<p>I actually visited the campus yesterday to do the whole tour thing and sit in on a class. The tour part didn't work out (long story), so I'm planning on going back and maybe doing that along with some other things I didn't get to do the first time around.</p>
<p>I did sit it in on a class though, but it wasn't such a great class to be observing. I sat in on a Gender Studies class, but they were actually having a discussion on a reading they did on de Beauvoir. It wasn't that great actually - absolutely no class interaction. The TA was basically answering her own questions. Then again, it was a discussion, which could've gone both ways depending on the topic and the people who decided to show up and participate.</p>
<p>Anyways, for those already attending Chicago, do you guys have any recommendations for classes I could possibly sit in on and observe?</p>
<p>1) Look for Core classes (basically, anything listed under HUMA or SOSC and that starts with a "1" would work fine) to sit in on. Those are, for the most part, small classes based around discussions with quality teachers. Those classes are also more directed towards first-years.</p>
<p>You can also,</p>
<p>2) Look for a class in a subject you're interested in. I guess you tried that with Gender Studies. If you have the schedule of classes in advance, you can visit evaluations.uchicago.edu to see what's going on with the prof/TA</p>
<p>I am traveling cross country to visit the University next Friday. I'd appreciate any suggestions about the cold weather, classes, and good questions to ask students/ profs.</p>
<p>I second the hum/sosc suggestion. If you go into an upper level class, you're probably not going to have any idea what's going on. Math and science classes tend to be pretty dull to sit in on. Depending on the prof, the humanities class may resemble just a high level high school class focused on discussion. Social sciences has a mix of first and second years and operates in the same way as Hum. You can ask any students in the Admissions office for suggestions, since they may be able to suggest particular profs. The professor and the mix of students in the class make a huge difference. You can't actually see professor evaluations unless you're on the campus network, I think. Try to get on a tour next time, if you can. I'm friends with a couple tour guides who are friendly, funny, and just excellent. You can learn a lot about the University that way.</p>
<p>TheLorax, the weather during the day lately has been in the 20s, but looking at my 5-day, I see a high of 20 for next Thursday, so it could be in the teens. Where are you from? If I'm going to be walking around in that weather I generally wear jeans, long sleeve t-shirt, sweater, Northface coat, scarf, hat, gloves. Basically cover all exposed skin you can. I don't really have advice on questions to ask. What are you interested in? What worries you about the U of C?</p>
<p>Corranged,
DS1 and my spouse are leaving tomorrow AM to visit campus and tour on Monday. DS1 is planning on sitting in on a math class (intended major) instead of the tour, though he is going to head back for the admissions spiel after class. Which do you feel is more productive -- the guided tour or sitting in on a class? My husband is going to take the tour Monday, and they will be around campus tomorrow afternoon and after the tour to walk around. Is it possible to visit a dorm? (i.e., will students show a prospie around if not on a tour?)
Thanks!</p>
<p>Math classes are the opposite of boring. Some of the professors are really into it. You might find it dull if you don't like math, but even if you don't like math, you can appreciate the passion that some teachers show.</p>
<p>Normally, I think the tour is best. This is just from my own college search experience and tagging along on one of my sisters' visits. Since the tours are led by students, you can ask questions and you get a pretty good peek at campus life. Classes are more chancey than tours because you could end up in a class with a boring prof or with students who aren't quite awake yet. Core classes are good to see because they are different than so many other schools' classes, with 20-25 students, lots of discussion, and lots of interaction between the students and the professor. I never saw a class before I came here, and I actually fell in love with the school during the tour.</p>
<p>For a prospective math major who loves math, though, there are some classes he could really enjoy sitting in on. I can't really say which one is more productive in your case because I don't know your son, his personality, or how much he knows about the school already. If he does want to sit in on a math class, though, I highly suggest he sit in on a 160s Honors Calculus class. The 130s calc sequence is mainly for students who have never had calculus, so there aren't many math majors, and the class isn't geared toward kids who love math. The 150s is a tougher and faster calc sequence, but I'd still suggest going with Honors Calc if he can. The 160s have some non-math majors, but the class assumes that the students really like math, while many students in the 130s or the 150s are just trying to fulfill a requirement. Students who have taken BC Calc (as well as some students who have had less and some students who have had more math) generally place into the 160s, so I would presume that is what your son would likely be taking next year. The 160s are entirely proof based. If he wants and can, you could try checking out one of the Experimental sections (you can ask someone in Admissions whether that's possible), which are student driven versions of the normal Honors Calculus. If he would have to sit in on 130s or 150s, I would advise him to take the tour, instead, since he would be observing classes filled mostly with students who don't love math and don't want to be math majors. </p>
<p>I'm not sure whether tours visit dorms, but I would guess that they don't. Every dorm on this campus is distinct and set up completely differently than the other dorms, so just looking in one doesn't give a good picture of all of the dorm options. On that note, you have nothing to worry about with regard to housing. There are lots of dorms with lots of set ups; he can likely get a private bathroom, single sex floor, or a single if he wants it. There are apartment style rooms with full kitchen/dining room/living room, smaller suites, singles with private bathrooms, conventional dorm set-ups, and many more.</p>
<p>Thanks! I was originally going to sit in on a Humanities class, but my friend assumed the GS class would be more engaging. But I'll definitely do that the next time around, along with the tour.</p>
<p>Dorm tours are NOT available on regular tours. They offer dorm tours to accepted students only. In April they have programs for accepted students. Overnight visits can be scheduled for accepted and non accepted students, but I am not sure if multiple dorm tours are provided with these.</p>
<p>Corranged,
He is planning to sit in on Math 20800 (honors analysis) unless there is a problem. He's currently taking Multivariable/DiffEq, and he LOVES the proofs and theory. He assumes a fair bit of it will be over his head, but I think he wants to "catch the wave" and see what getting his mind blown away by math would feel like. If he can't get in there, he's definitely heading to a 160s class.</p>
<p>So would there be much to see/visit if they went tromping about in the snow tomorrow afternoon?</p>
<p>Yeah, if he can visit Honors Analysis, he should definitely do that. I suggested the 160s just because there are a lot of sections, so it's easy to fit into your schedule. There isn't much snow on the ground. We've had some dusting, but we haven't had any real snow lately. My 5-day has snow listed Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, but it has snow listed all the time without us actually getting any.</p>
<p>Is that one of Paul Sally's classes? That would be excellent. I don't know if Bob Pope teaches on Fridays this quarter, but his Strategy course was quite an experience. </p>
<p>Be sure to visit the Seminary Coop Bookstore (and bring a credit card).</p>
<p>Paul Sally taught a section of Honors Analysis last quarter, but I don't believe he's teaching it this quarter. I just checked online, and the professor listed is Fefferman. I checked him on Evaluations (you can only reach prof evaluations while on the campus network), and he's had fantastic reviews.</p>
<p>I'm in Human Being and Citizen and love it. Most of the humanities classes are pretty similar. HBC has less of a theme than some other humanities classes, but I think it's a pretty classic example of a U of C core class. There are a lot of sections and a lot of different professors, though. You could find yourself in a class with students who don't feel like talking (just because it's the U of C doesn't mean students always finish the reading or always feel like participating in class) or a professor who dominates discussion. It happens. I think most people really like their hum classes, though, so I hope you get a good one. Good luck!</p>