What I HATE About UCHICAGO!!!

So I always gush about UChicago, but there are serious deterrents. Let's get into all of the things you deserve to know about UChicago and address particular issues. Hopefully this will help you if you're considering applying to college at UChicago or choosing to go to UChicago. So here it is - what I hate about UChicago!
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00:00 Context
00:51 Nerd Complex, Overcompensation, and the Works
02:50 Academics are RIGOROUS AF
04:44 On Your OWN
06:05 Mental Health On Campus, Air of Depression
08:54 Some Greek Life Issues
10:04 Gentrification/For Profit Shenanigans
13:16 Me Talking about EMBODYING UCHICAGO lol
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Welcome to my channel - College Tips From the Almost Astrophysicist! I'm Priya and I'm here to help you get into college. I'm a University of Chicago grad with an Astrophysics degree that currently works as a Data Scientist and I want to break down the college application process and tackle all of the misconceptions about college for you! Let me know in the comments section down below if you have any video requests, or just want to say hi! :)
LinkedIn: / priya-l-520311145
Instagram: / plingutla
(uchicago, uchicago essay, uchicago vlog, how i got into uchicago, why uchicago, everything I hate about uchicago)

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Always here to answer any college and UChicago questions! Don't forget to drop a comment to say hi or drop a video request 💛

[@NiqueFajors]

Thanks for your efforts. I have forwarded a few of your videos to my son. He was accepted EA in December. I would love to hear your perspective on cliques and friendships at UChicago. Do students just huddle with people that look like them/have the same cultural background? 90% of the videos I have watched suggest that. I have some concern about him finding his network of friends as a freshman. Are sports a good option to find that network?

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Apologies for the late response, I missed your comment somehow! I think sports are a great option to find a larger network of friends - I personally felt like I found a diverse friend group, but I genuinely think UChicago's demographics could be much better. I will say though, I think UChicago has a really good balance between building your own friendships while meeting those of similar cultural backgrounds because of their registered student organizations (there was a hispanic student association, south asian student association, etc.)! I went to school in India so if I ever felt nostalgic or wanted to meet people with a similar background, I could just pop by their events! A balance can certainly be found on campus. :) Good luck to your son!

[@samuelsegal3542]

Don't mind me here trying to convince myself that I don't really want to go UChicago before I get rejected

[@nina.b4610]

Currently applying, it's my dream college and I've even chosen the binding contract--- terrified of not getting in so now I'm trying to make myself feel better if I get rejected :')

[@zoey_elise]

Crossing my fingers for you!

[@alegnaroviya8856]

did you get in?

[@nina.b4610]

Update: I got deferred, but can't offered to go even if I do get in. But I got a full ride to Hendrix university:)

[@grantghaly]

@@nina.b4610congrats!!

[@helenshihholistichealth7336]

Thank you for sharing your deep thoughts. Critical thinking will give true progress. Appreciate your comment about nerdiness, insecurity, depression, and mental health. These issues probably are also prevalent in Ivy and top schools, not just unique to this school. The more people go after fame, ranking and likes, the more they are prone to such problems. Your words can be very helpful to students who can become more self-aware and take preventive care.

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

For sure - there's a lot that goes into dealing with stress at these schools, I totally agree! Thanks for your comment. :)

[@nat_again6169]

I'm a current astro & physics double major at uchicago, and thank you for this honesty!! I feel better about having a low gpa

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Of course! You'll be totally fine - if I could rebound as dramatically as I did, you certainly will be able to too!! 😊

[@clementine4412]

i've been on the fence recently having to decide between uchicago and cornell and though i was already leaning more towards the former, i really loved your honesty about every single point you brought up in this video!!! you mentioned things that i haven't seen discussed in any other video about uchicago - thank you endlessly for that :) it all helps more than you'll ever know!!

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

So glad I could help! I was hesitant on making the video since UChicago really was a great experience for me, but I'm SO glad I did because it's truly important to know all of the good and bad things about a place that's essentially home for 4 years. Thanks so much for watching, glad it could help, and good luck to you! 😊

[@jpetrullo6890]

Fair warning bro Cornell academics are pretty miserable too 💀, same with the weather. Definitely slightly less nerdy people tho

[@peterpetite2634]

"U Chicago, Where Fun Goes To Die." I love this unofficial motto.

[@fozzymalik]

Really enjoyed your candid, indepth video. Thank you!

[@madhavilingutla4031]

Nice Video Priya !! One should know pluses and minuses in everything. keep up your good work !

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Thank you!!! For sure!

[@guesswhokirmina]

Also thx for all the info and helping me find which college to go to even tho I’m on middle 😝

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Of course!! Always happy to help. :)

[@terrencemolinari]

I went to the City Grey 40 plus years ago (AB '78, JD '80).. A few years after I left the U of C, a magazine rated party schools. Chicago beat West Point for the honor of last place in the rankings. I was so proud. As far as gentrification is concerned, nothing new. Back in the fifties Nichols and May described Hyde Park as blacks and whites united to keep out the poor.

[@JToddles]

class of AB '10 - this all was all there when I was there too, though 53rd street today is unrecognizable EXCEPT for Kimbark Plaza. that hasn't changed except for the laundromat closing

[@snipinmonsta]

the 9 and 3/4 poster mixed with metalica. Wish you were still at uchi

[@Preservedzehra]

My dream to be astronomer and dream university is uchicago🤦🏻‍♀️💔

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

That's AWESOME! Glad you stumbled upon my channel haha hopefully my physics videos and uchicago videos can help :)

[@Preservedzehra]

@The Almost Astrophysicist

[@stangonsalves3075]

I’m in the third grade at UChicago Maybe see you there.

[@ramblingsoffood2234]

Hi, Is a degree in Masters in Public Policy or Masters in Computational Analysis and Public Policy, for someone from India, that hard ? As an overseas student, I would need time to enjoy the city and american life as well.

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Hi! I don't think it'll be too much if you're coming from India and was part of the ICSE/CBSE/State curriculum. Definitely doable!

[@ramblingsoffood2234]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Hi Priya! Thankyou for getting back to me. Can I discuss this with you on mail? I have realised through Grad Cafe and other forums that Harris doesn't provide full scholarships. Could you confirm?

[@ronaldchoy6950]

Do you have enough free time to pursue non-academic interests / passions? Or can the rigor become too much sometimes?

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Definitely had the time, but it's a balance! I'd say during some quarters, I had to adjust expectations for certain student organizations or greek life because I knew my workload was a bit much and vice versa. Personally for me, it was never a 50/50 balance, but it always averaged out to a good balance! :)

[@guesswhokirmina]

Heyyyy!! Another question. Does UChicago have a performance degree/class especially for a Violinist?

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

I know we have music performance specific classes at UChicago in the Music Department, I'm not 100% sure about a performance degree. Honestly, I don't know too many people who majored in something related to the Arts/Film/Performance! You should check out uchicago's major catalog - collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/programsofstudy/ :)

[@guesswhokirmina]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist thx

[@kevinfagen5865]

Northwestern is better for Music . If you have a name like " Marriott " " Ford" or "Mittal" then it might be a good idea to major in Music. You wanna take violin lessons through UChicago, you're stuck with someone named Adam Liebert. " No one is there to show you the ropes" Alternatively you can call the FBI and ask what violin teacher they recommend.

[@kylafluff2774]

If you're comfortable sharing, what were your gpa/sat? I'm just wondering if I'm delusional for wanting to go there haha

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Hey! I had a 4.0 UW (we didn't have weighted GPAs) in 9th and 10th grade. I did the IB program in 11th and 12th grade where the GPA system was a bit wonky, I was top 6% and I think it was a 3.7-3.8 but I had a 43/45 predicted score that was sent to colleges too which equates to a 3.8 so that's probably what they considered. I took the ACT and I got a 34 on my second attempt (31 on my first). :) I do want to say - UChicago is VERY holistic and essays are very important in the admissions process so don't discount yourself just based on the numbers. :) Good luck to you!

[@kylafluff2774]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist ok thank you so much!

[@krishnarao4840]

Nice

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Thanks Tata!!!

[@maureencora1]

No Div. I Football or Basketball No Bowl Games or Final Four Games.

[@daniellestoker]

Do weird things happened at the building?

[@pjm_5250]

I am too afraid to pick Uchicago

[@Shmoney_gunns420]

Facts

[@walids4551]

The university is not for-profit. In order for the university to fund research, facilities, and financial aid; they need to ensure that both their budget and endowment are growing. If they don’t do that, the university will suffer an uncertain future. There are many universities that shut down due to financial issues, and it is the job of the university to ensure that it goes on for future generations, no matter what financial troubles the country goes through. UChicago weathered the COVID financial storm due to their vast investments. Anyhow, I enjoyed your video. Good luck to you.

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Definitely agree on the importance of maintaining university funds; when I said "for profit" though in the video, I was referring to how, as part of the collegiate system and the private university space, a lot of money is still going to those on the board and it's unfortunate that while that is happening, the South Side of Chicago is being gentrified. The president of the university at the time made $4 million dollars a year while family businesses in the area had to shut down due to rising costs of property (highly positive correlation to uchicago). This is just a part of the capitalist system, which I understand and addressed as not the university's fault directly, it's just something I personally felt bad about. UChicago has been by far one of the best experiences of my life, but the point of this video was just to address all of my thoughts since I have never talked about the negatives, and this was just one of them. Thank you for addressing the necessities of maintaining funds for institutions though, it is a very valid point!

[@walids4551]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Hello. Gentrification isn’t always a bad thing. It often leads to lower crime, and an improved neighborhood, but that comes at a cost. Regarding top university administrators, I’d compare their salary to Fortune 500 executives, as they essentially manage a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio and an organization with thousands of employees. This critique applies all American universities, public or private. Say, somewhere like Berkeley, they get billions in funding. How? Via taxpayer money. Where do taxpayers get employment from and pay taxes? The capitalist system. Perhaps the criticism applies to American capitalism more than UChicago. I do, however, understand where you’re coming from.

[@kevinfagen5865]

The neighborhood is what is known as a "Food Desert".

[@MidnightRambler]

super woke as well.

[@emazaxiix5177]

o