Preparing to head to graduate school can be an exciting proposition. A new town. A fresh start. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get to experience a new culture while still rooted in an educational program. If you want to make the most of Chicago while working on a graduate degree, keep the following resources and suggestions at the ready.
Getting Around Town
If you’re flying into the city, you’ll probably arrive through either Chicago O’Hare Airport or Chicago Midway Airport. Both airports are conveniently connected through the CTA system of trains and buses. The trains service 144 stations and are known locally as the El. Don’t let it intimidate you. Make it work for you. Public transportation is the way to go. The CTA connects the city with most of the surrounding areas. If you’re going to live near public transportation, you won’t need a car. Most people agree it’s far cheaper to take the El, get taxis, and just rent a car to go out of town.
Unless you rent a parking space, car owners generally waste a lot of time searching for a place to park. In the winter, you’ll enjoy the hassle of digging out your car if you can even get it to start. Getting to class on time can be a huge challenge when taking a car. The cost of parking, gas, and insurance is higher than using public transportation.
The University of Chicago has a great site, tagline: “For Students. By Students.” It can help you make sense of the city. Experience Chicago lets you play with an interactive map that shows you how to get where you want to go. Locations are marked with icons to indicate cost and audience. Look for cafes, bakeries, marketplaces, comedy clubs, sports centers, places of worship, barbers, health centers, spas, and more that appeal to vegetarians, families with kids, the over 21 crowd, and the LGBTQ communities.
If you need more detailed help for getting around, try Streetwise Chicago. It includes maps that make sense for new residents.
Where to Go
Chicago is a very culturally connected city. When you’re a student, it can be easy to hole up and study or make excuses about not being able to afford a social life. Resist the urge. Make time to experience Chicago culture. Some particularly helpful guidebooks include Michelin Green Guide Chicago, Not for Tourists, and Lonely Planet Chicago.
A favorite resource for finding Chicago’s best niches is Time Out Chicago, which includes a student guide. Here you can find deals, recommendations for food and museum exhibits specifically for students, and get insight into Chicago neighborhoods.
Nightlife Highlights: If you’re more interested in the nightlife, check out the Hopleaf Bar, which is famous for its craft beers. For 20 years it has been a major attraction in Andersonville and is the perfect spot for those with a preference for Belgian beers.
Another popular joint is Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar. A liquor store in the front with a bar, DJ, and amazing beer menu in the back, visitors love the idea of being able to buy a case of the beer they were drinking all night on their way out.
What to Eat
The days of meals plans are over when you’re a grad student. And, you can go broke in a hot minute if you eat out regularly in Chicago. Street vendors are your friends if you’re on a budget but lack love for cooking. However, if you love ketchup on your hotdogs, you may be out of luck in Chicago. The city takes great pride in its hotdogs, which come with a poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, chopped white onions, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle, tomato slices, peppers, and celery salt. You’ll be able to splurge on this kind of less-than-fresh but oh-so-delicious food if you’re walking the city from class to class.
You’ll find it’s easy to be a vegetarian in Chicago too, with cozy, inexpensive cafes like Atomix, which specifically cater to vegetarians and vegans.
Like farmer’s markets? Check the listings here (by neighborhood), including a seasonality chart.
Taking Care of Yourself
Many graduate students don’t realize they may not qualify for their parent’s insurance anymore. Health insurance is important at any age. One major illness or accident can cause an enormous amount of debt. Consider purchasing a short-term health insurance plan that can be used in Illinois. These plans can allow students to buy coverage for a specified period length of time at affordable rates while still focusing on school and an unknown future.
Chicago is an exciting city that offers a great deal of culture and fun for those looking to continue their studies, and possibly launch a career there. Following the path toward earning a graduate degree requires a greater degree of autonomy than undergraduate studies. Keeping the above suggestions in mind should help as you prepare for the move.
