<p>How is the core science curriculum like? I plan to do something in neuroscience or cognitive science (Hopefully, I'll be a neurosurgeon one day!). So what can I expect from U of C?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>uh, have you looked at the catalog (available online)? Have you been to any of the bio science websites? </p>
<p>Questions like yours are impossible to answer. How is? It's great. (wasn't that informative?). What can I expect? Lots of work. (ditto). </p>
<p>So, you do your part, and ask some more specific questions, and we'll do our part by giving you relevant answers.</p>
<p>FWIW, though, consider that UofC has perhaps the most tightly integrated med school of any major research university in the country. The facilities are within the campus proper, it shares the same faculty as the rest of the bio sciences, which means you are likely to be taught by med school professors in many bio sci courses. Because of the integration and physical closeness, undergrad research opportunities are unparalleled. Where else can you roll out of bed in your dorm and be in the most distant med school lab in 5 minutes or so (OK, I exaggerate - you can be in the building. You might wait 5 minutes for the elevator...)</p>
<p>A nuance that you may miss: If you are a science major, you will likely meet all of the science-related requirements of Chicago's core curriculum through your required introductory science courses rather than through the special courses designed for the core. You will never need to take "Core Bio" or any of the core PhySci courses. The only exception will be the need to take one of the one-quarter "Bio topics" courses, or if you have a science major that does not require introductory Bio.</p>
<p>JHS,</p>
<p>The catalog is pretty clear regarding the multiple paths for meeting the core. I would hate to think a prospective UofC student is not smart enough to figure out something so basic. </p>
<p>That's why these prospies need to do a bit of homework. They won't be spoon fed in college.</p>
<p>That's true, nmd. However, I find that high school students (a) often have no idea what's in the course catalog and how to read it, and (b) never having been through the process, don't necessarily focus on the details there in a productive way. And Chicago's general education requirement description is not going to win prizes for clarity and user-friendliness, even though it is comprehensive, accurate, and intelligible.</p>
<p>For those interested in the course catalog link:</p>
<p>collegecatalog.uchicago.edu</p>
<p>I must admit there are many many many nuances I still don't completely get.</p>
<p>Yeah, the course catalog is still fairly nebulous in my mind. I wouldn't condemn prospective students for not entirely grasping it before jumping into the fray. Outside direction is pretty helpful in this matter.</p>
<p>Sorry, if I annoyed you, newmassdad. I am aware of the course catalog but nothing speaks better than experience. I am not asking about how to meet the core, exactly...I apologize if I did not make this clearer earlier.</p>
<p>I am trying to compare U of C's to Northwestern's science classes (without blatantly asking anyone to compare the two - too late now!) but have nothing else better to go on other than their catalogs and admissions representatives (which both are obviously going to sell themselves as the better of the two). I'm trying to gather as much information as possible - like the intensity of the science classes, amount of free time, amount of homework, social atmosphere around the science majors, etc...basically, subjective information that cannot be translated onto the school's web or brochures.</p>
<p>bizzjudy, </p>
<p>you will get much more substantive feedback if you ask more specific questions.</p>
<p>I'm afraid feedback like "things are great" or "it's a lot of work" may not be very informative.</p>
<p>Questions like: how easy is it to get to work in a lab or what is AP5 Bio like will tell you much more.</p>
<p>I'd rather not limit my question. The broader, the better...that means more info for me. And I doubt CC'ers would give me responses as vague as "it was great" or "it's a lot of work". More than likely they will back up said vagueness with why they think so. Also, I'm not really capable of asking more specific questions for the simple reason that I don't know that many specifics about U of C other than the mere facts the school presents me - and facts are not what I'm entirely looking for. I'd prefer more opinions and experiences. For example, this thread, <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/591408-freshman-s-perspective.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/591408-freshman-s-perspective.html</a>, was pretty informative but I'd like more on the science/med student perspective at UChicago.</p>
<p>Whatever anyone can tell me, I will take into consideration. Let it be one line or a book, I'll appreciate it. Your initial response about the lab's close proximity and the likelihood of being taught by med school professors was quite valuable as that was not in the course catalog, I believe. Thank you.</p>
<p>My guess would be that the enormous differences between Chicago and Northwestern outside the science classroom are going to swamp any differences inside the science classroom and labs. The basic science classes at both universities are going to be fundamentally similar. Both offer research opportunities, although at Chicago they are possibly more plentiful and more convenient. Both have enough good students to provide a stimulating environment. But I don't think you would read anything like cory's Freshman Perspective thread about Northwestern. Although there is certainly an overlap between the students who are attracted to both colleges, the overall character of the student bodies is really different, the curriculums are very different, the spirit and character of the campuses are really different.</p>
<p>I've found the science classes here to be pretty great overall, and pretty tough. But intro sequences can often be as tough as you want them to be. Most of the sciences offer multiple levels. I took AP5 Bio and am taking Honors Physics now, because I like the challenge and depth, and I am not overly concerned about my GPA. I am also taking a bio elective and geology.</p>
<p>The thing that I think is great about science here is the effort to make students really understand material on a higher level than just memorizing the textbook. Simply reading the textbook is not sufficient. Some classes don't even require a text. Most bio classes here, even core topics courses, require a lot of primary source reading from scientific journals. There is often a heavy emphasis on "why we know what we know" over "what we know." We learn about historic research and will recreate Nobel Prize winning experiments in lab or calculations in homework. Even my geoscience courses, which assume no knowledge of chem, calc, or physics, and are generally pretty easy, involve some tricky calculations and derivations.</p>
<p>Exams are never multiple choice, and often require some creative thought. We got a lot of "design an experiment" type questions in bio- and when those deal with complicated genetic screens, they are not easy. Physics exams are more straightfoward, but difficult. Averages on exams tend to be fairly low, but they are usually curved or scaled in some way, and final grades turn out okay.</p>
<p>Labs tend to be interesting, and are usually 3 or 4 hours long, once a week, though one of my classes had lab twice a week for 3 hours each time. Sometimes labs are short, other times they run long. I've enjoyed them, but they can be exhausting. In bio, lab reports were formal and were sometimes 15 pages or longer, from experiments that took many weeks. In physics, we turn our lab reports in immediately, before we leave lab, and they are very informal. Geology labs are short and fun.</p>
<p>The profs are mostly great and very approachable. They usually have office hours and then TAs run discussions and may also have office hours. My class sizes have ranged from 8 to 96.</p>
<p>But as I mentioned, many classes come in 2 or 3 levels, and I've opted for the hard ones. Premeds tend to opt for the easier ones, though some take on the challenge. I doubt that you would be disatisfied with the other levels, but I'll leave it to someone else to comment on those.</p>
<p>As for free time and such, there's can be a lot of work sometimes, but it's really not that bad. I am involved in a bunch of activities, go to movies/concerts/hang out with friends, and spend a ridiculous amount of time on facebook, and I still do well. The classes themselves do take up a lot of time though when you add in all of the labs and discussions.</p>