<p>I'm very interested in appying for UChicago next year. But everytime someone mentions UChicago on CC, it would be associatted with words such as "rigorous," "intellectual," or "grade deflation."</p>
<p>This got me worried. </p>
<p>I plan on doing premed and if UChicago does have grade deflation, bye-bye UChicago and hello Northwestern! :p</p>
<p>But, seriously, its not because I'm not a top student (I am). I have 2200+ SAT, but only 3.8 high school GPA. I'm very lazy (grade wise) and med schools put a lot of emphasis on GPA.</p>
<p>I'm wondering if current students would care to elaborate.</p>
<p>Not a current student, but from what I have gathered is that at UChicago, good grades are EARNED, and not just handed out. If you want to maintain a good GPA, and you put forth enough effot, I think that you would be able to achieve that.</p>
<p>That's the impression I get as well. The years may be wrong here, but in 2002 nobody got a 4.0, and in 2003 two people got one; I think that general trend holds.</p>
<p>Heh, no guys. Let the special little snowflakes who think "Oh my god, I'm so smart I dont even have to do homework or study" try it out for a bit.</p>
<p>They'll learn the hard way that 'C' does not stand for 'clever'.</p>
<p>Hate to say it, but if you're lazy with your work, you're going to have a tough time getting a 3.8 GPA at most colleges, and you're going to have a very tough time with med school.</p>
<p>But, I'm wondering, what does attract you to the U of C? Most students are drawn to the intellectual atmosphere, and some students are additionally drawn by words like "rigorous" or even "grade deflation." Does the core interest you? How set are your pre-med plans?</p>
<p>Sorry let me clarify, yes I have been lazy at the start of my high school career (which explains my relatively low GPA). This junior year I have definely picked up the slack. I expect to work much harder in college.</p>
<p>I believe I can handle the work at UChicago and maintain a reasonable GPA, but from what I've been hearing I would need to to work my ass off.</p>
<p>The reasons that trouble me is that I will working much harder than I need to especially compared to similar schools such as Ivies (known for grade inflation).</p>
<p>Funny thinks is that the two main reasons that most attracts me has nothing to do with my premed plans: location and its economics program.</p>
<p>I like the urban setting of UChicago. I also plan on majoring in Economics and UChicago has one of the best programs (from what I've heard). UChicago also has a relatively small class size and strong academics overall.</p>
<p>On my premed plan, I definitely plan on getting an MD, but I am also very interested in business and the likes. I'm considering doing a combined MD/MBA program (weird combination, huh?).</p>
<p>Grade deflation at chicago and inflation at Ivies? I never knew this. What would be an estimate of an average GPA at Chicago, and then at some other top schools? (Cornell? Yale?)</p>
<p>Chicagoboy, run a past search on the Chicago board. There have been many discussions about the average Chicago GPA before--whether it's comparatively lower than the GPA at other schools, and why the average GPA is what it is (effects of the core, do students at Chicago work harder?, lack of easy A classes, do students choose to challenge themselves more?, etc.).</p>
<p>How do you feel about the core, Friedrice? Read about what types of courses are required, and read the descriptions of some of the hum and sosc courses.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Grad school classes aren't limited to fourth year students; it's possible for first years to take grad school courses. This can happen in a few different ways. There are some classes that are cross-listed, so they show up in our course list and grad school course listings. Anyone can register who meets the pre-requisites (as with all courses). Then there are undergraduate sections of some popular graduate classes. These are courses within a grad school program that have one or two sections of the course open only to undergraduates. Then there are graduate courses that are open for undergrads to sign up for. I think that usually the professor needs to confirm these enrollments specifically; sometimes you'll need to talk to the professor beforehand about your interest and qualifications in order to get consent to take a certain course. So, it really depends on the particular course, but it doesn't seem like much of a problem.</p></li>
<li><p>No idea. I'm guessing that few apply, so there probably aren't many data points.</p></li>
<li><p>You can if you live in the Shoreland. The Shoreland is a huge dorm, so even if you don't live there, you probably have friends who do. You can apply ahead of time for permission to stay there during breaks. I believe all other dorms are closed during winter and spring breaks, though I assume I-house (which is on campus housing but not really a conventional dorm) stays open.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>If you are really and truly planning on pursuing an MD, I suggest you go to Northwestern, not UChicago. UChicago has one of the worst pre-med placements in the country for top ranking schools.</p>
<p>That might be true-- what I can say, though, is that you don't come to Chicago if your most desired end product is high grades.</p>
<p>As I think I've said before, A's and B's and C's mean different things to different professors, and a B or a C does not mean that you're stupid or that you've failed at producing solid work. Especially for students coming straight out of high school, where the A was practically in your hand as soon as you entered the classroom, a transition to a system where the A is reserved for superior work can be difficult.</p>
<p>My child procrastinated a lot in high school. She wasn't challenged and therefore lacked incentive to live up to her potential. She had around a 3.5 cum in a mixed honors and high level courses. It almost kept her from getting into Chicago, but she was admitted regular decision. She wanted a school that would challenge her and with a core curriculum. She got it at Chicago and it works for her. She has a 3.6 cum in her second year and claims that she works no harder than her friends at comparable schools. She studies a lot, but has lots of time to explore Chicago, sing in several choirs, go out with friends, etc. So, I don't think the myths of this intense, ridiculous nose to the grindstone school is true. Perhaps more so if you are a math major or hard core science person, but that is true at any major university.</p>
<p>Actually med schools don't care how hard the school is. A 4.0 from a state university is equal to a 4.0 from Chicago. That's how med school admissions work.</p>
<p>Friedrice, there have been discussions on this topic before. Consensus seems to be that med schools do take Chicago's rigor into account, at least somewhat. According to the pre-med advisers at Chicago, pre-med students should aim for Dean's List, which is a 3.25. Students who meet that GPA and prepare well for medical school admissions almost always get into med school, according to one of their publications.</p>