<p>Hey all, it's been a long time since I've posted.
I figure it being my spring break and all, I ought to do something useful over the week, so I figured why not take questions from people. I know many types of majors at the U of C, if you have questions about those, especially Chemistry (my own), Math, Physics, Poli sci, or Economics. also, if you're wondering about housing, I'm in Snell-Hitchcock but know people from other dorms. I've only not ever visited, well at leastways as would apply for freshmen, pierce and blackstone. so, if you have questions about anything, I'll answer them, even if I have to do a little research. Or if there is a lot of information you want, I can direct you to appropriate places to get it.
Crescat Scientia; Vita Excolatur
Astrobobocop</p>
<p>Just one question astroboboop,
can you make sure that I am admitted? ;)</p>
<p>well, for a certain price i could go over and do some convincing...but seriously, if you wrote some good essays, show that you are both intelligent and love to learn, you've got a good chance.</p>
<p>What the real diference between the honors and regular math sequences?</p>
<p>How are kids in the econ makor like, and more generally, how is the experience for econ majors, since its the most popular major in the school?</p>
<p>Econ majors are hard to put into a group. They do not all have a specific political belief or anything like that. Instead, they do a whole lot of work, just like the rest of us. non-econ majors sometimes chide them for doing a major that will actually make them money in the future, as opposed to most of the rest of us who will have to look for grants for research. But we just kid with that sort of thing. Econ at Chicago is quite a bit of work, as I said before. Once you get into the 200 level stuff, you have to do some pretty hardcore math, but there's also an econ class that's an intro to econ that you can take with no prior experience that would let you see what it's like. I'm in fact taking it next quarter, so I can report on that personally later, but from what my econ friends have told me, they loved that teacher as well as the rest of the teachers they have had. <a href="http://economics.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://economics.uchicago.edu/</a> is the website for what they're up to over in the economics department. As for the experience of an econ major, it's not really all that different from other majors at the u of c. It boils down to you learning a lot in whatever field you find interesting</p>
<p>thanks a lot... one of my concerns was that, being the most popular major, the ability to do research or work closely with professors would be scarce.... have you heard anything of the sort from your friends?</p>
<p>sorry bill, didn't see your message offhand
Ok, the difference between honors and regular math at the u of c. I'm going to take an educated guess and say that you're comparing honors calc to regular calc. Basically, the difference boils down to whether or not you think you'll be a math major. Honors calc starts from the bottom and works its way up through calculus, and even precalculus stuff, proving everything along the way. regular calc is kind of like BC calc, at least at my school, with some proofs thrown in. now, I'm not advocating one over the other, but if you're planning on doing math in college, and your placement test puts you into honors, go for it. If you're a science major like me and will be using math as a tool and don't need to worry so much about proving everything and you get placed in to regulars, just stick with it. The thing to remember is if you're at the U of C, a class that doesn't have "honors" in front of it does not make it a class for lazy people or dumb people.<br>
In essence, follow what your placement test tells you. If you're someone who has a true gift for mathematics and get placed into honors analysis, go for it. If not, don't worry about it too much. If you're a math person, you'll probably get into honors calc if you're good at calculus but never really had to do proofs before. There are so many different potentialities that it's hard to give clear advice before you've taken your placement test and see how much math has stayed in your head over your long summer break.
hope some of this helps</p>
<p>Honors analysis with Paul Sally is supposed to be one of the most difficult math courses in the country. I have seen kids walk out of his class looking frazzled beyond belief, wearing that glazed facial expression common of over-worked U. of C. students.</p>
<p>I am thinking about becoming a math major at the U. of C. myself, but I think I would opt out of Sally's course. Just my opinion. :)</p>
<p>Well... I'll just be broad - tell me about the PS department.</p>
<p>What's your opinion on the different housing choices? Do you like living in S-H?</p>
<p>1) Unless I'm mistaken, I thought you applied RD. If so, how did you manage to get Snell-Hitchcock? I remember Sarahbara got S-H because she sent the form in the day after she was accepted EA lol. </p>
<p>2) How's the weather been so far? I'm hoping to go to Chicago for grad school, but I'm going to have to adjust from the nice weather we've been having down here. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>re: math...i dropped out of 161 (honors calculus) to 153 and then settled into 203. 161 was a terrible experience in that i had a brilliant blackboard mumbler for a teacher and a romanian TA whom i couldn't understand at all. 153 was basically calculus III with some very easy proofs tossed in. 203 (winter-quarter analysis) is a great compromise; the class moves at a slower pace, which can be a bit boring and frustrating, but the text is good, the teacher is better, and everything is nice and abstract and proof-based. </p>
<p>i don't recommend 161 unless you're seriously a serious math enthusiast 'cuz i find it boring to rehash stuff i've already done before, albeit from a different perspective. (bottom-up, proof-based...but the textbook, Calculus by Spivak, is completely awesome and worth reading through yourself, independently of the course..and if you ever have questions it's easy to go into Eckhart and find a professor or grad student to explain stuff to you)</p>
<p>take this seriously: uchicago is at no times and under no circumstances disneyland for college students.</p>
<p>^ That's nice. I'm sick of living next to Disneyland (literally).</p>
<p>Katharos
The thing you have to remember about paul sally is he's a math pirate, with pegleg and eyepatch. I think with any teacher it ca be hit or miss, so it may or may not necessarily be the teacher but I think most if it is the course. I definately agree with So_Delirious about honors calc being for math enthusiasts.<br>
neverborn:
trying to describe an entire department in this amount of space without actually being a polisci major would be difficult. I can tell you about the polisci people I know, which is what you can learn from an actual student. Polisci students tend to be very intense with their take on political science. You'll find yourself talking about various political issues at almost any hour of the day. The proffesors have all had good reviews from my friends. I'll actually be taking strategy next quarter from Bob Pape, so I'll have some firsthand knowledge in the near future. The general idea with polisci at the U of C is that you'll be very stimulated and will have to do a whole lot of writing.
Snell-Hitchcock
or affectionately known by its residents as Snitchcock is an amazing place to live. I was an RD student that got in, 1 of 5 in total in the freshmen numbering about 60 or so (out of 101 in the house). It's an amazing place to live. The freshmen doubles are quite spacious, the staff, both the RH's, RA's, as well as the front desk and maintenance people are really friendly. If you live in snitchcock you'll soon know Norval, who is just awesome. The people in hitchcock are just amazing, and the ones that have stayed around, ie upperclassmen, are all psyched about scavhunt. `Everyone's really amazing in hithcock and we all feel it's the best house on campus. With this said, every other person in every other house on campus will tell you that their house is the best as well. Housing in general is pretty good, and each place has its advantages and disadvantages. Snitchcock is right on campus and had Fermi live in it. Max P is big, new, close to the Reg and Bartlett (a dining hall) as well as campus but looks like a childrens hospital. Pierce has its own dining hall in it but has very small rooms but is riot proof. BJ is very nice, has its own dining hall, stays true to the neo-gothic architecture, but is a hike across the midway to get to campus. Shoreland used to be a luxury hotel, but is now kinda run down, the place to party, has enormous rooms, but is a bus or bike ride to get to campus.
warbler
The weather this year has been extremely mild, all of the upperclassmen are kinda mad, he he he. In general we're supposed to be freezing and blown away from the wind, but i've been wandering around in t-shirt weather fairly often. I mean, it's midwest weather so expect there to be real seasons, but don't let something like that turn you away from the U of C.
K, so keep the specific questions coming!
Astrobobocop</p>
<p>Do you hear from / see many different political views on campus? How about in political science classrooms?</p>
<p>Is UChicago more cooperative or competitive?</p>
<p>Hehe...is there a semi-conservative or non-denominational Protestant church nearby?</p>
<p>And...is there a place to get smoothies on campus? I know it's a weird question, but I was craving a Planet Smoothie smoothie today and my mind began to wander and wonder... (Thank goodness there's a Starbucks!)</p>
<p>well that sucks to hear about math and econ because i suck at math but enjoy econ...damnit!</p>
<p>Christine
I hear all sorts of political views on campus about various political issues. Chicago is a democratic stronghold, but the university has a fair share of republicans as well as some libertarians. All the political groups are fairly active, and it's not hard to get yourself into a political debate on campus, but people are very cool about it. No one gets really angry at one another, but you can get some pretty lively conversations. I haven't had a chance to go through a polisci class, but there it depends on the teacher, if it's a lecture or discussion class.
UChicago is very much cooperative. The only way it's competitive is getting into classes.
Religion is a very important part of Chicago's campus community. You can find a church of almost any denomination you can think of on campus.
Well, I am not a smoothie type person, but I do know we have a starbucks on 55th and i'm pretty sure the C-shop, one of the dining run coffee shops in the reynolds club sells smoothies. There's also the coop down the road on 55th where you can go get all sorts of food, including i'm sure smoothie making material.
yeah, bob, we do use a lot of math in various forms at the u of c, in all sorts of places.</p>
<p>I have a question:</p>
<p>How sexy am I?</p>