<p>One of my friends who is a current freshman is taking two maths classes (IBL and something about numerical analysis). I was wondering whether I could take both Honors Analysis and Honors Algebra -- I am decently familiar with the material covered in both classes, with the probable exception of some of the most advanced topics, and my mathematical maturity is sufficiently high to handle the courses.</p>
<p>Yes, you can take both sequences towards your degree – but you REALLY don’t want to take them simultaneously. I don’t think the math dept. advisors would let you, anyway. They are both very intense.</p>
<p>Considering the stories I’ve heard about honors analysis, I’d say you’re better off just focusing on that and really excelling.</p>
<p>Yeah, Honors Analysis is supposedly ~35 hours of work a week, not including class. So it’s basically a full time job.</p>
<p>You can’t. They schedule Honors Analysis and Honors Algebra at the same time just so people can’t try this. It would be suicide anyway.</p>
<p>Because I know literally nothing about the way things are done in the U.S, so can someone patient explain to me what would happen to someone’s GPA if they took Honors Analysis? Would this “weighting” practice essentially guarantee a plump score, or would everyone basically struggle to get into the ~30% bracket receiving A’s in such a difficult course, with 70% seeing their GPAs crumble away while people taking a duff course with fools get away the highest possible GPA and little effort?</p>
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<li><p>There is no weighting at the college level. Your GPA is your GPA.</p></li>
<li><p>In the math world, Chicago’s Honors Analysis is one of a handful of legendary courses. Taking it and staying with it (and passing) is like being a Knight of the Holy Grail, sort of, and stays with you as a credential far past your undergraduate years.</p></li>
<li><p>And if you don’t stay in the math world, it’s just one course, and the ability that got you into the course and got you through it will show up as very successful, sophisticated performance in any number of areas. No one is going to worry about a few points on your GPA, because it will be clear that you have gone farther, faster than practically anybody.</p></li>
<li><p>Some people can take the course, but struggle with it, and struggle with other courses, too. So their GPAs are lower, but it’s not the fault of that one course. And having taken the course is still impressive.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s the University of Chicago. It’s completely gauche to worry about your GPA. You worry about what you are learning, and how you are challenging yourself. If I had wanted an A, I would have gone to Harvard. If it were easy, it would be your mom. It’s where the only thing that goes down on you is your GPA. (Those last three are slogans found on t-shirts around the University.)</p></li>
<li><p>It’s a tiny course comprised entirely of advanced, dedicated students. Phuriku might be able to tell us how it’s graded, but I doubt it’s graded to a strict curve such that only 30% (like, 5 people) get As. Also, it’s the University of Chicago. There aren’t so many “duff course[s] with fools” to take, and if you know of one you’re probably taking it concurrently with Honors Analysis.</p></li>
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<p>First, I love the way you put that. Second, does Chicago have any similiar “legendary” courses in other subject areas?</p>
<p>“If it were easy, it would be your mom.”</p>
<p>I literally laughed out loud when I read that… that’s great.</p>
<p>True, perhaps I should appreciate Honors Analysis without trying to take Honors Algebra as well… But can I take something like Honors Combinatorics and Probability concurrently?</p>
<p>If I’m not mistaken, Honors Analysis is one of the toughest math courses in the world at the undergraduate level… taking it WITH Honors Algebra seems suicidal…</p>
<p>No. You don’t want to take these courses simultaneously; you just don’t know it yet.</p>
<p>vworldv,
Honors Combinatorics is widely considered the second hardest course in the math department. My S has taken three classes with Prof. Babai, and all three have had a class average of 70 or below. He is currently taking Honors Combinatorics and Honors Algebra (he’s a second year, chose to take IBL Analysis > HA last year), but he has a very extensive background in combinatorics. Not for the faint of heart.</p>
<p>I’m not sure there are many folks who “appreciate” Honors Analysis except in retrospect. Mostly they are happy to survive it.</p>