<ol>
<li><p>Please tell me the main differences of the 'quarter' and 'semester' systems. And the advantages/disadvantages of both.</p></li>
<li><p>And is it true that 1/3 of the academic experience at Chicago will be core requirements?
I still need to read up on Chicago's Core and what this requires, but do you think you could give a real general summary of the Core and what you have to do?
Do I get IB credits?</p></li>
<li><p>Is the security issue in Hyde Park an actual serious issue... Like I heard that all freshmen get a whistle in orientation week. And that you have to be escorted back to your dorm after a late night at the library or something. And someone also said that UoC doesn't have a walled-in campus.. it's just in and amongst the ghetto of Hyde Park.
I've not been to Chicago so I don't know what it's like... Just hoping you can paint a picture for me so I can get a better idea.</p></li>
<li><p>What is the greek scene like there?</p></li>
<li><p>Does UoC have an athletics dept.. and do they recruit HS students?</p></li>
<li><p>What is the international student community like?</p></li>
<li><p>I have heard all these rumours about Chicago being the geek school, and I've had people put words in my mouth all the time.. and this image of Chicago has built up in my mind for the past 7/8 months.
How true is this.. how much of it is an exaggeration.
You said, "honestly, I am a huge nerd but here if you want you will find friends. The best thing is to get out of your room, because their are people who spend 24/7 in their rooms or in the reg (the library)" - you say there are people who spend 24/7 in their rooms and in the library.. roughly how many people are like this?
I'm a nerd at times too in the sense that I do love to learn, and I do appreciate an intellectual challenge. It's just that I know that in HS, even though I've done relatively well and worked hard, I've socialized/played hard too.. Following my work hard/play hard mentatlity. I guess what I'm trying to ask is, where are those rumours stemming from - they must be coming from somewhere, there must be an element of truth in it.
As much as choosing a college is about the academics and the quality of the education, overall experience is crucial to me. I don't want to make a wrong decision and be unhappy.
I've had mixed reviews from UoC students</p></li>
<li><p>How many visual arts majors are there at Chicago? And can Chicago students take classes at Chicago Institute of Art and Columbia College (the art school)? Do you know of anyone that does?</p></li>
<li><p>The Chicago English and History departments are very renowned right? What about the Art History department?</p></li>
<li><p>Is there a good dance program at Chicago?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>THank you so much in advance pheonix, for all your help!!!</p>
<p>I'm also wondering could I submit deposits for Chicago and another school?
And once my IB exams are finished in May, I'll be able to properly visit and make a right choice. I do realize I won't get the deposit back and that's fine.
I also know that if I visit in early June the campus will be dead.. will I get a totally different impression then?</p>
<p>Thanks again :)</p>
<ol>
<li>i see the quarter system as a good thing because you have fewer more intense classes. I guess that is my preference. I cannot speak to the semester systems seeing as how I have never been on the semester sytesm.</li>
<li>There is alot of core, and it is about 1/3 of the education here. The university website has all the specifics and ib info for you.</li>
<li>security is an issue, but it is an issue at all campus's. we do not have a walled in campus, but hyde park is a nice neighborhood, and is by no means a gheto. most university's in the US issue whistles to students, and people walk around the quads at all hours of the day and night unaccompanied.</li>
<li>the greek scene is small. a more specific question would get a more specific answer</li>
<li>the uofc does have athletics, but i am not that involved with it. I am not sure about the recriument policy. FOr that i would recommend contacting the coach via e-mail</li>
<li>Again, i am not an international student so i am not really sure what it is like. </li>
<li>We are definitiely a work hard/play hard school. I am not going to go into specifics, but when you are on campus talk to people about the social events the debate team and the frisbee team hold, that will clue you in. We are social bunch, and after this i am going to read aristotle on the quad with some of my friends, so do not worry about it.</li>
<li>I would recommend e-mailing some one in the visual arts, (cova is the technical name) because i am not really sure. (the same goes for question 10)</li>
<li>our history department is very good, as is our english. I am not sure about art history. sorry</li>
</ol>
<p>When I think of nerds, I think of somebody who only gets by with hard work; they are not necessarily smart and they allow people to walk all over them and disrespect them. So if you dont let people walk all over you, please dont call yourself a nerd; it tints the image of responsible and bright people.</p>
<p>How ambitious are kids at UofC? My secondary purpose for wanting to go to a top university is to meet up with equally ambitious people who want to accomplish big things. I want to meet with enterprising people that more worried about world politics or business than about what their favorite pop star ate for breakfast. Are there a lot of people like that at Chicago?</p>
<p>Hi Dan, thanks so much for all this information. I was wondering if you could speak to how people socialize, in this specific sense: I want a single, hopefully in Snell (I applied EA and sent the form in early), but I'm also a social person who doesn't mind having to get out of the dorm and make friends in classes and/or activities. Do others do this as well? Or do most people socialize within their dorm?</p>
<p>j10cpc5000: i am not quite sure what your first paragraph means. I am a nerd because I read 2500 page books and debate metaphysics for fun. It has nothing to do with being weak. In fact this school is filled with people who are nerds but are not weak. As to your second paragraph I think the people you seek are exactly those here.</p>
<p>Sarah: Having a single in snell is really nice, but for the first several weeks (maybe even the entire first quarter) you will probably be friends with people in your dorm just by virtue of convience. However, as long as you make an effort you will be fine. Where in the city are you from? Being from jersey i am interested</p>
<p>Also sorry for the horrid grammar, i will be more cognizent of it in the future.</p>
<p>As for the grad student thing, it is generally frowned up in in the sciences to go to the same school for both grad and undergrad. Obviously, chicago has a huge grad student population and many were undergraduate students as well (things like the medical sciences, going to the same school is much more common) but I dont think it is a very accurate measure of the school.</p>
<p>Phoniex, my daughter is visiting on April 14/15. She is a debater and from NJ:) Maybe later she will p/m you if that's okay with you?</p>
<p>Yes phoniex, are you still trying to transfer. You were looking at it about 4 weeks after you started school at Chicago. Hopefully you have found your niche, your clubs, and are happier at Chicago?</p>
<p>thanks for the help you've given us , pheonix . Its great advice for us in this stressful time. My main question is this: Im a little concerned about the potential anonymity that might exist at Chicago. I come from a very large HS (and Im used to it, so Im sure I could get used to a big place like U.Chicago). However, did you find the environment very welcoming when you first got to the University? Or did you feel just thrusted into a large anonymous place (maybe you could comment w/ regards to the house leaders and what they do for new students). I tend to have a little more difficulty than others with big changes, so this is my main concern. THanks so much.</p>
<p>Ben</p>
<p>Chocoholic,
It fine if your daughter wants to send me a private message. As far as transferring, at first i was not unhappy, but thought I wanted something else. I came from a tiny high school and that change was a little hard, but I have adapted well, and found my niche, which are your exact words. I put in those applications, but will most assuredly be returning to chicago next year, because i have alot of things here which i really care about (people, school, responsibilities, and the like). More then anything the people are what makes the place, and i have found a great group of uber-brilliant friends who i care about deeply, and whom care about me, and that is something that i am almost 100% sure i would not find anywhere else. Everyone here is serious about learning, inside and outside of the classroom, and that is why i came here, and why i want to stay here. </p>
<p>I also want to note that up to 1/3 of college students (nationally) consider transferring. In hindsight, I do not even think i really appreciated this school until i thought seriously about going somewhere else, and realized that I would not want to go anywhere else. That is not to say that this college is perfect, for it is not. But, for me it is where i really belong.</p>
<p>Ben,
Chicago is not that big a school (about 4000 undergrads) but coming from a high school with 75 kids in a class i did find it a little much at first, but very quickly you settle into a rhytm. You start making concentric circles of friends and they grow further away from you (geographically) as the year goes on. Their will always be people around, and if you want, you never need to worry about being alone. You have a over a week on campus with just first-years which helps you acclimate, and the o-aides (the orientaiton helpers) are good people who will give you advice (this is most important when picking classes). The two ra's and the rh were all very good, and i remeber we all went down to the lake and roasted marshmellow's and really everyone is in the same boat as you (not you in particular, but in aggregate), so you do not need to be to concerned.</p>
<p>I'm deciding between Northwestern and Chicago. I want to study history/polictics/int. relations, which is stronger? What are you perceptions of Northwestern? And considering the "name" effect, which sounds cooler when introducing?</p>
<p>THX!</p>
<p>Our we do not have an ir department, but the ir prof's in out political science department are top notch, as is the rest of our poltical science and history professors. UofC and northwestern are traditional rivals and we mock we other constantly. As far as name chicago does not have a great name, but when you introduce yourself to someone in the academic community and you say the uofc their eye's definitely widen.</p>
<p>"i am going to read aristotle on the quad with some of my friends, so do not worry about it." - Is that what people at Chicago consider to be fun? And is that what the social life is like?
Because I'm thinking.... if this is the overall idea of "fun" at Chicago.. then it really isn't the place for me.
Yes I love reading, yes I do read.. but I would never think of going to the park with 4 of my closest friends on a reading outing... <em>shudder</em></p>
<p>I know that the whole "geek school image" has to be taken with a pinch of salt, because I do not believe that Chicago has 4000+ geeky students.
I just hope that this little concern of mine will be rest-assured and I can be very comfortable with choosing Chicago.</p>
<p>But really... what are the different groups/types at Chicago? And what are their ideas of fun..?
And what are the parties like? Do people go out clubbing?
How is the nightlife in Chicago the city?</p>
<p>
[quote]
But really... what are the different groups/types at Chicago? And what are their ideas of fun..?
And what are the parties like? Do people go out clubbing?
How is the nightlife in Chicago the city?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There is a "popular" clique at the University of Chicago. In fact, the way cliques are done at the UofC is more like high school than anything else. This clique, which is about 150 people from each grade, goes clubbing, goes to the parties, etc. The great thing about it is that they all know each other, and all hang out with each other, so it's fun. They are smart, but reading Aristotle is not their idea of fun.</p>
<p>Ok this is the first time I've heard anything like this... and this really relieves me.. keelee do you go to UoC yourself?</p>
<p>And what would you say is the breakdown of students who are 'naturally genius' and those who are more of the hard-working 'pretty smart' types...
Have you ever come across ditzy girls or shallow guys?</p>
<p>And forgetting about all stereotypes.. the UChicago student body is diverse yes?</p>
<p>BTW, how do you "quote" like that.. in a box and everything..</p>
<p>Phoenix, I just read the Maroon and it had some pretty awful stories about robberies...have any of the kids you know been crime victims? Honestly, that is the only reservation I have about the University, otherwise my D would love to attend a school with a intellectual climate like Chicago's. (Silver-W, I think you would be miserable thiere.) We certainly will visit to get our own impressions apart from "rumor." Many thanks and good luck to you.</p>
<p>mommamia- you think I'd be miserable at UoC? Ok... please tell me why you think this.</p>
<p>Hey everyone, sorry I did not respond before, but I was asleep. I am going to run to the gym, and then respond to all the posts that were put up over night</p>
<p>silver: there are indeed some people who go clubbing downtown, but i would say that most of the socializing is at parties on campus and at people's apartments just off campus. In fact it was not a park, but the main quad, and we all had homework to do, and considering it was sunny and 70(F), we decieded to do our work outside. As far as the "chicago-type" I would say that the most distinguishing characteristic is that we are all very into our niche. I am really into political science and history, but there are people who are really into everything here. By everything i do not only academics, but also socially. I would strongly disagree with what keelee2 that there are "cliques" i go to alot of the parties and so do most of the social people on campus. It is not as if only 150 people are social. People do associate more closely with people they share extracirriculars with, but at parties you see all kinds. The things is, that chicago is not just a nerd school, because then we would never leave our rooms, but alot of us happen to be nerds, who enjoy the company of other human beings. Also, your questions about the whole "natural genius" thing. Again, there are people here you are exceptionally brilliant, and those who are smart and work really hard, and of course there are some ditzy girls and shallow guys. But, then again remeber that those will be at any college you go to whether it be chicago, or harvard, mit caltech, etc etc. Regarding how diverse the campus is, it is not very diverse ethnographically. We have about 20% international (i am estimating on this one), about 20% jewish, a good number of south and east asian-americans, but not that many latin or african americans.</p>
<p>Mommamia: I guess i will reserve what i feel about the maroon for another time, but this university is in a city. As such some general precautions are in order. But then again going to harvard, columbia, yale, or any other college in a city will result in the same thing. The universtiy is very good about ensureing you have good advice, and can take of yourself. Moreover the university has the 2nd largest university police department on campus and takes security seriously. As long as you are not stupid you will be okay, and a little common sense goes a long way. I encourage you to walk around the campus and really think about how you feel (whether you feel safe or not)</p>