Chicago Academic Achievement Program?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Is this a program (caap.edu) aimed at helping kids with weaker educational backgrounds adapt to Chicago's rigor or is this open to everyone? It looks like they don't take actual College courses but some general high school level courses. Is that true? It looks really interesting though because it seems to build a community of pre-frosh.</p>

<p>I'm entering as a freshmen fall 2010 but I was interested in taking one or two College courses at Chicago first to get used to the campus, Hyde Park, meet some students, etc. Do I count as a "Chicago student" as a pre-frosh? I thought I found a confirmation for this on their website (summer.uchicago.edu) but I can't seem to find it anymore.</p>

<p>Anyone else want to get a head-start at Chicago?</p>

2

<p>would def. be interested in a program like this if we can enroll as students.</p>

3

<p>I’d like to take classes there too but I’m pretty sure that the CAAP is only for like disadvantaged students or something. The website is SO vague…ugh…but my thinking is that “academic, social, and financial support” makes it sound like if you’re coming from an expensive prep school, they’re not going to pick you to participate, especially since there’s statements on the website like “During the time that would otherwise be dedicated to employment, CAAP Scholars attend several study sessions per week to support their success in general education courses.” This definitely makes it sound like a program for kids with subpar HS preparation.</p>

<p>I love the community it builds among pre-frosh, but I’d rather take actual courses for credit than “preview” courses. Anyone know how many pre-frosh take courses in the summer? Are there any special requirements/limitations for pre-frosh vs. other Chicago students?</p>

<p>BTW, not a big deal, but the URL should be: [Chicago</a> Academic Achievement Program | The University of Chicago](<a href=“http://caap.uchicago.edu/]Chicago”>http://caap.uchicago.edu/)</p>

4

<p>Yeah the website wasn’t much help</p>

<p>caap.uchicago.edu</p>

5

<p>S2 took a course (American Law and Litigation) during the summer that earned college credit but was targeted at HS students. He stayed in Max P and worked his but off. Class met from 9 am to 4 pm daily, M - F, for 3 weeks. He loved it. He came home a changed person. They offer a range of courses both for high school and college.</p>

<p><a href=“https://summer.uchicago.edu/minisite/index.html[/url]”>https://summer.uchicago.edu/minisite/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>So he was a pre-frosh when he did that? Besides the academic part which sounds excellent, how was it socially? Did he meet a lot of Chicago students, including other pre-frosh? Did he get a feel for where everything was on campus?</p>

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<p>He did indeed, had a great time and made many friends not only form all over the country, but all over the world as well. He did it the summer before his junior year in HS, but there were students who had just finished HS as well.</p>

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<p>If you’re talking about the Summer Session, graduating seniors can’t take part, but I’m not sure about the CAAP thing…</p>

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<p>In my experience from knowing people who participated in CAAP, it’s generally for disadvantaged students. One person I know who did it went to an inner-city Chicago high school. The other is from a farming town in Wisconsin. I believe there are something like 40-50 students each year who do it.</p>

<p>I also know one other person who did some chemistry/pre-med thing…RIBS, perhaps? This person was in the program the summer before her junior year. A lot of the students who do summer programs like this one end up coming to UChicago, so it is a great way to meet future students.</p>

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<p>I have a friend in it, and from what she’s said, the courses aren’t remedial at all. She said a lot of the textbooks are the ones actually used in Chem, Math, etc, so you’d get a head start (though no credit, I think) on those in the summer. I think she said she has to go to weekly study sessions during the school year, but they gave her a financial aid grant, so she doesn’t have to work at all (Wish I had known about it! :slight_smile: ) She seems to really like it, but maybe you could contact someone to find out more info?</p>

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<p>@zakuropanda: Are you sure? They can’t participate at ALL? That seems really weird b/c even HS students can. Or do you mean they don’t count as Chicago students? Then do they count as HS students or visiting students?</p>

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<p>From what I can tell, high school graduates who will be attending the University can take courses other than the Insight courses and live in the dorms as a current U of C student.</p>

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<p>From 2009 program: <a href=“https://summer.uchicago.edu/course-listings.cfm?CFID=6416581&CFTOKEN=71336160&jsessionid=4tnRL8sC698JX82Sjy3TvV1TXGMTggzkJBJG4fr2fNTW2hqLMVF2!-613416549!1262234658144[/url]”>https://summer.uchicago.edu/course-listings.cfm?CFID=6416581&CFTOKEN=71336160&jsessionid=4tnRL8sC698JX82Sjy3TvV1TXGMTggzkJBJG4fr2fNTW2hqLMVF2!-613416549!1262234658144&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>If you open the application form, it says “Graduating high school seniors attending U of C are not eligible. See you in the fall” or something like that. Unless they changed the rules this year. Anyway, I didn’t see any pre-frosh this summer when I was at the program - just high schoolers and current undergrad.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I just checked the Visiting Students page to see, and it says : “Will you be entering the University of Chicago undergraduate College as a first-year student in 2009?
If yes, you may not enroll in Summer Session courses without written permission from the Dean of Students Office.” I am unsure if you can register if you are going elsewhere, but go ahead and e-mail to check.</p>

15

<p>Odd, but I guess they want everyone to attend sone form of “O-Week” prior to taking classes if a U of C student. One would think it would be more explicitly stated on the website.</p>

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<p>Nearly all of the non-high school students at the Summer Session are either current U of C undergrad taking core requirements, or other undergrad/grad students taking language classes.</p>

<p>It is kind of weird, but yeah, they probably want orientation in before freshmen start deciding what classes to take.</p>

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<p>The website is pretty vague (and if you join the program you’ll find that it doesn’t get much clearer once you’re accepted) so as a current CAAP scholar I’ll try to shed some light on the program.</p>

<p>This program is angled toward any incoming first-year. You do not have to be from a low income family. The goal of the program is to increase the chances of success during your first year at UChicago. About 48 students were chosen for the seven week program and we took classes to get us used to the coursework, lived in Max Palevsky Central and ate in Bartlett to get us used to the campus and went on outings to get us used to Chicago. </p>

<p>This year everyone had a humanities class three times a week for a hour and a half, math four times a week four a hour and fifteen minutes, a writing class twice for a hour and twenty minutes and then everyone had a science class. I had biology three times a week for two hours. Some had chemistry and physics. Then we also had a logic and reasoning class once a week for a hour and a half. And towards the end we had an argument seminar to work on making strong arguments in our papers. This is just to give prospective applicants an idea of what to expect. I think our director changes the courses every once and a while. And the courses weren’t easy. They were supposed to show what to expect in the fall. </p>

<p>The program pays for pretty much everything. Your airfare, your shuttle between the airport and campus, your room and board, your meals, planned events, books, etc. You only pay for things like trips downtown (not planned by CAAP), shopping, etc.
And the program also gives you checks to replace any money you could have been earning at summer job if you were back home. I think our amount is $1200 but that also changes.</p>

<p>The program also changes your financial aid slightly. I believe you recieve a higher amount from the Odyssey scholarship.</p>

<p>During the year we have to meet four times a week for 80 minute study sessions. It may sound like a lot but you’re already going to be studying in the library or dorm might as well get some help from tutors. Also, we can’t have a job during our first year. It’s supposed to make our first year less stressful. The money we recieved during the summer is supposed to be used during the year. We also meet with our director once a quarter to pick classes. If we take a lab science class we can only take three courses our first year too. </p>

<p>Basically, if your summer is free, do the program. Also, living in the dorms with 48 other incoming first years is a blast. I’ve only been back home for four days and I already wish I was back in Chicago with my fellow CAAPers.</p>

<p>If you have more questions or comments feel free to PM me.</p>

18

<p>I am inclined to agree with Stepharina104216.
CAAP is a great program, when I had first stumbled upon it I was under the impression it was too good to be true.</p>

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<p>Does anyone happen to know what criteria are that CAAP uses to select students for the program? Is the acceptance rate listed anywhere?</p>