<p>Ok, I am currently at Courant and graduate from U of C a year ago with a BA in Math. So, I will try to answer most of your questions:</p>
<p>As for an Applied Mathematics, for all practical purposes, there is no such thing at the U of C. Really. </p>
<p>As for classes, I mean, I have had classes with the best of them and with the worst of them, but don't let anybody tell you that you can get an A in a Math class at the U of C with 10 hours of work. That is impossible. There is no such thing as a genius in the sense that someone can just naturally understand something better/faster than another, so, you either do the work at Chicago, or if you are able to get an A even in the so called "easy" courses at U of C Math dept, its because you did the work earlier. I.e. you had better high school preparation, you did a lot of independent reading before you came to chicago, or while you are at chicago. Basically, there is no way around having to work you butt off to earn decent grades.</p>
<p>That is probably the biggest downside of a great U of C education, the low GPAs. And really, there is no reason for them. Yeah, the school can pride itself on having low GPAs "fun comes to die BS" and I am not necessarily convinced that is something to be proud of as students find it hard to get employment afterward/ get into med school because of the U of C rigor. In that respect, the school really crushes peoples hope sand dreams. But its what you ask for when you decide to enroll at Chicago and if you weren't fully aware of that, well, I wish somebody told you before. Hence, my post here for prospective students at Chicago.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong, I loved and still love chicago, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I played sooo much soccer and did so many irresponsible things, but still worked harder than I would have had to anywhere else in the world. In fact, with the same amount of work, I would have probably gotten a much better GPA anywhere else, even at the other hardest place, be it Caltech of MIT. </p>
<p>And yes, there are people who actually hold a GPA greater than 3.5, even in Math, which I must say is one of the hardest majors if not the hardest, and here's the flaw in their design, they are absolute nerds. You read in other posts how there are two tiers in Math dept a Chicago, yeah, if you have about 120 Math majors, thats bound to happen, but the issues is, aside from grad school, neither tier has the ability to get good job placement. Reason being, well, 1, U chicago career services is one bull crap. They have a bunch of idiots who don't know what they are doing. But worse yet, the people who have good GPAs are extremely smart, but sooo nerdy, they have absolutely no social skills. Thus, not having the necessary skills to thrive in the Corporate world. While, the second tier if you will, those who would have done exceptionally well elsewhere, get screwed by chicago GPAs and while they have the social skills, they don't have the GPA.</p>
<p>I am skipping around but also, here are the books we use, at least for the regular sequences.</p>
<p>First year: Honors Calc 1,2,3- Spivak, one of the greatest books ever written
Second year: Analysis 1,2,3-Fitzpatrick One of the worst books ever written
Third year: Algebra 1,2,3 The greatest book on Abstract Algebra that I have ever read and rivals Spivak for all time greats for me, I love this book, I kiss it at times</p>
<p>Number Theory: Niven Zuckerman, another one for the record books, a very well written book</p>
<p>Stat: Rice</p>
<p>These are all off the top of my head and really don't wanna sift through the others to look them up, I obviously did not enjoy the others as much.</p>
<p>As for your Calc-1 and Calc-2, here is the thing, while redundant in a lot of ways when you take Analysis, the only thing that is Calculus about Spivak are the topics and the title. In fact, in the preface, I believe he says that it was intended to be an intro to Analysis book. So, whatever Calculus you took, it is useless at Chicago and really irrelevant. </p>
<p>I do know a student who did 130s Calculus, the lowest level, and finished a Math major, but if you are going to have an easier time in the future and really make it as a Math Major, it is imperative that you start with the 160s, Honors Calculus course.</p>
<p>The greatest thing about The University of Chicago Mathematics department is Diane Herrmann, she is the department head and the love of my life. Go to her, talk to her, she cares about all the math majors like her kids, basically, one of the greatest people you will ever meet. She will be supportive and a good guide. I will say more when there is something else to add but I think I will conclude this long message here.</p>