Obviously, I haven’t been accepted, but I’m still curious about UChicago’s courses.
What does a freshman schedule look like?
Also, is Honors CS possible for someone with little programming experience but strong math background? What about honors physics for someone with no Calculus-based physics?
Thanks!
Yes! They purposely use Haskell because it’s unlikely anyone has seen it before.
That’s good news! I’m really interested in computer science and I’d like to take a challenging course! Did you have a student there? What was his freshman year schedule like?
My understanding (which may be a little out-of-date):
All first-years take at least two quarters of a HUM sequence, and often the third quarter of that sequence or a quarter course meeting the arts core requirement in the spring.
Almost all first-years take at least a couple quarters of math, which course depending on where they place.
First-years who intend to major in biology will often start taking the introductory biology sequence (which goes 5 quarters). They may also take another basic science intro, either General Chemistry or Physics.
First-years who intend to major in economics and who do not have AP credit have to take the pre-introductory Economics sequence.
Many first-years also do their three-quarter SOSC sequence, but that tends to be non-STEM majors. STEM types often defer SOSC to second year.
If you don’t place out of the language requirement, it’s probably a good idea to take whatever language you have to take first year.
Obviously, not everybody can do everything, so you wind up having to make choices. Most people take four courses per quarter first year, but if you are taking an honors sequence in something it may be a good idea to start out with three and see how that goes, because HUM involves a lot of writing and the honors courses can be very demanding. You probably shouldn’t plan to take more than one honors sequence first year – and certainly not more than one if you aren’t super-well-prepared for one of them.
Here’s what the catalog says about Honors Intro Physics: “A strong background in univariable calculus is assumed. Multivariable and vector calculus will be introduced and used extensively.” I would take that very seriously. If you really feel a need to take Honors Physics, use your first year to build your math base, and then take Physics second year.
Hmm. Well I’ll just worry more about getting in first. Who knows?
My dad went to UofC and he took Honors Analysis and Honors Physics as a freshman (dunno what else he took, and he’s not home yet for me to ask), and he definitely didn’t have proof-writing experience. I just want to follow his footsteps I guess.
A couple more course questions. I read somewhere that UofC pushes faculty to have two major assignment due before the final exam. Is 3 major assignments (per class) actually the norm per quarter? If so, what does a major assignment look like? And are there regular “minor” assignments as well? Interested in info re both STEM and humanities classes.
How hard is it to place out of foreign language?
A 4 or 5 on a Language AP test will place you out of the language requirement.
Hmm. I won’t have that. I think I’ll try out a new language anyway.
@exacademic A “major assignment” likely refers to midterms (for STEM courses) or papers (for non-STEM courses outside of econ). These assignments are usually manageable and spread out in course syllabus, but actually doing them is made harder by the fact that most classes will have their major assignments due around the same time. Econ classes tend to just have one heavily weighted midterm and an even more weighted final. As one moves beyond introductory courses and starts taking upper level courses, the number of major assignments will drop (from 3 to 2 or even 1 midterm/final paper). Somehow this is reflective of what graduate level courses look like, and so students are gradually eased into taking responsibility for larger, more heavily weighted assignments.
@tutututututuru Honors physics is real. It assumes a working knowledge of everything learned in AP Physics C, and then extends it in a new direction. For example, in the first weeks of the class the professor will focus on teaching rotational motion in terms of polar coordinates, having assumed that students already have a working knowledge of rotational motion in regular cases. Math types (specifically people interested in or competent enough to be a math major) tend to outscore the physics-only types, but everyone at a minimum has gotten two 5’s on AP Physics C Mechanics and E&M.
As for Honors Analysis, about 7-15 first-years will be accepted at the beginning of the year, and most of them have already taken analysis, in part or in whole, at some point previously. That being said, about half of them will still find the course difficult and drop into accelerated or regular level analysis. Honors analysis is two courses’ worth of work on its own, both because of the speed at which the content is taught and the sheer amount of homework needed for students to practice doing proofs. Props to your dad, but I’ve heard of only one student in recent memory who took Honors Analysis and Honors Physics together and aced both - he was always a special case though. I’m not saying this to discourage you (if you can start in Honors Analysis and Honors CS go for it) but it will be very, very difficult. There is no stipulation at UChicago that one must take all the honors courses like there was in high school, and most students modify their whole schedule to work with their honors classes (perhaps combining easier classes with the honors class, taking three classes, etc.)
Alright thanks for the info. It was very informative. I don’t think I’ll try to take Honors Physics.
I don’t know how my dad did it… I knew he was smart but from how everyone’s described those courses on CC… Jeez. And he didn’t even take calculus-based physics In high school either. I have a newfound respect!
A bit of a warning: the Honors CS is a very very rigorous course. I know people who have been programming for years that dropped it by week 3. However, I would definitely recommend trying it out: just note that what you learn will be mostly a lot of theory that you will never apply. If its too hard (and you will get a good gauge for difficulty in week 1), just drop to the 150’s.
If I get into honors analysis, I won’t even try honors CS. Either way I’m up for a challenge though.