<p>Most of the activity in this forum is generated by would-be students, but applications are only the first step. I'm just wondering how those of you who have already moved on to that next step are faring. It's always interesting to know what everyone thinks of Chicago now that they're actually full-time students there... so, I ask: Class of 2010, how are you finding U of C? Fun? Hard? Everything you dreamed about or a bit different from what you expected?</p>
<p>It's been tough. I have a gross amount of homeowrk to do - and I am taking only three classes.</p>
<p>But, that said, it is absolutely wonderful. As a masochist, I do enjoy the homework and the hours I must spend pouring over books. My classes are exciting (I look forward to each one), and the teachers' love for their areas is infectious. I started out with a terrible math teacher - a "chalkboard mumbler" who spoke ever so quietly he was barely audible - but I switched courses (same level, different teacher), and the post-doc I have now is great. Granted, we barely are dealing with numbers, but learning proofs for things I learned in high school is bringing my knowledge of math to a whole new level. I'm starting to understand things instead of simply regurgitating facts. </p>
<p>It's tough here. But I'm having a great time, having intelligent conversations with others (both inside and outside the classroom), and meeting other CCers; one is in one of my classes, in fact. :-)</p>
<p>Hi Katharos,</p>
<p>So glad you are having a great time. Your "chalkboard mumbler" statement brought back memories. I had a similar prof in grad school. His "lecturing" consisted of mumbling to the chalk board (he would talk to the students while writing on the board - his back turned to the students). To this day, I have no idea what that man was trying to teach us about yeast genetics!</p>
<p>Katharos, you know you love U of C because it is intense :-) You wouldn't have it any other way. My HS S who took a language immersion course at U of C this summer loved the intensity too. Katharos and my son are two peas in a pod. Their idea of relaxation is reading Xenophon!</p>
<p>Yes, I love it. I have four courses, how about you? Also, where you live?</p>
<p>Wow, you have no idea how encouraging that is, Katharos :) Chicago sounds so, so amazing... I just hope I'm lucky enough to get accepted for next fall! :crosses fingers:</p>
<p>It is worth noting that if some others actually saw Katharos studying and speaking with other students, they might wonder when the "fun" begins. What they fail to realize is that for some, my S included, those aha! moments are extraordinarily fun, and parties are not the only definition of fun.</p>
<p>micromom,
I did indeed sign up for the Lyric/Epinician Poetry course, and it's been great. I have Mark Payne as the professor, and we're translating much poetry that has not been printed in its translated form in English, so it's almost as if we are on the forefront of this area. For next Friday, actually, we're translating some Sappho that was only discovered but a few years ago; this is very exciting for me. You know, your son and I have to have a Greek reading get-together sometime -- and there are lots of other students here who are just as crazy about Greek as I am. I put my name down for the Classical Entertainment Society at the U. of C. today, and it sounds like lots of fun; for one thing, they put on Greek plays in English that were translated by undergrads here.</p>
<p>idad,
Precisely. Your son and I should get together sometime. I'm at the Reg a lot, he's probably at the Reg a lot... It has been but one week here, and those "aha moments" have been frequent, as I am sure they will remain to be over the next four years. It's an exciting time for me, and it also requires a lot of work, but I wouldn't have it any other way. "Fun" doesn't necessarily mean frat parties; it means doing things one enjoys, be it joining a club or sitting in a coffee shop discussing the Iliad. Fun, the fun I enjoy, does not come here to die; everything is strange and wonderful at the U. of C., and, for me, as cliched as this sounds, it's paradise.</p>
<p>Oh...U of C sounds so amazing. It's beginning to look like the only place I will ever be happy...</p>
<p>thank you 2010~ your description makes the uni sound so exciting !!!</p>
<p>I'm in the class of 10 and I LOVE it. The classes are a lot of work, but I'm interested in most of the subjects I'm studying, so it's not a big deal. Also, NObody should worry about fun going to die here. Seriously. There may be not much going on on most weekdays (besides midnight soccer), but there are big parties every weekend, and on some of the weekday nights.</p>
<p>Anyone who said fun comes to die at the UofC hasn't been down on frat row on a Friday night, or in Shoreland for that matter. There are tons of parties. However, with that being said, I probably spend at least 4 hours a (week)day in the Reg.</p>
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...I probably spend at least 4 hours a (week)day in the Reg.
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<p>And that's not fun???</p>
<p>lol at idad. Exactly. Studying, for me, IS fun. Maybe I am a bit odd, but I actually enjoy struggling with subjects until I finally understand them. And when I eventually understand them... Well, by that time, the next class has rolled around, and I am given something new I don't understand. </p>
<p>michaelburt, only four hours/weekday at the Reg? I am there at least six hours/weekday, and, while I take most of Saturday off, I spend most of my Sundays studying. Different strokes for different folks, as the saying goes.</p>
<p>I am taking 4 courses but they are mostly reading intensive. My problem sets have been easy (so far) and the bulk of the reading I do at night in the house lounge. I am surprised at how easy I have it this quarter, althoguh I am constantly hearing the groans of my floormates in harder classes. Believe me, there is still time to have PLENTY of fun, probably about as much fun as you can handle.</p>
<p>Yes, difficulty seems to run the gamut, and certain courses just require more time and effort. I spend by far the most time on my language course, as the translation we need to prepare is quite difficult for me; granted, it's third year, and I wanted it this way, so I had what was coming to me... Unlike you, I am having some difficulty with math, as I never had proofs in high school. But I love this theoretical math we are doing, so it all is good fun for me.</p>
<p>i got into Uchicago twice as a freshman and transfer</p>
<p>just from reading this, i am extremely happy I did not end up attending. I would like to say that, I applaud you guys for having such a positive and welcoming attitude. I don't think that a well-rounded college experience nessarily constitutes going to parties every weekend. However, I think that it means having some time to relax. It seems that most UC kids just study and study and study until their brains come out. While I sometimes long for such an intellectual environment that the U of C would have afforded me, I think that I made the best decision for me. I am btw at the "other" school in the northshore....</p>
<p>good lucks guys, hope you guys have a fantastic year</p>
<p>"It seems that most UC kids just study and study and study until their brains come out." </p>
<p>Haha.</p>
<p>Ah! The "other" school... With this rivalry of ours going on, it's best not to even mention it on this board. :-P</p>
<p>Yes, I study a lot, and I'm not involved in any clubs yet, but that soon will change. I must say, though, that I do have some "fun" every day, even be it just hanging out with a friend at a coffee shop. It is not fun-free here; it's just that certain fun is more prominent.</p>
<p>My S is involved in sports clubs, social organizations, academic organizations, attends public seminars, participates in stage performances, goes to parties most every weekend, is becoming quite a good cook, has many friends, loves arguing "Chicago Style" in and out of class, and still finds time to study a little in between. He is a 2nd year who has done quite well in some very tough courses his first year. He loves it at U of C, his blood runs Maroon.</p>
<p>I am a first year student totally enjoying the social experience. I am a little more on the laidback, procrastinator side, such as right now I should be writing a rough draft for a paper, so I am not so intense as MANY of the students here are. A lot of people put off doing work until the night before it's due, or the day of as in some cases. The work is demanding and there is a lot of reading, but I wouldn't say that there's a lot of work overflowing - yet - but it's enough that once you get down to it it takes a while. </p>
<p>Also, fun is not dead here. Orientation Week was very enjoyable - my house (WICK HOUSE, woohoo!!) went on a trip downtown to eat at The Parthenon in Greektown on the second night here. The third night we went on a boat trip on the Chicago River and into the lake for a bit. That night I ended up staying up until 2 am talking. There are quite a few parties here though I have buddied up with a group who doesn't do the party scene so much as movies every Friday. We watch A LOT of movies here, and its a great educational experience as many I've never seen before. Last night was Dr. Strangelove and Office Space; another night we did The Big Lebowski and we've done Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and 2. We did Star Wars. We did Love Actually Thursday night as it is everyone's favorite movie in my house!! </p>
<p>I volunteer at DocFilms now on Saturdays so like last week, V for Vendetta was showing so I got to do my volunteering then go in for free as volunteers get a free pass for the whole quarter. Tonight I am seeing Thank You For Smoking. There have been other house trips that aren't free, such as last night's Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert that some went to, or simply going downtown. There was a downtown trip for the whole school two Sundays ago where the whole school was offered bus rides downtown for free and people could go walking around - we went to Millenium Park and walked around, then went to the John Hancock Building for a private reception on the observatory floor (94th) and we got to eat. Another day had a private gathering at the Museum of Science and Industry where I got to go aboard an actual German U-boat!</p>
<p>Everything here is very fun, socially. I love eating lunch and dinner with my house because we sit around for over an hour just talking and goofing off. At the present time I'm only involved in DocFilms for my clubs/organizations because I need to get a job and what I wanted to do (fencing) didn't work with my schedule. But I'm content hanging out in the lounge watching Grey's Anatomy and Lost with people and simply socializing, or the other day when we actually went swimming in Lake Michigan because it was 80 degrees. It's what keeps me from doing my homework all the time!! I'd rather go play a video game with the second year on the floor below me than read Plato's Republic. But everyone here is very intense so you can't escape the need to actually do your work so you can stay in their league! Good motivation!</p>