First Year Schedule Discussion

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

Hey all! I’m a rising first year at UChicago, and I was hoping to get some feedback on my tentative schedule. I’m currently hoping to either major in Math w/Econ or double major in Math/Public Policy. I also have Statistics and Poli Sci in the back of my mind. I absolutely love pure math, but I also love the social sciences, and I want to somehow combine the two in a manner that meaningfully contributes to society.

As of now, this is the schedule I’m considering:

  1. Honors Calculus IBL
  2. Human Being and Citizen
  3. Physics 130s
  4. Intro to Latin

Is this a reasonable work load? I have a part time job telecommuting that will take about 6 hours/week. In addition, I want to join the university symphony orchestra, which seems like it might be a big time commitment as well. I’m fairly set on taking Calc IBL, and I obviously have to take a HUM class. I was considering taking SOSC first year (I really want to take SSI in particular) instead of Latin, but I think that might be too ambitious. For some context, I did well in AP Physics C and high school Latin, although I haven’t taken Latin since sophomore year (the AP teacher went on maternity leave so I never took it). If, by a miracle, I place out of a quarter of Latin, I want to take Econ 198.

So yeah, I know that was kind of an info dump, but I just want more opinions on this. I’m worried I might be biting off more than I can chew! All feedback is appreciated.

2

The main question is whether IBL calculus and Physics 130’s is doable given two more courses (one of them being HUM) AND symphony orchestra. You might consider dropping down your Calculus or Physics level somewhat. Given your interest (leaning toward Econ) why don’t you go a bit easier on yourself w/r/t the physics? If you want to keep your options open toward a STEM major, then consider taking only three courses so you can spend the extra time on the honors Calc./physics 130’s yet still have time for symphony orchestra. You can always take Econ 198 in the Spring, and Latin can hold off till fall/winter next year. We’ve known plenty of kids who take only three to start, esp. those who have outside commitments such as a school orchestra or sports.

Also, keep in mind that you can always register for 4 courses and either drop or switch out the math/science for an easier version as long as you do so by the add/drop date.

3

Well since this is a first year schedule discussion, how about this schedule my DD is considering.

MATH 15300
CHEM 11100
HUMA 113500
Intro to foreign language TBD

4

That’s like nearly every single bio/chem/biochem/meng/premed’s first quarter schedule lol

5

@HydeSnark Do you still think that’s the case even though a 5 on Calc BC no longer gives credit for 152?

@CU123 If you don’t mind me asking, how did your child place into MATH 153? Did she take the Calculus Accreditation Exam?

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@Shrmpngrtz Probably, just with Calc 152 instead of Calc 153

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@Shrmpngrtz yes she hasn’t gotten the results back but feels like she did well so she’ll go with 15300 until told otherwise, which btw, it appears, the results will be out on the 7th.

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@HydeSnark I was just wondering because they really slashed AP credits this year. It’s causing my son to rethink his schedule (e.g. no language).

@CU123 Thanks for the info. My son did see that on the portal. I don’t understand how the kids are supposed to create a schedule without knowing placement first though…

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@Shrmpngrtz totally concur that they should have made placement results available this week so kids have time to adjust their schedules if need be. Fortunately, it’s not first-come, first-served on the portal.

Which AP credits did they slash?

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@JBStillFlying Quite a few with most going to 5’s for any credit and then a maximum of 4 AP credits total to count toward graduation, the one most are interested in is AP Calc which use to count for Calc 1 and 2 if you got a 5, but now only counts for Calc 1. So now you have to take an accreditation test to see if you can place out of Calc 2. This seems to be more in line with HYPS FWIW.

11

Sorry for the crummy formatting, but these are the changes that I could find…maybe there are more. My understanding is that they also recently took away AP CS credit completely and credit for a 4 on statistics. Besides Math, Chem and Physics, most of the changes affect elective credits.

Before ; After

4 or 5 Art History = 3 quarters elective credits ; 5 Art History = 1 elective credit

5 Calc BC = 151 and 152 ; 5 Calc BC = 151 only

4 Chem = 2 credits 10000 level PHSC ; 4 Chem = nothing

5 Chem = Chem 111, 112, 113 ; 5 Chem = Chem 111 only

4 or 5 Econ Macro and Micro = 2 elective credits ; 5 Econ Macro and Micro = 1 elective credit

4 or 5 English Lang = 3 elective credits ; 5 English Lang = 1 elective credit

4 or 5 English Lit = 3 elective credits ; 5 English Lit = 1 elective credit

4 or 5 Gov Comp and US = 3 elective credits ; 5 Gov Comp and US = 1 elective credit

4 or 5 Music Theory = 3 elective credits ; 5 Music Theory = 1 elective credit

4 or 5 Physics 1 and 2 = 2 quarters 100 PHSC ; 4 or 5 Physics 1 and 2 = nothing

4 or 5 Physics B = 2 10000 PHSC ; 4 or 5 Physics B = nothing

3 Physics C: Mech and E&M = 2 quarters 10000 PHSC ; 3 Physics C: Mech and E&M = nothing

4 or 5 Physics C: Mech and E&M = PHYS 121,122, 123 ; 5 Physics C: Mech and E&M = PHYS 121 and 122

4 or 5 Physics C: Mech only = PHYS 121 ; 5 Physics C: Mech only = PHYS 121

4 or 5 Physics C: E&M only = PHYS 122 ; 5 Physics C: E&M only = PHYS 122

4 or 5 Studio Art = 3 elective credits ; 5 Studio Art = 1 elective credit

12

5 in AP Bio still gets you out of Core Bio…the rest of the changes don’t really matter practically speaking

Math changes are to try to get more people trying 160s. Which IMO is a really good thing.

13

I don’t think the new policy itself is bad.

But it’s also more in line with other schools’ practices to announce changes in AP policy approximately a year in advance, so that those who researched and committed to a school don’t suddenly find their plans all shot to hell. Chicago changed the AP policy in all of these major ways after the deadline to sign up and pay for senior year AP exams had passed. They didn’t even notify students about the change in the Calc BC 5 policy, so that students who were counting on credit for 152 could start the time-consuming process of securing a proctor and getting that person approved by the university, requesting the accreditation exam be sent and making sure the proctor would be there to receive the exam on the delivery day, etc. (Yep, we had a rare family vacation mostly ruined scrambling at the last second to make the proctor and calc examhappen; hope our kid passed!)

14

Ok thanks all. Yeah, these look a lot more like Harvard’s, although Uchicago is a bit more lenient on the FL (for some, anyway).

My kid scored 88% and 92%, respectively, on the two Math placement tests. She said the questions were focused on precalculus. She was an A student in Honors Precalc. last year but only a B student in Calculus AB. She also bombed the AP exam (didn’t study because she knew she wouldn’t score a 5 and she wanted to re-boot her calculus in college anyway. She thought her HS AP teacher was pretty crappy). Anyway, now I’m wondering whether she’ll end up in 13100 even though she’s pretty comfortable with Pre-Calc. Any predictions?

She - as well as we - would have no issue with the placement as the school would know best how to match the level of challenge with her ability as revealed by grades and test scores. It’s just that the extra tutorials - unless she can use them for homework - might take up extra time that could be devoted to a 4th course.

15

@Lea111 UChicago also reduced the amount they were giving out for National Merit Scholarships sometime during the past application cycle, well after many had applied and even committed to the school. Again, no notice. The decisions make sense - but the timing and lack of communication have been awful.

16

@JBStillFlying probably going to place her in the 150s. 130s is not that different though, the content is the same. The difference is that the homework is easier and students have three extra hours of TA sessions a week where someone (usually an undergrad math major - I did this last year) will help them out with their homework. Classes are usually capped at ~30 and TA sessions are capped at 10.

17

@JBStillFlying – It was a while ago, but my son’s math profile was not that different from your daughter’s. He was an A student in math until the second half of Calculus BC, and more or less screwed up the AP test because he was planning to re-take Calculus anyway, so why study? He was strongly encouraged to take 160s, because (I think) if the Math Department had its way everyone would take 160s.

18

@JHS hahahaha she’d freak if she placed in the 160’s!

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He wasn’t “placed” there. He was placed in 150s, but offered the option to take 160s and strongly encouraged in that direction. He took 150s, but I sort of wish he had taken 160s.

20

Highly doubt she’s going to be offered the same option.

BTW has anyone received a math placement yet?