<p>My DS and I will be in Chicago on a Friday afternoon/Saturday morning in July. I realize this is a terrible timeframe to attempt a meaningful visit, but that is what we have. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice on how best we could spend three hours on EITHER Friday afternoon or Saturday morning to try to get the best overall flavor of UofChi? If it makes any difference, my son is thinking about Physics or maybe Math. Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>A nice walk around campus is always a good idea. I know that is not very specific, but, from my experience, the University does not portray itself how it truly is on the prospie visiting days. Seeing the University on your average day is much more helpful.</p>
<p>So walk around, listen to students' conversations, check out the math building (the first one on the right as you enter the Quads), and visit the Reg (and Ex Libris, the coffee and snack shop in the basement of the Reg).</p>
<p>I have to put in a plug for two of my favorite, albeit not necessarily math oriented, must see spots. One is the Oriental Institute on 58th & University, and the other is the Seminary bookstore just north of the museum on University. While you are there stop into the Reynolds Club for some ice cream on the corner of 57th and University very near the library. You will also want to see the Henry Moore sculpture which stands at the location of the first controlled nuclear reaction (on Ellis, just north of 57th st.). The science quad and the Crerar science library, which anchors the quad, is nearby, bounded by 57th & Ellis. Another favorite spot is the Harper undergraduate library. </p>
<p>Here are some links to some webcams of these areas:</p>
<p>Oriental Institute, <a href="http://buscam.uchicago.edu/view/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://buscam.uchicago.edu/view/index.shtml</a>
Crerar, <a href="http://c-cam.uchicago.edu/view/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://c-cam.uchicago.edu/view/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>Campus maps:</p>
<p><a href="https://www.uchicago.edu/docs/maps/campus.html%5B/url%5D">https://www.uchicago.edu/docs/maps/campus.html</a>
<a href="http://maps.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://maps.uchicago.edu/</a></p>
<p>In addition to the basic recommendation by Katharos, once you've toured the contours of the campus and, hopefully, visited the insides of some buildings, including dorms, there are other things in the very close neighborhood to inspect. Are they offering tours by the admissions office during the period of your visit? That might be the most sensible way to gain access and an overview. In any case, get a good campus map and study it in advance.</p>
<p>A couple of suggestions that are virtually within the campus but not part of the campus.</p>
<p>If timing is right, you should also stop in at the Seminary Coop bookstore -- one of the best bookstores in the world. Not so much for texts but for books on everything else: math, science, linguistics, literature, languages, sociology, history, etc. You can spend hours in its labyrinthine nooks and crannies, but 20 minutes will give you the flavor. Join once, and you (and your family) are a member for life and can order online, by telephone, or in person. 5757 South University. My wife has ordered all kinds of books in Greek and Latin.<br>
<a href="http://semcoop.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp%5B/url%5D">http://semcoop.booksense.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp</a></p>
<p>One block away (5757 South Woodlawn) you will find "Robie House," built by Frank Lloyd Wright ca. 100 years ago: <a href="http://www.franklloydwright.org/%5B/url%5D">http://www.franklloydwright.org/</a></p>
<p>I live at the Sem Coop - when I am not at the Reg. And I, too, have bought many Greek books there! It really is a wonderful place, and, in addition to all of the books mackinaw mentioned, they also have quite an extensive collection of books written by U. of C. professors and people related with the U. of C. My family has a membership, and, although I rarely buy anything there, I do like to just browse and read.</p>
<p>You also might want to check out the University of Chicago Bookstore (not to be confused with the Seminary Coop Bookstore), where, besides books, they have quite a lot of UC clothing on the second floor.</p>
<p>you forgot <a href="http://r-cam.uchicago.edu/view/index.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://r-cam.uchicago.edu/view/index.shtml</a></p>
<p>its my favorite.</p>
<p>You've got to stop at Swift's coffee shop. They have the best hot chocolate known to humankind.</p>
<p>katharos, how is the university different on prospie days? and how would you describe the basic vibe or typical day at chicago?</p>
<p>The university seems to try as hard as they possibly can to make things here seem fun, fun, fun on the prospie days. Besides the activities fair, the students here seem to go more wild than usual, and the frats have parties during the week (which really never happens, save for some music blasting) and invite prospies to attend. </p>
<p>Yes, there is some fun here, but not to the extent that is seen when the prospies are here. </p>
<p>Chicago is more academic, and there is what I think of as an intellectual vibe. Kids do have some fun, but it is more with conversation and hanging out on the Quads playing Frisbee or juggling than partying.</p>
<p>Katharos,
"Chicago is more academic, and there is what I think of as an intellectual vibe. Kids do have some fun, but it is more with conversation and hanging out on the Quads playing Frisbee or juggling than partying."</p>
<p>That's why I love UChicago :)</p>
<p>Whereas I agree that Chicago has a clear intellectual vibe, my S, a first year, has had a ball. Plenty of parties, downtown activities, female companionship, IM sports, athletic club events, University sponsored travel to CA twice, organized paint-ball outings, and general goofing off. The intellectual side has definitely permeated everything, which has made it all the better. Further, his courses have been amazing. He followed the advice of a wise alumnus (not his father) who told him that the University will support just about anything and will help one do it, but one must be assertive and seek it out. S has found that to be true.</p>
<p>idad-</p>
<p>Your son must be more of a type of guy who wants to have fun - at least compared to the guys I know. Then again, I knowmainly classics, philosophy, and fundamentals majors. I know others, too, and they tend to have fun when they are not studying; but studying dominates.</p>
<p>He is a double concentrator with one of them being classics! :)</p>
<p>No way! I wonder if he is in the Intermediate Greek I am auditing. There were a few freshman in Greek 201 and I believe one in 202, but I don't know as many of the students now, so I don't know if there are any freshman anymore (the ones I know are not taking Greek now). Is he taking a Greek course this year?</p>
<p>Well, in any case, he must be pretty bright if he is a double concentrator and has time to have lots of fun. If I may ask (out of sheer curiosity), what is his other concentration?</p>
<p>If you're going to be there in July, the math REU might be going on... you HAVE to see that if you're into math. It's a summer program only for U of C students, where they get paid to study upper level math and possible do math research. It's an eight week program and it begins in June, so I imagine they'd still be doing it when you visit.</p>
<p>Kathros: I'll answer via a PM.</p>
<p>I want to thank everyone who responded. We have carefully noted all the suggestions and will follow up on our visit. You guys are great.</p>