<p>I was just wondering if anyone knew if the economist Steven D. Levitt taught undergrads at U Chi? I just read his book and I thought it would be really cool to be taught by him, but I'm guessing that since he is a 'star professor' he only teaches doctoral students - am I right?</p>
<p>I know that he teaches a course called the Economics of Crime.</p>
<p>Well, if I were you, I'd do some serious research about the University of Chicago. UofC's college is known for really being a small college in the middle of a huge research university. Therefore, much of the way that the college runs is based on the premise that the school ought to take as much advantage from this fact as it can. Consider also that, because of it, the college at the University of Chicago is known to be one of the most grueling undergraduate experiences in the world, because the quality and quantity of the workload is very significant.</p>
<p>Why do I say this? Because after a comment like yours, I want you to be entirely sure of what you would be getting into if you were to attend the University of Chicago. In terms of economics, and virtually all other departments there, the faculty of that department in the college is usually the same faculty that teaches at the graduate schools - note also that, for example, there is no college econ department, just an overall econ department with undergraduate coordinators. Because of that, all star professors at Chicago do teach, at the very least, a few undergraduate courses. Also, if you think that Levitt is a "star", do consider that five of his peers at Chicago's econ departments are Nobel prize winners, and all teach undergraduate courses!!! Further, if they do not, unlike schools like Harvard, the flexibility for you to take some classes at the GSB, for example, does exist, and several students, especially 4th years, take advantage of that possibility. Also, due to their immense confidence in their college students, the Graduate School of Business at Chicago offers a special program to undergrads in which they can apply to the business school solely on the basis of their academic record, and, if accepted, they are placed into highly selective companies, and, after 3 years, return to Chicago to then enroll at the business school.</p>
<p>Lastly, since you cited professor Levitt, I feel I should tell you this story. I will be a freshman next year, so in mid-February I visited Chicago to make sure that it was indeed my #1 choice. Well, with my good fortune, that day, Professor Levitt was teaching his "Economics of Crime" class in the afternoon. I eagerly marched to the lecture hall, and sat down. The room filled, and about five minutes before class began, the "star" walked in and began to set up.
Needless to say, the class was amazing. I was absolutely blown away by it. It consisted primarily of taking, for example, one of the assumptions he makes in his book, and then looking at the empirical evidence and the mathematical process that it took for him to reach those conclusions. Trully fascinating. What was mostly interesting, for me at least, was the second half of the class. In order to provide examples of the material he was teaching, Levitt cited Brazil's problems with crimes. Being a Brazilian, it was indeed very fascinating for me to see him speaking so eloquently about my country, especially regarding his astute observations in his many visits there. But, out of all of this, what surprised me the most was what happened at the end of class. Unlike other experiences I had in college campuses, at the conclusion of the lecture, Levitt stayed behind and spoke to numerous students about their research, problem sets, etc.... I was certainly expecting to see the usual attitude of the "star" professor who rushes out the door once the class is over, but I didn't. At any rate, when all of them had left, I decided to speak with professor Levitt. I introduced myself, mentioned that I was Brazilian and that very likely I'd be attending next year. He congratulated me, and then proceeded to speak some more about Brazil. At the end of the conversation, he made sure to ask for my name, and told me explicitly to come see him when I returned as an actual student so that we can discuss possible research projects dealing with Brazil, which I told him was my interest. </p>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>That most certainly does help.</p>
<p>That is absolutely awesome - he invited you to do research as a senior in high school?! </p>
<p>I'm sorry if I seem jaded by using the term 'star professor' but I'm still a sophmore in high school and just beginning to research colleges - I was always under the impression that professors as famous as Levitt (and of course other professors on the faculty - I just mentioned Levitt because I was particularly interested in him after reading his book) normally dont take time out of their schedules to talk or teach to undergrads (not to mention high schoolers). In Harvard, the school I have researched the most thoroughly, this seems to be the case. </p>
<p>I am very glad to know that it is not the case in Chicago and I will consider this when deciding where to apply. </p>
<p>What was your overall impression of U Chi besides the academics? How were the people? Was it a nice campus? I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to see it.</p>
<p>The campus is a national park - so, needless to say, it is very nice. The people were also extremely interesting and very welcoming, and all very studious. If you want to do econ, I think it really has to be UofC.</p>
<p>Yeah, my dad keeps telling me U Chi is best in the world for economics. I was just wondering if it really made all that much difference where you did it undergrad? It seems that you would learn pretty much the same thing at most top schools and it only really matters at the postgraduate stage when some serious research is involved.</p>
<p>Doing research at undergrad level could really sway me, though. I was just wondering what would be the difference in an undergrad economics program at my current 'biggest reach school' - Harvard and between U Chi and my 'target/safety school' - USC? Would it really matter that much where I went undergrad? I guess it is going to come down to how passionate I am about economics, eh? </p>
<p>Also, I live in England so I am considering Cambridge for economics as well. Do you think that the benefits of a tutorial system would outweigh the disadvantages of a relatively less distinguished faculty or is faculty the most important thing?</p>
<p>felipecocco, thank you for that. still waiting to hear from chicago but your post will impact my decision (if i am admitted). Thanks!</p>
<p>PurestAwesome,</p>
<p>I am certainly not an authority on any of the issues you raised - I am simply a future econ undergrad at Chicago who is very eager to start! Nevertheless, I can give you my perspective on the issues you raised, but keep my bias and lack of professional knowledge in mind:</p>
<ul>
<li>In terms of the importance of the undergraduate institution, I think I'd agree in some respects. I think that at the undergrad level, the prestige of the institution should matter very little to you. True, the education at many elite places is indeed very similar in quality, but in some respects they are vastly different (i.e.: like you appropriately mentioned, Harvard is notorious for throwing TAs at their college students).</li>
</ul>
<p>When it comes to the actual "learning", I think you need to consider things carefully. The University of Chicago is known to be one of the most demanding undergraduate experiences in the United States (I have friends who will be going to MIT, stanford, Harvard..... and all agree that I'll be the one doing the most work). Note also that the Daily Princetonian had an article a few years ago had an article talking about how people at the University of Chicago were working harder and learning more than they were (I'll post the link once I find it again). So, I think your assumption that you'll be learning generally the same thing might not be so correct.</p>
<p>Finally on this topic, being at Chicago as an undergraduate might not be such a bad thing if you are envisioning graduate studies in economics. The GSB has begun an active recruitment process for its college students if they wish to return for grad school, so I think being at Chicago as an undergrad is beneficial if one wants to return as a grad student.</p>
<p>On to the second topic</p>
<ul>
<li>Regarding research opportunities, those are plentiful on campus. Not only a research positions plentiful in the grad schools, but the NORC and the NBER are in Chicago, as are some of the finest consulting firms in the world - therefore, research and internship opportunities are numerous. Also, like I had mentioned, my impression is that professors are genuinely interested in your research, and that is yet another avenue that can be explored.</li>
</ul>
<p>Hope this helps</p>
<p>One final note: Regarding faculty quality, I don't think that it is the most important thing - Faculty availability is. Harvard certainly has one of the top faculties in the country, but when it comes to availability, it ranks very low (11:1 student-to-faculty ratio). In the United States, Caltech and University of Chicago are the ones with the lowest student-faculty ratio (3:1 and 4:1, respectively)</p>
<p>What are the classes really like.
There is a 4:1 ratio, and during the tour the only classrooms I saw were pretty cozy. I didn't see any huge lecture halls.
Is the average size really that small?</p>
<p>I don't go there yet, but a friend of mine said that most her classes have around 13 people, and one has 7. When I visited, a first-year calc class I went to had maybe 10 people, and Levitt's lecture had around... 40ish?</p>
<p>When I was there we saw groups of students sitting around on the campus. Only to be informed that they were classes.
The image of college classes I've always had was lecture halls with hundreds of people filling the seats. Chicago always just seemed to good to be true.
I really can't wait until september.</p>
<p>ohh, are you going for sure?</p>
<p>Yeah.
It was really the only school I ever wanted to go to. It became pretty obvious when the uncommon app. was the only one I had any fun filling out.</p>
<p>hahaahh that's awesome... if you wanna get in touch: aim: felipecocco</p>
<p>I'd like to get in touch, but in a more physical way.</p>
<p>Now that was hot!
I'm totally turned on.</p>
<p>Aren't we all?</p>
<p><a href="I%20have%20friends%20who%20will%20be%20going%20to%20MIT,%20stanford,%20Harvard.....%20and%20all%20agree%20that%20I'll%20be%20the%20one%20doing%20the%20most%20work">quote</a>.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have a hard time believing that UChicago is more difficult than MIT.</p>
<p>That's interesting nspeds, because I have a hard time believing in gravity, but I'm pretty sure it's preventing me from being Superman.</p>
<p>notice i never said it was harder, i said there was more work... in terms of difficulty, im sure its all right about the same</p>