Gaining admission to the University of Chicago is an exceptional achievement. With an acceptance rate of just 4.5%, UChicago ranks among the most selective universities in the world. But for those who successfully navigate its rigorous admissions process, the reward is a deeply intellectual environment and a campus culture that is as distinctive as it is stimulating.
UChicago traditions play a significant role in shaping the student experience. From lively annual events to unique customs passed down through generations, these traditions create a sense of connection to the university’s storied past, making student life even more memorable.
Top 10 UChicago Traditions
The University of Chicago is renowned not only for its academic rigor but also for its rich traditions and lively events that help shape a spirited campus culture. Here are 10 iconic UChicago traditions every student should know:
1. Housing and residential system
UChicago traditions are all about building a strong sense of community, and the Housing & Residence Life program is at the heart of it all. From the very beginning, the university has focused on connecting students with one another, and that’s exactly what you’ll experience living in one of UChicago’s 38 residential Houses.
Each House has its own vibe and traditions that set it apart. Whether it’s creating your House mascot or crafting a custom T-shirt with your House’s slogan, you’ll immediately feel the pride of being part of your House family.
And if you love a little friendly competition, you’re in luck. The annual Chairman’s Broomball Cup is one of the most popular events, where Houses face off in a spirited (and sometimes chaotic) broomball game. The winner gets to take home the Golden Broom and, of course, bragging rights for the year.
Your House will likely have its own special events too, whether it’s a “Housegiving” potluck or a sunrise gathering by the lakefront.
2. Art to Live With program
One beloved UChicago tradition even lets you transform your dorm into a mini art gallery. Through the Art to Live With program, you can borrow original works of art from the University’s Smart Museum and decorate your own space for the entire school year.
It’s a long-running program (dating back to 1958!) that has become a hallmark of UChicago traditions. In fact, it was one of the first university art-loan programs in the country. Each fall, the Smart Museum designates around 100-140 artworks for students to choose from, and it’s first-come, first-served at the big Art Match selection event.
The collection—intentionally curated to spark students’ intellectual curiosity—features works by renowned artists like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, and Chicago’s own Eleanor Coen. You’ll find dorm rooms all across campus adorned with these original pieces, on loan to students with an eye for inspiration.
Getting your dream painting has become an event in itself. On Art Match weekend, many students get up at the crack of dawn (some used to camp out overnight!) just to snag their favorite artwork for the year.
3. Scav hunt
Scav hunt is a 72-hour campus-wide adventure that’s been going strong for over 30 years. Every spring, you and your housemates will go on a whirlwind quest solving encrypted clues, riddles, and hunting down seemingly impossible items across campus, throughout Chicago, and sometimes clear across the country. It’s such a big deal that at one point, Scav even held the Guinness World Record as the largest scavenger hunt on the planet.
Past Scav Hunts have challenged students to accomplish feats like:
- Backward Bike Ride. Pedal a bicycle backwards across the quads.
- Zelda-Style Mapmaking. Map out the Chicago Pedway (the city’s underground walkway system) in the style of The Legend of Zelda, as if the tunnels were levels in a video game.
- King Kong Road Trip. Pile into a car for a road-trip to Oklahoma and return with a giant statue of King Kong (one team actually did it, just for those coveted points!).
- Nuclear DIY. Perhaps the most infamous Scav item ever: build a working nuclear breeder reactor in a shed. Believe it or not, a team of students pulled this off back in 1999.
4. Latke-Hamantash debate
You might not expect it, but one of the quirkier UChicago traditions revolves around a debate about food. Since 1946, University of Chicago faculty have gathered for the annual Latke-Hamantash Debate—a humorous academic showdown that attempts to settle which Jewish holiday delicacy is superior: the crispy latke (a Hanukkah potato pancake) or the sweet hamantash (a Purim pastry).
Over the decades, some of UChicago’s most brilliant minds—including Nobel Prize-winning professors and even university presidents have taken part, each using their own field of expertise (and a hearty dose of humor) to champion their preferred treat.
Debaters often don full academic regalia and pepper their arguments with the technical jargon of their disciplines, as if proving the latke’s supremacy or the hamantash’s greatness were as serious as defending a thesis.
Of course, it’s all in great fun. There’s never an official winner—after all, how could anyone truly choose? At the end of the night, everyone gets to taste both latkes and hamantashen for themselves.
5. Dollar Shake days
Every Wednesday during the academic year, the campus community heads to the Reynolds Club—the student hub—to relax with friends and drop a dollar on a delicious milkshake. Dollar Shake Days have become one of the most beloved UChicago traditions, turning the midweek slump into a mini celebration of cheap, sweet joy.
For just $1, you get a cold, creamy milkshake complete with free toppings piled high—a deal so good it almost sounds too awesome to be true.
This weekly ritual has been a part of campus life for decades, it dates back to the 1940s and has been enjoyed by generations of UChicago students. Upperclassmen eagerly introduce first-years to the tradition, and even faculty and staff have been known to stop by for a midweek pick-me-up.
The University itself clearly recognizes how beloved this tradition is. When an outside vendor (Einstein Bros. Bagels) took over the Reynolds Club café, UChicago required them to continue the $1 milkshake Wednesdays in their contract.
6. Reynolds Club seal
Among UChicago traditions, one of the first unwritten rules you’ll learn as a new student is to watch your step in the Reynolds Club—specifically, don’t step on the gold seal set into its lobby floor.
This shiny University emblem, embedded near the entrance to Hutchinson Commons in the student union building, might look like a harmless decoration, but according to campus lore, it’s strictly off-limits. Legend says that any student who sets foot on the seal won’t graduate on time, often meaning you won’t finish within the standard four years.
According to campus legend, this superstition may even have started as a practical ploy by clever staff who wanted to prevent the beautiful seal’s engraving from getting worn down.
7. Kuvia
Kuvia, short for Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko, is a weeklong festival that’s as much about community as it is about rejuvenation. The name itself is a blend of the Inuit word for “pursuit of happiness” and the Japanese tradition of winter training, and it’s been a beloved UChicago tradition for years.
Each day of Kuvia begins before sunrise with activities that help you shake off the winter chill and start your day with energy. You and your fellow students gather at the crack of dawn for a calming yoga session followed by a warm breakfast. Throughout the week, there are also dance classes, outdoor runs, and other group activities designed to energize both your body and mind.
The final day of Kuvia is the grand finale. The morning begins with sun salutations by the lakefront as the first light of the day stretches across Lake Michigan.
8. Summer Breeze
As the academic year winds down, Summer Breeze is the perfect way to say goodbye to the stress of finals and welcome the laid-back vibes of summer. Every spring quarter, the Council on University Programming and the Major Activities Board team up to throw this highly anticipated festival, and it’s become one of the best-loved UChicago traditions.
Whether you’re competing in a tug-of-war, soaking up the sun on a blanket, or trying your hand at one of the carnival-style games, there’s something for everyone. And the best part? It’s all about relaxation and fun, giving you a chance to take a breather before you dive into the end-of-year grind.
9. Midnight Breakfast and Primal Scream
The Primal Scream & Midnight Breakfast duo captures the emotional rollercoaster of finals week perfectly. In the span of an hour, you go from intense stress, to wild release, to relaxed togetherness.
Screaming into the night lets you purge that anxiety—an energetic reset button for your brain. And immediately afterward, filling up on pancakes with friends helps stifle any lingering jitters.
By the time you head back to your dorm or the library after midnight breakfast, you feel recharged. Sure, you’ve still got exams to tackle in the morning, but somehow they feel a little less daunting now. You’ve yelled, you’ve laughed, you’ve eaten, and you’ve remembered that you’re not alone in this.
10. O-week
When you first arrive at UChicago, one of the most exciting and memorable experiences is College Orientation Week, affectionately known as O-Week. This multi-day event has been a key part of UChicago traditions since 1934, and it’s designed to introduce new students to everything that makes the University of Chicago one of the most unique institutions in the world.
Throughout O-Week, new students are given an in-depth overview of how the College works, with sessions ranging from practical (like navigating course registration and understanding the library system) to the more cultural and fun (think icebreakers, social mixers, and group activities).
Interesting Facts about UChicago
UChicago is a university with a rich history and a reputation for intellectual rigor, but there’s so much more to discover beyond the books. Here are some interesting facts that make UChicago stand out:
1. 101 Nobel laureates
Did you know that the University of Chicago is home to 101 Nobel Prize winners, making it one of the leading universities in the world for Nobel laureates? Over the years, some of the most brilliant minds in history have studied or taught here, including economist Milton Friedman and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Saul Bellow.
2. Origin of the Atomic Age
Did you know that the world’s first controlled nuclear reaction took place right beneath a football field at UChicago? In 1942, a team of scientists led by Enrico Fermi constructed an experimental nuclear reactor under the stands of the old Stagg Field. What began as a secret World War II project ultimately reshaped history, marking the dawn of the Atomic Age.
3. The phoenix
If you’ve ever spotted a fiery bird on UChicago merchandise, you’ve likely seen the university’s mascot, Phil the Phoenix. Staying true to its whimsical, Hogwarts-like vibe, UChicago chose a mascot straight from mythology.
The phoenix symbolizes rebirth, much like how Chicago itself rose from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. UChicago shares a similar story of revival: although the university was originally founded in 1856, it faced financial struggles and closed down before being reestablished in 1890.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some traditions at UChicago?
At UChicago, traditions are as quirky as they are meaningful. You’ll experience Scavenger Hunt, a wild 72-hour adventure that challenges you to solve riddles and collect bizarre items all over campus. Don’t forget Dollar Shake Days every Wednesday, where you can grab a milkshake for just a buck, complete with free toppings.
For a bit of fun, there’s Kuvia, a winter festival where you start your mornings with yoga and s’mores. And if you’re here during finals week, join the Primal Scream to release all that stress before indulging in Midnight Breakfast—free food served in the middle of the night. These are just a few of the UChicago traditions that make campus life unforgettable.
2. What is the most popular major at UChicago?
The most popular undergraduate major at UChicago (as of Autumn Quarter 2022) is Economics, with 1,277 declared majors. The next most popular fields are Computer Science (465 students), Mathematics (311), Biological Sciences (266), and Political Science (216).
3. What is UChicago’s motto?
UChicago’s motto, Crescat scientia; vita excolatur, might sound fancy in Latin, but its meaning is powerful: “Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched.” In simple terms, it’s all about advancing knowledge and using that understanding to improve the world.
Takeaways
- UChicago’s traditions include the Latke-Hamantash debate, the Reynolds Club seal, Kuvia, and the Midnight Breakfast and Primal Scream.
- Whether you’re sprinting across the quad in Scavenger Hunt or enjoying a free milkshake during Dollar Shake Days, these traditions create memories and connect you with the UChicago community in ways that go beyond the classroom.
- One fun fact about UChicago is that the university has 101 Nobel Laureates, highlighting its prestigious academic legacy.
- Want to be part of UChicago? A college admissions expert can provide personalized advice to boost your chances.
