UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PROS & CONS | everything you need to know before coming

Hey everyone! I was thinking recently about things I love about UChicago and things I don't really love so I decided to just expand the list into 10 pros and cons for this video. If you're thinking about applying, or you're not sure if you should commit to this school, hopefully this will help you to decide! Some of the points are very trivial and others have a more profound impact on your time here, and they're listed in no specific order; this is meant to just give a glimpse into some of the things I feel like you should know about before coming!
timestamps ☀️
0:00 introduction
0:34 wifi
1:09 curriculum organization
2:11 advising
3:27 bubbles
4:04 core limitations
5:03 pre-reg
6:06 nature stuff
7:11 spirit
7:34 time commitments
7:57 printing
8:55 course feedback
9:56 book requests
10:26 maroon dollars
11:00 dining options
11:38 core advantages
12:32 arts pass
12:58 events
13:36 career advancement
14:05 professor ratio
15:06 quarter system
about me 🌷
I’m Makayla! I’m twenty years old and a second year at the University of Chicago. Right now I’m studying Creative Writing for my major and Astronomy and Astrophysics for my minor, and I also like to read and cook in my free time. I grew up in Maine and studying has always been one of my favorite pastimes, so that’s why you’ll find a whole bunch of college vlogs, study motivation, book recs, and academic tips on my channel. You’re in good company if you’re into these things, so subscribe for more productivity content!
say hi to me 🥑
Personal Instagram: @makayla_macgregor
Email: [e-mail]
Goodreads: / makaylamacgregor
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2.54K
music used 🍄
Music by Coodysan - Tokyo Skyview - thmatc.co/?l=2D7CEC63
Some of You - Text Me Records by Grand Banks
Music by ZARG - yet to come - thmatc.co/?l=006EC579
bedtime after a coffee by Barradeen | / barradeen
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[@CoheedBlood]

Thank you! My daughter was just offered a full 4 year scholarship to UChicago and we’re really excited!!!

[@laurastella92]

Agree on every con, especially the PRINTING. You didn't mention you also pay to use the scanner, which to this day and age is just ridiculous!!!!!

[@franksong5008]

Wow this is such a wonderful and informative video! Great job, Makayla!!😊 Everything you said is so really true... the wifi, the printing, etc.😂! I am so sorry to hear, though, that most students these days have such terrible experiences with academic advisors... I guess I was so fortunate to have two really awesome advisors throughout my college years. Hope to see you more often in concerts and events on and off campus! 🤗🤓

[@johnsungbumkim9298]

😀😀thank you for this video, my son is going there this fall. So excited!!

[@barbararup5479]

Thanks. You did a terrific job! This helped me decide not to apply to UChicago.

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

HAHA IM SORRY

[@barbararup5479]

@@MakaylaMacGregor It's fine. I got into a college I like.

[@mkdori]

sooo helpful thank you. also this is random but i think short hair would suit you SO much

[@danielbirnbaum8540]

Just got into UChicago ED2 and this certainly helped me feel great about my decision. Thank you!

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

Congratulations, that's so exciting!! And I'm glad that the video didn't corrupt your view of the school at all 😅

[@leopardduck4490]

Ditto :) Go Maroons!

[@mathematicaleconomist4943]

​@@MakaylaMacGregor What sounds harder to your ears? 1. Masters Degree in Mathematics or 2. Masters Degree in Statistics?

[@ashleycanton]

@@mathematicaleconomist4943masters degree in mathematics

[@FinancialAnalyst-qe3xj]

@@MakaylaMacGregor You are so cute! Do you always get that?

[@avah.9418]

As a UChicago student this is spot on :)

[@tiantian_616]

Would you recommend this uni? If you could, would you go to a different one?

[@avah.9418]

I think these are questions that you need to decide for yourself. Just because someone has a positive experience at UChicago definitely doesn't mean that everyone will. Honestly I feel like certain qualities can determine whether someone will like this school or not, so it can't be universally recommended in my opinion. But personally I am glad I came here because it pushed me out of my comfort zone and I have made INCREDIBLE friends here. I think there are few universities out there that I would trade going to UChicago for. Hope this is helpful :)@@tiantian_616

[@donaldbucher472]

Chicago has always had a reputation as a “tough” school, where professors have a lot of power, grading is harsh and support is limited. Makayla seems to have the inner resources to do well there. But I would not want to see either of my daughters routinely encountering those cons.

[@thefingerofgod69]

They now have a 9-week quarter system? Well as long as they don't stuff 10 weeks of work into 9 weeks then that is fine. (Though they already stuff a semester's worth of work into a quarter anyhow soooooo...)

[@lisasolomey6334]

Hey Makayla! I will be entering U of C in the fall as a physics major. Your videos are super helpful. I am an IBDP student from Kansas. Do you think IB prepared you well for UChicago? Also, I am (unfortunately) very dependent on WiFi, so what are the best areas for WiFi connection on campus (if any)?

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

I think IB was definitely helpful in regards to course content and the workload - it honestly made the transition to college much smoother. And don't worry too much about the WiFi; usually when it cuts out, it's resolved quickly! I find that I have the most issues with it in the Reg, but Harper tends to work well for me :)

[@lisasolomey6334]

@@MakaylaMacGregor Thank you! It's good to hear wifi is OK.

[@shankeswartripathi7983]

You have given complete information.

[@mayahussain2146]

Thank you :)

[@blueknight4652]

How bad are the wasps? Are they at all avoidable? I have a really big fear of wasps and bees and the like

[@neelmaheshwari9791]

ED'd so I don't have much choice but let's gooo :)

[@edithalcantar1734]

Hermosa me encanta tus videos !!!

[@yichenji7971]

Hi Makayla! Thanks for your sharing and I reallllly enjoy watching your videos:)! I have decided to attend UChicago as a grad student, and how would you evaluate the degree of safety around the campus and Hyde Park in general? I recently watched several documentaries about crime and gangbanger issues in Chicago, especially on the south side. It's not a major issue for me to deter from attending UChicago though, but any personal feedback/experience would be really helpful! Thanks in advance!

[@edwinlee6864]

I graduated in 1972. My preadmission interviewer stressed this and I got the drift. Most students actually lived without being maimed. Some did not survive, or did not survive the next few years--some ptsd suicides. I lived and did not get hurt directly. UChicago was great preparation for later life as a Vice Consul on a Cold War terrorist written assassination list. Some students (as do some diplomats) walk as if they are wearing blinders and some magic charm makes them bullet proof. Most learn to keep alert and aware of their surroundings. It certainly is a discouragement to attend UChicago, but if you were near the middle of the bell curve, you would not have applied. If you otherwise are brave enough to face the academics, you are brave enough to risk the crime. The gang bangers have their own concerns with other gangs and Hyde Park is not where they have their wars over drug territory. Hyde Park is hunting grounds for some criminals from the surrounding areas, but for most it's just not worth the risk of the travel.

[@edwinlee6864]

I'm working up my courage to attend my class reunion, and I already bought my tickets.

[@yichenji7971]

@@edwinlee6864 wow, thank you very much for your sharing! It seems like the case hasn't improved much over the past decades... It's actually more concerning to attend UChicago post-COVID as an Asian though, after seeing a rocket rise in anti-Asian crime rates in the past two years.

[@graceyang9607]

@@yichenji7971 As a current undergrad here, I just wanted to add on that things were really tense at the beginning of this school year because a lot of terrible things happened but luckily, it's been getting better. There are still crimes being committed near campus, usually petty crimes like muggings, but I definitely felt safer walking around as the school year went on. Since you are a grad student, I assume you won't be living on campus so transportation to and from school may be something you want to look into- especially the areas in which you want to live. Overall, there is a significant amount of Asians on campus that I don't feel specifically targeted (as an Asian American myself) when walking around so while your concern about anti-Asian crimes regarding COVID is well-founded, it's not really a huge issue now, in my opinion! I hope you enjoy your time here :)

[@yichenji7971]

@@graceyang9607 Thank you so much Grace for your input!! REALLY helpful!

[@wolfmangoland7972]

How is the chemistry department? Molecular Engineering Department?

[@JonasReichert1992]

Interesting! My sister made her Master and her PHD there. Luckily we got her back afterwards here in Germany 😂

[@Ruebee5]

where is your blouse from wow it looks so great on you

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

Aw thank you so much!! I got it at Banana Republic!

[@radiathpatwary2562]

Is it need blind for international students ?

[@user-kz8xs3th7e]

I went on the UChicago website and the prices for printing were around $.25. Is this still like this? Or much higher?

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

That's for duplex I think but b&w is $.13 and color is $.18 per page which always sounds like so little until I actually have to print something with a lot of pages lol

[@user-kz8xs3th7e]

@@MakaylaMacGregor thank you for the answer! have a great day!

[@user-sx9wc3ie7e]

❤️❤️😍🌹

[@edwinlee6864]

I love your posts. I may have some more to add, but your comments about sports being a con: Chicago had more Big Ten Championships than any other school when I came here in 1968, and that was with football being banned by Robert Maynard Hutchins decades before. UChicago and rah rah big time spectator sports Been There Done That early in the 20th Century. If someone has to have big time spectator sports with big time stadiums and student spectator sports spirit, they should not come. Sports at Chicago are for the participants. If you are a real athlete in an individual sport, track or swimming, you can go to big meets, the Drake Relays and such. I could letter in track at Chicago. I was each year the sixth fasted half-miler, enough to letter, and my times then would letter now. Practice was a great release from studies. Athletes miss practice all the time when they have labs. There are a lot of intramurals. You can also learn new varsity sports which weren't available to you, at your level, in high school, or maybe your high school didn't have fencing at all. During my 40th class reunion, I ate lunch at Bartlett and asked a student who looked like a football player if he were, he was. I then asked him if he knew whether they had a winning season and he didn't know. That certainly made me feel at home. When I was here, a fourth of the men were in varsity sports. I really appreciate that the opportunities for women's sports exist. I'm so old that I would not even apply to top colleges that did not accept women. Makayla's descriptions ring true, and you can trust what she says.

[@lariomalungana5660]

How do you get this advisors...do they appoint them for first year students?

[@frankfeng936]

I think you can be a great actress in next 10 years.

[@moush7677]

Is this applicable for graduates too?

[@MakaylaMacGregor]

Tbh it's hard for me to speak to this because I don't know any grad students, so I'm very unfamiliar with what UChicago looks like for them! I think some parts definitely are applicable (like book requests, printing, wifi, events, RSOs, etc) but then other parts won't apply like the core curriculum or pre-reg because the undergrad courses will differ more greatly. I'm sorry I don't know more for graduates!!

[@moush7677]

@@MakaylaMacGregor great, yes, that's what kind of concluded that as an incoming grad (I'll be studying Financial Mathematics this fall at the Stevanovich Center), I would definitely face issues such as the wasps and muddy lawns but was wondering about the others such as the printer things because there could be different facility for grads and undergrads. The core and registration related are the obvious non applicable ones. Anyway, thanks for the video! Maybe I'll see you in campus sometime!

[@youtube123r]

I got admitted for a Ph.D. (Humanities) I both U Chicago and Johns Hopkins. Which one do you think is more prestigious? Why?

[@galaxydefender1033]

Please edit this video and start the pros first... I actually think going to UChicago is going to be a nightmare after watching this video. THANK YOU

[@user-kz8xs3th7e]

ok so now i dont wanna go there

[@vic9542]

LMAOOOOOO

[@kevinfagen5865]

It definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. I requested my records and the University responded with a Cease and Desist letter. I am going to demand that 1.)Mr. Stamatakos be fired and disbarred. 2.) There be a thorough and rigorous investigation by the Board of Directors, in to which individuals and other public, domestic, foreign and private entities influenced (caused) Mr. Stamatakos to issue this Cease and Desist letter, and the other relevant material information, such as whether anyone considered the scale of the harm and damages imposed on me by these actions. 3.) Chancellor Robert Zimmer, and anyone else who was involved in this, shall be denied the opportunity to resign and instead be fired and themselves banned from the University, and the involved Attorneys and or other Professionals disbarred and delicensed. 4.) I consider this dispute worth millions of dollars in Civil Damages due to similarities to Hatfill v Ashcroft and Limone v US. I will seek punitive damages and I will not be satisfied until I know that the individuals who imposed this illegal harm on me are themselves experiencing a multiple of the harm and losses imposed on me, including imprisonment. 5.) I consider the actions taken against me by Mr. Stamatakos, Robert Zimmer, University of Chicago, and any comparable actions by others, to be Criminal, as in the Federal Conspiracy Against Rights and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, and or their non Federal Equivalents. Kevin Fagen

[@JohnVKaravitis]

Worthless college. Incompetent, bitter, angry professors who hate teaching, but excel at fleecing undergrads of ridiculous amounts of tuition dollars. It's like being in prison for four years, if you can even find yourself graduating in four years.