<p>newmassdad: "A seminar is for discussion, but you will often find little or no note taking. The purpose of seminars, after all, is to learn how to argue, discuss, interpret etc., none of which lend themselves to notes."</p>
<p>Exactly. I go to high school at Phillips Exeter Academy, where all classes are discussion based (under the Harkness method), and nobody takes notes. Notes defeat the purpose of the discussion based class. Remember: Intellectual firepower over pure knowledge. </p>
<p>what i think theyre saying is that the purpose of the class is not to be able to recall the info discussed, rather, it is the knowledge of how to go about discussing/arguing</p>
<p>However, you wouldn't agree that perhaps it is helpful to be able to recall information from past classes, if only to benefit and provide grounding for your future discussions and arguments?</p>
<p>Coffeecake -- It is an 18 hour drive from our home to Chicago. We loaded up a minivan with all of our daughter's stuff and enjoyed spending a couple of days with her on the road, seeing her room (I like to be able to envision her there), and attending the convocation (actually I'm not sure if that was what it was called, but it was like a welcoming ceremony for the new first-years). Truthfully, parents probably don't have to go but a lot do. However, parents should not hang around. We did not spend any time with our daughter after the convocation. She was too busy starting her new life, and that's as it should be.</p>
<p>jpps: i think the entire purpose of the classes hes discussing is to teach the students how to develop arguments well. that is, the topic is moot since its the process thats valuable. if a student has at least cursory memory of the last class' discussion (only what a typical student would remember of the top of his head), that is enough to get through the ideas so that the argument's development can be advanced.</p>
<p>chocoholic: Don't worry about missing out on Core classes for study abroad. Most people don't study abroad until around third year, and by then you should be done with it-- or you can use study abroad as part of a Core requirement, particularly for Civ or Sosc. See here for more info: <a href="http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/</a></p>
<p>idad: It's best not to aim to place into a particular math class. If your son feels like there are things he knew very well that he's since forgotten, then he should spend a couple of days reviewing them. But cramming before a placement test is a bad idea, because a) it's unnecessary stress-- the placement tests are not as huge a deal as incoming students think they'll be, and b) you might end up in a totally frustrating class. The tests tend to get things right. If your son belongs in honors calculus, he'll get into honors calculus. If, by some grave injustice, he is put into the wrong class, he can talk to the right people and it will be corrected. Not to be too preachy, but try to remember that there's no use in getting into honors calculus or any analogous class just because the word "honors" is tacked to the front. It's more important that an individual find classes from which he or she can benefit the most.</p>
<p>coffeecake: I would say it's definitely, definitely worth it for parents to go. Not to O-week, per se, but to the first day. Convocation and matriculation are important milestones, and it will be important for both you and your student to share that milestone emotionally. Furthermore, your new student probably won't quite be 100% ready to be on his or her own, and parents are useful creatures for quite a few practical matters. And if you live that far away, I suggest you fly. You can ship your student's belongings to Chicago ahead of time.</p>
<p>eve, thanks for the advice. the reason I asked was that he finished Calculus BC (AP) when he was an HS sophomore and feels he might be a little rusty. He heard that the "fun" calculus was the honors track, proofs and whatnot. He attended an honors 3rd quarter class and could follow along, but was just curious about what the "focus" of his brushing up should be.</p>
<p>idad, my D did a few hours of math review last fall as we travelled from Boston to Chicago. She placed out of ALL first year math, so did not need to take any this year.</p>
<p>There is one other reason for a science major to review and do well on the math placement exam, as placement in physics is done based on the math exam:</p>
<p>"In general, students should take the most advanced courses for which they have the appropriate prerequisites. Entering students will be given a placement for General Physics I (either PHYS 13100 or 14100) based on performance on the mathematics or calculus placement test. Students majoring in physics usually start their program with the honors sequence PHYS 14100-14200-14300; however, the PHYS 13100-13200-13300 sequence is an equally acceptable pathway to the degree."</p>
<p>I will say that, based on a recent dinner I had with 6 of my D's classmates (yes, at my expense...) that none of them called honors calc "fun".</p>
<p>idad: In that case, since your son has already taken BC, an appropriate review might be to pull out the Barron's book or whatever he used to study for the AP exam, and go over it gradually-- not crammingly (sure it's a word!)-- over the course of the summer, a little at a time. It might be helpful to know that the placement exam is largely conceptual. You're asked to do some actual problems, but a lot of it is definitions and such. </p>
<p>Also, for those who love the vigor and rigor of theoretical math, honors calc is fun, in its own way. If not "fun" in the strictest sense, more precisely, it's lively and challenging.</p>
<p>eve, thanks, that's perfect. On his visit he stayed up until 3 AM with his host looking over proofs and did think it was great fun... But, I'm sure the "daily dose" would soon take the edge off the "fun."</p>
<p>otto: the university orchestra rehearses once a week for two and a half hours. When there's a performance, there's an extra rehearsal (two performances per quarter). Sometime there will also be sectionals, and of course whatever time you need to practice outside of rehearsal. Overall, not that bad.</p>
<p>If you are used to good conductors, as my D is, you may be a bit frustrated by the orchestra. Changing tempos etc. can be a challenge for players.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that there's some good chamber music opportunities, too.</p>
<p>I was wondering if you knew any students that participate in University Theater and a varsity sport? Could this endevor be a possiblity? Obviously, the two cannot happen while the sport is in season, but are there quarters where the two wouldn't overlap? Also, how much of a time commitment is a UT show? Sorry to throw all of that at you.</p>