<p>I am highly likely to attend University of Chicago, but I am concerned about the difficulty of courses at UChicago since it has such a reputation for being difficult. I know about the Core requirements but they are not my ultimate concern. I am worried that as a student who received 4 B's in high school I will be unable to keep decent grades and that my studies will consume all my time. I do not mean to slack off, but I would like the ability to participate in other activities on campus. Does anyone have any experience with UChicago's academics or have heard of how others fare? Thanks!</p>
<p>If you got into the university, you’ll be fine. The mythical hardcore culture at Chicago is precisely that: a myth. Chicago’s curriculum is a bit harder than the upper Ivies, but just a little bit. You’ll definitely have time for outside activities and plenty of fun.</p>
<p>What is with kids and their fear of academic rigor? Seems most want easy street these days.</p>
<p>My comment was meant more as a general observation, not a slam to the OP.</p>
<p>I think the OP’s concerns are valid in the case of Chicago, since Chicago has a reputation for being notoriously difficult, which is not the case.</p>
<p>However, you’re right, UCBChemEGrad. Kids nowadays just want an easy life. Even Rhodes Scholars are increasingly coming back to the US with easy, high-paying jobs on Wall Street rather than completing the task they set out to accomplish (which was presumably something that would help the world). Signs of a declining culture, in my opinion. Contrary to popular belief, however, this isn’t a US-centric problem.</p>
<p>I found Chicago to be “hard” (but good!) in several ways.
First, it operates on a quarter system. So the schedule of readings, exams and papers runs a little faster than it would on semesters. Second, in the humanities and social science courses (which everyone takes), you can expect rather heavy reading loads of challenging, primary source texts. Third, classes tend to be small from year 1, with a lot of discussion and writing assignments. This is great but it means you can’t just sit in the back of a big room and sleep. Fourth (and I hope this has not changed in the years since I attended), if you bloviate in a discussion or writing assignment, many professors will call you on it. So now your feelings are hurt in front of 15 other students? Well, that’s your problem. </p>
<p>I don’t know how different points 2-4 are from most other selective schools. I’ve experienced undergraduate classes at a couple of other places; they were not as hard in all the ways I’ve described. All this was years ago so maybe phuriku can comment on whether anything has changed. Some other schools may be equally (or more) challenging in other ways.</p>
<p>The good news is that professors do not expect you to come up with the Unified Theory of Everything in your discussions and papers. Start from a specific problem at hand in the text, artifact or specimen (even something as small as the meaning of a word), make a few observations that suggest a possible answer, and step logically through your evidence (or counter-evidence). Apply the Scientific Method; don’t drift off-topic; speak/write in plain English; respect (but be willing to challenge) other viewpoints. Glittering intellectual brilliance is not required.</p>