UChicago Concerns

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Hi everyone!</p>

<p>I was accepted into the college of the University of Chicago as an early action applicant with a $5,000 merit scholarship. I am a male student from Rhode Island, have taken the hardest schedule my very small private school offers, which this year means i am taking AP Art History, BC Calc, an advanced physics course called PSSC, AP Spanish and AP English. I also participate in choir, theatre, mock trial, baseball and cross country, and I am a lead admissions ambassador and a lead peer tutor. For my high school career, I have an unweighted gpa of 3.9, a weighted gpa of 4.1 and am ranked number one in my class of 45 students. UChicago is one of my top choices along with Brown and Amherst College. I love the school for many reasons, mainly for the location, campus (I visited in July and loved it, and I intend on going to one of the admitted students overnights), atmosphere, quirkiness and the challenging academics. However, I have some concerns.</p>

<p>Regarding academics, is it easy for students to maintain a decent gpa while participating in multiple extracurriculars, such as a Capella groups, intramural sports and being a tour guide? Also, I feel like during my junior and senior year, I have had to work hard to keep my grades up, but I don't feel that I am killing myself over my schoolwork. I am nervous that if I attend UChicago, I will not be prepared for the amount of work students do. Now, in a typical day, I am at school from 8 through 8:30, get home at nine and do two or three hours of homework before going to bed at around midnight. Should this prepare me well for the level of academics at UChicago?</p>

<p>Regarding the social life, I am worried that UChicago will be crowded with anti-social kids who do nothing but work. I am not a partier or anything of that nature (I have never drank in my life, but I do want to try it in college) but I do like to hang out with friends on the weekends. I am not someone who discusses philosophy with my friends, but I do enjoy intelligent discussions and debates from time to time. Do you think I will be able to find a happy medium at UChicago, people who maybe party a few times a month and are social but are still driven academically?</p>

<p>On the topic of life after graduation, do you feel that students are able to maintain a high gpa which will allow for good job placement, especially in the math or Econ fields? And, as I have been informing friends and family of my acceptance, it seems that many people in New England don't know about UChicago. Do you feel that this lack of name recognition has affected you severely, or has it proved to be nothing more than a minor annoyance?</p>

<p>Finally, if someone could compare UChicago to Brown and Amherst for math or Econ majors, that would be great.</p>

<p>I have done days of research on UChicago, and know a lot about the school, but serious responses from students, alumni or would anyone who is connected to and knowledgeable about the university would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much!</p>

2

<p>Current first year–
Don’t get your hopes up on trying to carry a full load (3-4) classes, as well as carry on as many extracurriculars as you did in high school. I would say most people do 1-2 extracurriculars. But some (few, I’d say) do more, and some do none. Personally, I’m in one, and find that I still have plenty of time to do work, hang out, have fun, and get a reasonable amount of sleep. Two to three hours of work a night is definitely below what most people do here. Granted, we aren’t at school or in class from 8 am to 8 pm (I have usually 2-4 hours of class a day). But I’d say I probably put it in a good 4-5 hours a night when it’s not midterms, however, this number certainly fluctuates given what part of the quarter it is, what classes you’re taking, and how nice your professors are. And oh yes, there will be nights when you stay up 'til 6 or 7 in the morning (or all night) finishing a paper, doing a problem set, or both. As scary as that seems, this is a great school. I feel like I’ve learned quite a bit in the 5 months I’ve been here, and putting in the hours reading, writing, and proving really just means that you learn more… and that’s why you’re going to college, right?</p>

<p>Social life–there are numerous threads about this, but I’ll say a short piece. It’s fine. Some dorms are better than others, but if you want to party, then you can party. If you want to be a loner, you can be a loner. If you want middle ground, you can find it. There are so many people here, some more social than others, so you will definitely find a group of people you like and have fun with. My friends and I have fun all the time, but, I think, we all maintain pretty good grades and do our fair share of work. </p>

<p>Math is hard. Unless you’re in the lower calc sequences (which for some people are still hard). If you’re thinking about a math major and get a 5 on BC, you’ll probably start off with Honors Calculus (MATH 161-162-163). It is a beast. It is hard. It sometimes makes people cry. But it is rewarding. There is no better feeling in the world, guaranteed, than staring at Spivak for four hours, trying to figure out a problem, and then suddenly getting it right. Tough, but rewarding class. The rest of the math classes, I’ve heard, are just as good. Econ, needless to say, is superb. I feel like a lot of Econ majors go on to PhD programs or work for small to large companies doing analysis (notably I-banking). Math, I think, has a higher percentage who go on to PhD programs, but I think some also go on to do actuarial type things. There are also quite a few Math-Econ majors. </p>

<p>Name recognition is a minor annoyance. Even the cashier at Chipotle downtown has never heard of UChicago, but you get over it. The people who will be hiring you or admitting you to law/med/grad school know the school. </p>

<p>Math and Econ departments are, canonically speaking, both in the top 5 in the country, in their respective fields. That being said, Amherst and Brown are not… but I imagine both have pretty decent to solid programs.</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much. I was already thinking of narrowing my extracurriculars down. I want to participate in a Capella and intramural sports primarily, and if I can get into the tour guide program, I would like to do that as well.</p>

4

<p>For what it’s worth, both my kids had serious extra-curriculars, plus paying jobs, throughout their time at Chicago. Each of them found that they had to pare back and be selective at some early point, and there were certainly moments when their parents, at least, worried they were trying to do too much. One worked on a publication, was part of a political group, and had paying jobs 15-20 hours/week – but along the way dropped writing for a second publication, and being involved with drama, and tutoring kids in Woodlawn. The other has had two major ECs, and actually gets paid for some of his time with one of them, plus he does a bunch of volunteer RA-type work in his major. But he had to drop involvement in student government, and he has somewhat cut back on his time with one of the major ECs. Both like parties fine, but went to fewer of them as fourth years than they did as first years.</p>

<p>Intramural sports at Chicago, I believe, tend not to be demanding at all. I have never heard of practices or stuff like that; mostly it’s just rounding people up for a game. Some of the club sports (intercollegiate competition, but not varsity, and only slight university funding) do take things seriously and have regular practices, coaches, etc.</p>

5

<p>Is it feasible to take four classes and have a moderately active social life while being involved in, say, one extracurricular, one research position/internship, and holding a paying job (working at library, etc.)? Oh, and maybe study abroad? Just wondering now so that I don’t become disillusioned later, haha.</p>

6

<p>My daughter is on a time consuming club sports team (6 practices per week, year round, plus she does some extra practice to move into the upper spots in future years), is involved with her house and some other more minor ECs, has a job ~7 hr/week, has taken four classes each term, and has dean’s list level grades. Has not taken a science class yet (humanities major) but has taken relatively advanced classes in one area where she was the only 1st year. She goes out on the weekends and has been downtown a few times each term.</p>

<p>She had considered two study abroad terms but is now thinking of one (see scav thread for reason) and may also double major.</p>

7

<p>3rd year S1 has taken 4 classes every quarter, has had a 10 hour/week job since 2nd year, a tutoring job for 4 hours every other Saturday, an EC that involves practice every week and gigs every so often. He’s been able to maintain a GPA just north of 3.6. So far few complaints from him and very few from us. He’s become extremely adept at time management and insists that the time between classes has to be used wisely. His worst time management experience happened the quarter he squeezed all of his classes into 4 days and had one “extra” day with “no” work. He hasn’t done it again.</p>

8

<p>I’m quite active in 4 RSOs, currently helping found an additional 2, and in 3 councils; taking 4 classes and maintaining a fine GPA (math major, potentially doubling in econ). I also occasionally participate in IM-Sports with my house and go downtown probably on a bi-weekly basis. While I would not necessarily recommend this level of involvement, it’s possible and I am definitely not the only one here who is.</p>

<p>If you want more discussion, let me know and I can email you with specific concerns you may have.</p>

<p>I know virtually nothing about Brown & Amherst though.</p>

9

<p>How is housing at UChicago? Which dorms do you think are the best?</p>

10

<p>I’ll talk about Brown and Amherst since Brown was my first choice and I got deferred ED. Brown/Amherst completely different from Chicago. It is a lot less rigorous with a better social scene. Though this is true, I think you will be completely satisfied with Chicago’s social scene. If you haven’t drank or done drugs in high school, you will be satisfied with Chicago’s social scene. I consider myself a “party person” and I think I’ll be fine there. There are 5,000 undergrads; you will be able to find a group of friends that parties. </p>

<p>Brown is a lot better if you are pre-med or pre-law because of the grade inflation, but you will learn much more at Chicago. If you like the Core, choose Chicago. If you like the open-curriculum choose Brown/Amherst. They are all great schools. Good luck!</p>

11

<p>In response to housing, there are certain stereotypes/self-fulfilling prophecies for each dorm. I’ll give you a quick run-down:</p>

<p>Max Palevsky and South Campus are the more “normal” dorms - normal as opposed to quirky and unique (UChicago-style). If you want the typical college experience, you’ll find it here. Both have reputations for being the “party” dorms and typically attract those who are more social and outgoing. Of course, this does NOT mean that EVERYONE is a crazy partier. There will be a mix of personalities in every dorm. But I really don’t know anyone who would disagree that Max and South are the dorms to be for those fond of partying. </p>

<p>Max in particular houses a lot of athletes/jocks because it’s right next to the gym (Ratner). South, on the other hand, is notorious for attracting Asians. Especially Koreans. The joke is that English is the second language there. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy more than anything else, but if you want to be surrounded by Asians, South is paradise. </p>

<p>Since I live in Max, I’ll describe the physical set-up in detail. The rooms in Max are all suites. A suite constitutes a foyer area (that is too small to be really considered anything other than an entrance way), two rooms (with two people in each room), and two half-bathrooms. So, four people share two rooms and two mini-bathrooms. One mini-bathroom constitutes a shower and sink, and the other a toilet and sink. It’s pretty convenient. The only downside is that YOU have to clean the bathrooms yourself. The cleaning crew does clean them at the end of each quarter, but trust me, you don’t want to wait that long.
[Side note: There ARE suites with only two people (one person to a room), but those are essentially reserved for upperclassmen, so don’t get your hopes up.] </p>

<p>South is gorgeous and looks like a hotel. There are no suites, just rooms (and a few apartments). Rooms are mostly doubles, but I do know first-years with single rooms. Bathrooms are communal but from my experience are pretty clean. Not groddy at all. </p>

<p>Pierce is the dingy, honey-combed building and has crappy rooms, but it has a GREAT community. This probably has to do with the size of the rooms (They’re small!); it forces everyone to hang out in the communal spaces. Nonetheless, I don’t know any dorm with as tight and friendly a community. I prospied there and even though the rooms, bathrooms, etc. were less than appealing, I put it as my third choice because the atmosphere is so warm and welcoming. I live in Max now, but I go to the Pierce dining hall frequently just to revel in that atmosphere again. </p>

<p>I don’t know terribly a lot about the other dorms, but I do know that Burton-Judson and Snell-Hitchcock are considered more “classic UChicago.” Then there’s Maclean, Stony Island and Broadview, which are the “really far-away” dorms. I don’t have much to say about them except that 1) You rarely meet people from those dorms (because they’re so far away) 2) Hardly anyone intentionally chooses to live there. Stony Island does have nice apartment-style rooms, however, and you can find apartment parties going on there pretty much every weekend. The dorm is also know as “Stoner Island” - hint hint wink wink for those of you into that. </p>

<p>That’s about it. Let me know if you have any other questions - Max in particular, seeing as I live there. :)</p>

12

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<p>This is perhaps one of the dumbest things I ever seen posted. Please explain how you will “learn much more”? C’mon, where are you getting this stuff from!?</p>

13

<p>I said “learn much more” because of the core-curriculum and quarter system versus Brown’s open-curriculum and semester system. </p>

<p>I was a Brown Ed’er. I love Brown, but I’m quite sure I would learn more at Chicago. (I’m only talking academically)</p>

14

<p>Polysophy: It stinks that you were deferred ED from Brown. :frowning: It’s awesome that you’ll probably attend UChicago, though. It’s also my second choice. I hope that maybe in April you’ll get into to Brown! ;)</p>

15

<p>You’ll find lots of info here about the different houses, but what you really need to keep in mind is that the composition of a house changes greatly from year to year. So whether you get your first choice or a house that you didn’t even know existed, do not have high/low expectations about what your experience will be like simply based on what you’ve heard.</p>

16

<p>If AdCom tweaks the admission policies, even the composition of the whole school (undergraduate) can change in 4 years.</p>

17

<p>My D was accepted to UChicago and very much wants to go there. BUT, I am very worried about all that I have heard about the intense, competitive academic environment and workload. She is very smart and an excellent student, but I am worried she will have to work all of the time to keep up. I want her to have fun as well as work hard. Any advice would be appreciated.</p>

18

<p>Mom3333, I see that you have posted basically this same question in at least 3 threads. Yes, Chicago is a rigorous academic environment and much is expected of the students. However, students do manage to play sports, participate in ECs, go to parties, watch endless episodes of House and West Wing (!), work, do research and stay sane…most of the time. Two of my kids have gone to Chicago. Both ended up Sociology majors, with different interests. They tolerated the Core, but have used much of what they learned in those classes in other academic arenas. Remember, Hum, Soc and Civ all have multiple series of classes amongst which students can choose. All that’s required is that they choose and complete a sequence in each area. Civ can be completed by study abroad, which my D ('11) did. Students are serious, and work hard, but they do have lives outside of the classroom, and even outside of Hyde Park. And I don’t think I ever heard either of my kids describe the environment as competitive. Compelling, fast-paced and rigorous, yes, competitive, no.</p>