world-changing discoveries by UChicago professors, students, and alumni:
Curious minds flourish at UChicago. An enormous 80% of UChicago choose to do research — whether it’s at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Argonne or Fermilab National Laboratories, or somewhere else.
Despite its impressive research output, UChicago is far from a place of singular focus — and the spirit of intellectual curiosity extends far beyond the sciences. As a Liberal Arts College, UChicago offers a dynamic and well-rounded education. That means even the most scientific minds at UChicago gain a multitude of perspectives, including those in the Arts and Humanities.
How does the University of Chicago foster a spirit of collaboration across disciplines? Through its Core curriculum.
The Core is UChicago’s prized core curriculum. Accounting for about a third of your undergraduate coursework, the Core exposes you to a range of perspectives regardless of your major. Core classes are small, with 19 or fewer students in each one. They are also interdisciplinary and discussion-based, with an emphasis on the study of primary texts and works of art.
Discipline | Purpose | Number of Courses | Sample Courses |
---|---|---|---|
Humanities | Engage with literary, historical, and philosophical texts in the first year. | 2-3 | Greece and Rome: Texts, Traditions, Transformations Readings in World Literature Media Aesthetics: Image, Text, Sound |
Social Sciences | Examine how societies are organized. | 3 | Self, Culture, & Society Power, Identity, Resistance Classics of Social and Political Thought |
Civilization | Encounter the history, culture, and literature of an area of the world. | 2-3 | History of European Civilization Jewish Civilization Beijing: East Asian Civilizations |
Art, Drama, or Music | Choose from arts courses in theory or practice. | 1-2 | Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago & Beyond Visual Language Staging Terror |
Biological Sciences | Explore the process of scientific inquiry. | 2-3 | Principles of Microbiology/Global Infectious Diseases Metabolism & Exercise Life through a Genomic Lens |
Physical Sciences | Gain exposure to scientific observation and reasoning. | 2-3 | Modern Physics Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast Black Holes |
Mathematics | Develop skills in formal reasoning and logic. | 1-2 | Calculus Statistics Multimedia Programming as an Interdisciplinary Art |
Foreign Language | Develop language skills equivalent to one year of college study. | American Sign Language Arabic Chinese |
UChicago operates on the quarter system. This allows you to take fewer courses per term, but more courses overall.
As a UChicago student, your courses are split into roughly three buckets: Core, Major, and Electives. Both the core and elective courses offer ample opportunities for exploration beyond your chosen major.
The ten most popular majors at for 2023 graduates of UChicago are listed below, along with the percentage of the class who graduated with that major:
At the University of Chicago, students have the opportunity to not only learn about their city but also to engage directly and create meaningful change.
In keeping with its reputation as a pioneer of American intellectual though, UChicago also offers unique programs like:
Class | Department | Description |
---|---|---|
Star Wars and Religion | Religious Studies | An introduction to comparative religious ethics, using the Star Wars film franchise as a point of reference to discuss different conceptions of heroism. |
Black Holes | Astronomy | This course covers the physics of black holes and space-time, examining how these celestial objects interact with matter and light, while delving into both modern theories and Einstein’s work on relativity. |
Dinosaur Science | Biological Sciences | Teaches the fundamentals of geology and evolutionary biology while offering hands-on fossil excavation during a field trip to South Dakota and Wyoming to study Cretaceous and Jurassic period fossils. |
Staging Terror | Theater & Performance Studies | Explores the interplay between horror, terror, and pleasure through in-class discussions of theoretical works and the possibilities of practical creative application. |
Listening to Movies | Music | This course shifts your attention from watching movies to listening to them. Students consider the soundtrack of moving pictures within the history of audiovisual media. |
Critical Videogame Studies | English | Explores a variety of video game genres, such as roguelikes, horror games, and visual novels, while examining their formal, historical, cultural, and sociopolitical dimensions, with readings from leading theorists and assignments culminating in a final project. |
Grimm’s Fairy Tales and the Construction of Childhood | Humanities | Explores the evolution of fairy tales within the historical context of childhood and education, focusing on the Brothers Grimm and various national traditions while examining interpretive approaches like psychoanalysis and gender history. |
Organ Transplantation | Biological Sciences | Students explore the scientific, ethical, and financial aspects of organ transplantation, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the medical and societal challenges associated with the practice. |
UChicago invests heavily in its students and their success after college. Its Office of Career Advancement provides career counselors, a database of job opportunities, and a wealth of pre-professional opportunities covering many different career paths.
One of UChicago’s unique pre-professional offerings is a suite of non-major “Careers In” programs in the fields of:
If you choose to go on one of UChicago’s 60+ “career treks,” you’ll meet with industry experts in your future career field. Feeling adventurous? These treks take place in over 70 cities on 6 different continents!
Amazingly, over 4,400 paid internships are offered through UChicago’s Jeff Metcalf Internship Program. Through these internships, students gain work experience with leading organizations in dozens of fields.
The University of Chicago and the city it calls home are deeply intertwined. The city is a hub of diverse cultures, global trade, and renowned arts — and, of course, pizza.
Located in the charming Hyde Park neighborhood, just a short 20-minute trip from downtown, UChicago students benefit from both the vibrant city life and the close-knit community on campus. With a U-Pass, UChicago students can ride public transportation for free during the school year.
Each student’s UChicago Card also acts as an ArtsPass, which offers complimentary access to more than 70 cultural venues throughout Chicago. This includes free access to venues such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Science and Industry. It also provides discounted tickets for performances at the Goodman Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet, and a wide variety of other cultural institutions around the city.
Students tend to enjoy interacting with the surrounding city. Around 40% of UChicago students decide to stay in Chicago after graduating!
As a UChicago studnent, you can choose from over 450 student organizations to join.
These include arts groups such as:
As well as volunteer groups like:
If you’re interested in the humanities, you might enjoy one of UChicago’s nationally-ranked groups:
And if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, you might consider:
Beyond arts, volunteer, and humanities groups, UChicago students can also join cultural groups, sports teams, and one of fourteen fraternities or seven sororities.
**Visit this site for a searchable database of student groups at UChicago. Not finding a group you’re looking for? You can also start your own organization! **
Students at UChicago are divided into 39 houses of around 100 students each (yes, Harry Potter style). Each House has its own identity, mascot, dining hall, and unique traditions — ranging from Broomball games to weekly tea gatherings to early morning dips in Lake Michigan.
If you’re an art appreciator, you’ll love the Art to Live With program. Through this program, you can borrow an original work of art from the university museum to display in your dorm room for the year. The collection changes from year to year but includes works by well-known artists like Pablo Picasso, Eleanor Coen, and Joan Miró.
UChicago meets 100% of demonstrated financial need. It offers loan-free financial aid packages as well as free applications for aid. It offers free tuition for families earning less than $125,000 per year and free college for families earning less than $60,000 per year.
UChicago provided over $200 million in financial aid to its students in 2024.
UChicago seeks students who show academic excellence, a genuine passion for learning, and creativity in their approach to problem-solving. A strong fit with the school’s culture and an outstanding essay are often the deciding factors for admission.
For more advice on how to get into UChicago, visit this blog post.
You should consider applying to UChicago if you:
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