<p>Hi Everyone,</p>
<p>I know how much of a help threads like this were to me when I was applying! </p>
<p>I'm a current first year (also an international student, so can't answer questions regarding APs) so feel free to ask me any questions about life as a UChicago student. </p>
<p>Please don't ask me to chance as I have nothing to do with the admissions office! </p>
<p>Good luck with your applications!</p>
<p>What is your course load, and how much do you have to study each day? Favorite classes?</p>
<p>Hey Ch1746,</p>
<p>Course load isn’t as bad as some people make out. I’m taking four classes thing quarter which is the maximum amount that you’re allowed to take. So far it hasn’t been too bad. When it comes to papers being due as long as you keep on top of your work and don’t fall behind you should be ok. </p>
<p>Favorite class is a tough one. All my classes this quarter are part of the ‘Core Requirements’ (which I’m sure you know about). So far I really enjoy my social science class which is Power, Identity and Resistance where we read things like Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments and the Wealth of Nations. This class focuses quite heavily on political economy and is a discussion based class which is really interesting!</p>
<p>Are you taking any chemistry classes?</p>
<p>Not yet, I’m an econ major so will probably fulfill my science requirements next year. I have friends who are though and I’ve heard got things about the chem department!</p>
<p>I’m going to leave this thread to you, peter1412. But kennedyiceit, I’m a first year in Honors General Chemistry, and I absolutely love the class even though it’s only been a week. The professor is really nice and is unafraid to delve into deeper topics that are not necessarily gen chem (we covered the calculations of both J.J. Thomson’s experiment to calculate the charge:mass ratio of the electron and the Millikan oil drop experiment using some e&m physics) even though he will often say that the more advanced stuff is for our own benefit and won’t be on the tests. PM me if you have questions about chemistry here!</p>
<p>@Peter</p>
<p>Has your fun died yet? </p>
<p>This is actually a serious question, EVERYONE keeps telling me its where fun goes to die</p>
<p>Ramboacid - thanks for that, feel free to jump in any time you want 
</p>
<p>TinnyT - I’ll tell you now, it’s the complete opposite of what you’ve heard. This place is so much fun and there is so much going on all the time! Orientation Week was better than anything I imagined. </p>
<p>Don’t be put off by the self deprecating humour of a few. I was apprehensive about it as well but within the first few days I knew it wasn’t true in the slightest :)</p>
<p>During the application process, did you have any difficulty with the essays or did they just come naturally?</p>
<p>I thought I was going to find them really difficult but in the end they weren’t that bad. I was one of the few who didn’t write the Waldo essay last year so don’t choose a topic just because you think everyone else is doing it. Write one that you think will best show off who you are. That is the point of these essays. Don’t try and plan anything over-elaborate. I really just sat down and started typing what came into my head. That is how I started. </p>
<p>Most importantly, don’t write what you think they want to hear; write what you want them to hear about you.</p>
<p>Can you run down the stats/ecs that got you in and the other schools you applied to? How are the English classes? The dorms? (Where should I live if I want more of an independent, quiet lifestyle?) What do you do for fun? Do you know anybody that works off campus? </p>
<p>Thank you for this thread!</p>
<p>Okay, my stats…</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2110 - 800 Math, 660 Writing, 650 Reading (one sitting)
ACT:
SAT II: 780 Math II, 710 Math I, 650 Literature (one sitting)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): N/A
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): N/A
AP (place score in parenthesis):
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: A*AAA achieved at A Level in Maths, Politics, Economics and History
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Rotary International Youth Leadership Award, 3rd Place Nationally in GCSE Music
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Head Boy, Chairperson of School Council, Chair of Economics Society, 1st XI Field Hockey Team, Soloist in Chapel Choir, National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and Ulster Youth Orchestra. Global Young Leaders Conference and Presidential Inaugural Conference. Sec-Gen of MUN.
Job/Work Experience: A weeks work experience with British Ambassador to the Vatican, 8 month paid internship with consultancy firm, Accenture.
Volunteer/Community service: Ties in with below. Spent the last two summers as a full time teacher in the slums of New Delhi and north west India.
Summer Activities:
Essays: Common App essays were good I think but didnt think Chicago ones were anything special.
Teacher Recommendation: Good I think.
Counselor Rec: Same as above.
Additional Rec:
Interview: Thought it went really well, shared a lot of the same views as the interviewer!
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Economics
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Northern Ireland (so Ireland/UK)
School Type: Public with small fees
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $100000 but with considerable financial issues.
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Seriously ill brother but apart from that not much.
Reflection
Strengths: ECs, Work experience and volunteer work. Interview.
Weaknesses: SAT scores, essays maybe?
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Literally have no idea! Can’t believe it!
Where you were accepted: University of Edinburgh, Kings College London. Waitlisted at Yale. Rejected at UPenn, University of Oxford, Durham University and University of St Andrews. </p>
<p>What do you mean by English classes? Like English Literature? I’m not sure, I don’t plan to take any but I’m sure they’re great. </p>
<p>The dorms, hmm… I live in Max Palevsky Central which I absolutely love. It’s a very social dorm right in the centre of campus, 1 minute walk from the main quad, library and dining hall. If you’re looking for a more quiet. independent lifestyle there are a couple of options. Snell-Hitchcock is even more centrally located that Max P (it’s right on the main quads) and you get single bedrooms and it’s quite a reserved/quiet dorm, or Burton Judson which are beautiful dorms and about a five minute walk south of the main quad. Similar to Snell, single rooms but a little more social and right next to a dining hall. However, if you wanted something even more independent, you could go slightly further off campus to Stony Island, Breckenridge or Blackstone. Have a look at those!</p>
<p>For fun, there’s lots of things and again depends on what you want to get involved in or what you want to do. Greek life is great and something I personally enjoy, sports is another thing which is a big presence on campus. If they’re not your things then don’t wrry, there is honestly something for everyone on campus. This is definitely not where fun comes to die. We’re trying to rebrand it where fun stays alive. </p>
<p>Personally, I don’t know anyone who works off campus but there are so many jobs on campus ranging from coffee shops to research assistants and the economics departments that there’s always a job for students to do!</p>
<p>Hopefully this has been helpful, anymore questions let me know :)</p>
<p>The English classes are hit or miss. But there are enough good ones and good professors that you’ll generally be able to take the classes you like. I suspect they’re better than the English classes at most other schools. </p>
<p>Dorms are fun for some people but not for everyone. But again, there are plenty of smaller, more independent ones you can find that will suit you: Stony, I. House, Blackstone, Broadview. There will be plenty of people to move off with after your first year. </p>
<p>It’s not that common, but I know some people who work at places like Hyde Park Records and Treasure Island and Z&H. Other people do part-time internships.</p>
<p>Might as well bump this and say congratulations to all those accepted today! As Prospective Students Advisory Committee representative for my house I an answer pretty much all questions related to UChicago including what to expect on admit weekends and things like that. Also have knowledge of most extra-curriculars and Greek life :)</p>
<p>I have really funny concerns:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Is there Starbucks, or any other coffee shops?</p></li>
<li><p>How expensive is coffee?</p></li>
<li><p>Are “bullies” common?</p></li>
<li><p>I really love curry, and I want to know if there’s curry nearby! (lol)</p></li>
<li><p>Also the “where fun goes to die” thing: how many people are consciously trying to change this image?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>LOL please don’t mind my random questions. But I really care about coffee and curry (this is so funny)</p>
<p>No, I’m not Indian FYI</p>
<p>Hi Skyrior,</p>
<p>Not a first year, but a second year here (gasp). (a) Yes there is a starbucks, but please don’t waste your money there. There are plenty of student run cafes on campus that are cheaper (look it up, there’s like one every ten feet), and if you really want STARBUCKS coffee, they get the big tanks of coffee in the dining hall from there. (b)At a student cafe, $1-$2. (c) Bullies…uh…no. That doesn’t happen here in the usual way. Or at least not to any great extent. (d) I’m not so sure about finding curry nearby. Rajun Cajun is a place but that’s more generic indian food with fried chicken, mac+cheese, and butter biscuits. (e) Honestly, people have fun here. Yes it’s intense, yes it’s a lot of work, but that’s what I signed up for.</p>
<p>@davorin</p>
<p>Thanks mate!</p>
<p>Is the competition strong though? Do people keep talking about studies and exams?</p>
<p>Is there a lot of benefit into getting into the housing queue before, say, February?</p>
<p>It is important to me to be near the math building and near libraries. I would like to have it be a short walk. I am a bit worried when I hear most dorms are 10-15 minutes from campus center.</p>
<p>Socially, which dorms are the most outgoing? I would like to find a balance between an active social life and distance from campus. Those are the two most important aspects of my house choice.</p>
<p>Are there any dorms that I need to get in the queue fast to get in? Like any that fill up quickly and are really desired? What date would you estimate that I need to get in the queue to have a reasonable chance at those dorms?</p>
<p>Are some dorms less desired? Which and why?</p>
<p>I know that all the dorms are probably a lot of fun/good. So by the less desired dorms, I don’t mean to ask for bad dorms, just exactly that: less desired.</p>
<p>Do dorms have libraries/study space/open chalkboards in them? Anywhere on campus have open chalkboards, akin to those of MIT?</p>
<p>Skyrior - Competition is, of course, present but in a good way!</p>
<p>trollface7329 - Great questions. I’ll answer them in the same paragraph form that you asked them.</p>
<p>There is some benefit if you want to get into a house which is smaller/more popular.</p>
<p>Yes, of course, there are some dorms which require that length of walk. However, the math building (Eckhart) is right in the centre of the main quad and there are libraries at ether ends of the quad so you shouldn’t have too much of a problem finding a dorm which is close to it!</p>
<p>In terms of social-ness and distance from campus, personally I would say Max Palevsky is your best bet. I live there and it’s great. It’s at the centre of everything you need, 1 minute walk to the library and dining hall, 3 minutes to the main quad and 5 minutes to the math building. It also has a great social environment and there are so many of the students that are outgoing. South Campus is also a great idea, it may be slightly further away from campus but the buildings are nicer than Max P!</p>
<p>Dorms that tend to fill up quickly include Snell-Hitchcock and Burton Judson. They have very tight knit house culture (Snell-Hitchcock even more so than BJ) but the buildings are a lot more in the gothic style. Snell is also right on the main quad. REMEMBER that you’re placed into the housing queue based upon the date of your deposit and not when you fill in your housing form. I submitted my deposit on 28th March and I got my first choice (Max P). I have no idea what date they fill up but as long as you don’t submit it too late you should stand a good chance of getting South or Max as they’re the largest. I wouldn’t leave it close to the deposit deadline (which I believe to be May 1st) as you’ll end up getting stuck in somewhere you don’t want at all. If you want Snell or BJ, submit as early as possible. Even so, the earlier the better!</p>
<p>People always look for different things in dorms so it’s hard to say which aren’t desirable. Personally I looked for something that was social and close to campus so ruled out places further away from campus such as Blackstone, Breckenridge, Stoney Island, Broadview, New Grad, MacClean, I-House. Some are further away than others, some require a bicycle/bus to get to campus. I know people who live in all (some by choice and some not) and they all seem to love them.</p>
<p>Dorms don’t have libraries (some might, I may be wrong) but all have small study spaces big enough for 4 or so people. The Regenstein Library has rooms within it with huge chalkboards which is great for working on problem sets with friends!</p>
<p>Hope this has answered your questions sufficiently! Ask any follow ups you may have. I encourage you to search old threads and read more specific dorm guides on the individual dorms!</p>
<p>@peter1412 - thanks for posting info on dorms. Do you know any 1st years that got singles? If so, which dorm(s) and how hard is it to get one? My D (admitted EA) would prefer a single. It’s not that she’s anti-social by any means, it’s just that she would prefer to have some private living space to herself.</p>
<p>Also, I am planning a visit to Chicago in Jan or Feb. Neither of us has ever been there. While I grew up in MA and know cold weather, she grew up in CA and has never been in snow except for one time when she was about 7 and we went up to Tahoe for the day and played in the snow for like 30 minutes. I want her to experience a couple of Chicago winter days so she knows what she’s in for before she commits.</p>
<p>Along these lines, and I know this is a REALLY dumb question, what kind of footwear do young, hip Chicago girls typically wear in the winter? All D owns are tennies, flats, sandals, and maybe one pair of low-rise suede boots that are not very warm or water-proof. I’ll probably need to get her something more appropriate before our trip. Thanks.</p>