Login Register

University of Chicago
- Local Atmosphere

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

We will attempt to notify this
school of your interest.

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
University of Chicago - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Local Atmosphere

A-
Where does this grade come from?View all Local Atmosphere rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Local Atmosphere Grades:

Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. The brownie was invented in Chicago by Bertha Palmer, wife of business mogul Potter Palmer. She wanted a portable sweet snack for people at the Chicago World's Fair.
  2. The Great Fire of 1871 decimated the city. It started at the O'Leary's family farm on the South Side and wiped out the entire downtown area and much of the North Side. The motto after the fire was, "Chicago will rise again," which is partly where the University of Chicago's Phoenix mascot comes from.
  3. The Midway was once the fairgrounds of the World's Columbian Exposition, also known as the Chicago World's Fair in1893. The Museum of Science and Industry is the last remaining structure from the event.
  4. There are a series of tunnels under the downtown area that were originally intended for merchandise transportation. However, they're now sealed off, partly because of the Great Chicago Flood of 1992. A small leak turned into a big problem when the tunnels were completely flooded and Loop basements were destroyed, costing the city almost $2 billion.
  5. The word "skyscraper" was first applied to buildings by a Chicago newspaper. William LeBaron Jenney designed the first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building, in 1888. It was eventually torn down in 1931.
Notable Natives
  • John Belushi – actor
  • Al Capone – mobster
  • Hilary Clinton – politician, former First Lady of the United States
  • Stephen Colbert – host of "The Colbert Report" (attended Northwestern University)
  • Nat King Cole – singer
  • John Cusack – actor
  • Philip K. Dick – writer
  • Walt Disney – entrepreneur
  • Mike Ditka – NFL coach
  • Roger Ebert – film critic
  • Hugh Hefner – Playboy entrepreneur
  • Ernest Hemingway – writer
  • Jennifer Hudson – actress, "American Idol" singer
  • Barack Obama – President of the United States
  • Danny Pudi – actor ("Community")
  • Mr. T – actor
  • Vince Vaughn – actor
Local Slang
  • "L": The Chicago "L" is the system of trains run by the CTA that circle downtown and extend out to the surrounding neighborhoods. It's mainly concentrated in the area downtown known as "the Loop."
  • Pop: Make sure you call it pop, not soda
Points of Interest
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
  • Chinatown
  • The Field Museum
  • Grant Park
  • John Hancock Tower
  • Michigan Avenue
  • Millennium Park
  • The Museum of Science and Industry
  • Navy Pier
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • Soldier Field
  • Willis Tower
  • Wrigley Field

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

There is no other city in the world like Chicago. It's big-city life meets Midwest, and the result is fantastic. The city is teeming with things to do. On any given day, you can check out the museums, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the downtown shopping, cultural neighborhoods, Lake Michigan, movies, concerts, Broadway productions, and free local events. The best part is that getting downtown is incredibly easy. One quick bus or train ride and you're at one of the major cities of the United States. While there are other schools in the area, like Northwestern and DePaul, chances are you won’t see many of the students except downtown at night. However, you will see a ton of people between the ages of 21 and 25. It’s a vibrant youth culture that you have more than enough access to.

As for Hyde Park itself, it's definitely city living. You have to be aware of your surroundings. There is some crime, but the University Police and city police do their best to keep everything under control. The University is very safety-conscious, so there are multiple programs in place that help you get from point A to point B without any concerns. However, along with the crime, you also get a ton of local flavor. Hyde Park has a lot of local restaurants and some street fairs that can keep you entertained if you don't feel like making the trip downtown. It's kind of like the city of Chicago is the University's "Uptown."  How many places can say that?

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Chicago Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Local Atmosphere at University of Chicago

LawStudent

International Studies and Government '15

4.2
A-

Good City, Bad Reputation

Chicago is a wonderful city with tons of things to do. When studies get to be too much, it costs about 2 bucks for a trip downtown which has all the shopping you could ever want, tourist traps to impress visitors, fun secrets to share with friends, and a good nightlife. The only problem is that University of Chicago students are perceived to be boring and antisocial, which isn't true with most of us.

Apr 05, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Local Atmosphere at University of Chicago

readingfreak1993

Psychology '15

4.2
A-

Cultural Oasis

Hyde Park offers a lot to students, from shopping and sight-seeing, outdoor recreation on Lake Michigan to plays, concerts and art exhibitions. Almost every weekend, there is something to do, although many students are too busy studying to take advantage of all of it. We are also trying to become more aware of the disadvantage of many areas that surround us in South Chicago, and many community outreach programs work on the South side.

Mar 24, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Local Atmosphere at University of Chicago

seagaia

Computer Science '14

4.6
A

Well, Chicago

Hyde Park is a nice place, as are the surrounding neighborhoods. There are a few places to eat at and it's nice to walk around...oh, and there's Chicago..

Mar 19, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 12
User rating for University of Chicago - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 34 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Block 37
  • Water Tower Place
Major Sports Teams
  • Chicago Bears: NFL
  • Chicago Blackhawks: NHL
  • Chicago Bulls: NBA
  • Chicago Cubs: MLB
  • Chicago Fire: MLS (soccer)
  • Chicago White Sox: MLB
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities Milwaukee: : 1 hour, 50 minutes
Did You Know? "Taste of Chicago" is the world's largest outdoor food festival and attracts more than 3 million visitors per year.

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

AMC Loews North Michigan 9
600 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago's Loop
(312) 255-9347

AMC River East 21
322 E. Illinois St.
Chicago
(312) 596-0333

Max Palevsky Cinema
Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St.
Chicago
(773) 702-8574

ShowPlace Icon
150 W. Roosevelt Road
West Loop
(312) 386-7440

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Liane Rousseau
Hometown
Cincinnati, Ohio
Major
English Language and Literature
Grad Year
2012

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

Buy the eBook "University of Chicago 2012: Off The Record"
AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwords
Download a FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Search College Prowler

Company

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.