Just got into uchicago as a soph transfer. Should I go? What is recruiting culture like?

I'm coming from IU. I'm doing fine here and I'm in clubs and greek life. I have people telling me that I'm well set up here to get into the workshop as long as I put in the work. My biggest concern is ill be at uchicago with no friends, clubs, or connections. I'll be completely on my own. At iu a lot of the recruiting process is based off networking and who you know. Is it the same at uchicago? Are there any transfers here I can reach out to

31 Comments
 

ibw? no? go to uchicago

EDIT: actually I take this back. Just go to uchicago..

 

Is it really that important career wise? Will I not be fine as long as I place well during recruiting next sem? Bc nearly everyone in the workshop placed really well. My biggest concern is that I'll have no clubs/connections at uchicago when I get there, and I'll be going through the entire process alone. In the IBW they really tell you exactly what to do and who to talk to. And I wouldn't have that at Uchicago. 

 
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Well that’s because at a school like UChicago you can do whatever you want and still place as long as you’re not retarded and keep your grades up. IB analyst is not the end all be all… 5 years from now if you apply to HBS wouldn’t you want UChicago and that academic stamp on your resume? When you’re recruiting for Apollo do you want them associating you with Indiana and a 1300 SAT or UChicago? It’s not necessarily always accurate or fair but in this industry signaling matters.
UChicago takes a lot of transfers. Clubs have infrastructure for that. You’re not gonna be on your own.

 

This is concerning because they're doubling it again next year. That's another big concern of mine. But I also have to consider $$$. My parents are very hesitant and I'll probably have to take out 10-15k a year to go.

 

It's def one of the short falls of IU. We do so well because theres 500 kids trying so ofc 100 will land great offers but 50% of the CMBW (merging with IBW next year) goes without an offer every year.

 

Go to Chicago and don’t look back. Club recruiting kicks off sophomore autumn. Go through that and you’ll have plenty of connections going into recruiting. 

UChicago clubs are not as nepo as most other schools; each cycle, plenty of transfers get into top clubs like TBC, Eckart, AKPsi, etc. You’ll have a natural “why us” answer: just transferred in and looking for like-minded peers.

 

Wait could you please elaborate here? I’ll reach out asap but I can’t rn bc I don’t have enough points or whatever😭😭😭 Why is recruiting so rough? Do many people go without spots? Would it be especially difficult as a transfer without any connections? 

 

I know a transfer that placed really well, if you put in the right amount of effort from the start you'll be fine. Recruiting is difficult no matter where you are - so, so many people are going through recruiting and competing for very few spots. You have to study techs, network as much as you can, and balance school and whatever clubs you are in. You absolutely can get an offer out of IU, but UChicago will probably make it easier. Also, down the line in your career UChicago will probably carry a little more weight than IU. But on the flip side, IU has a much more loyal alumni network. There are pros and cons on both sides. Both are fantastic schools and theres a lot of things you need to take into consideration. 

 

Do you know any transfers and what their experience was like? I will reach out asap but I can’t rn because I don’t have enough points and the acc I used to post this got suspended for some reason 😭😭😭😭 Will it be extra difficult as a transfer? I’m fairly certain I’ll place SOMEWHERE here as I have pretty strong relationships with a lot of upperclassman here and recruiting here is very connections heavy. 

 

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