<p>Does anyone know if UChicago's undergraduate econ program is dominated by what is generally called the "Chicago School," or whether the current undergraduate curriculum is fairly balanced?
I would love to go to UChicago, and I would love to do economics but if the program is dominated by the Chicago School, I'm not so sure how much of a fit I would be, given quite contradictory political views. I wouldn't want to have to be squeezed out or just suppress my political beliefs to get by.</p>
<p>Um.. The chances are that as a high schooler you don't have the economics background necessary to have firmly set economic beliefs. If you want to major in economics, there is no better place to go than the U of C. There are professors who consider themselves of the Chicago School but many others who do not. Don't worry about fitting in with the political views at your school unless it's extremely one-sided. There will be people with your beliefs and people who disagree no matter where you go (in school and in life).</p>
<p>i'm a tad bit worried as well...i'm not very chicago school haha...</p>
<p>but friends assure me that no need for concern.</p>
<p>at the very most, we'll just have to be converted :) jking!</p>
<p>I think that could be a very valid concern. No need to worry? ummm ... I'm not convinced at this point.</p>
<p>Just because an economic school of thought began with a couple of professors at Chicago (that was then named for it) doesn't mean the economics department at the U of C, now or ever, is made up of professors from that school. In fact, I can't think of why a school would ever try to fill a department with professors who have the same beliefs; a department needs diverse opinions, specialties, and works in order to be respected.</p>
<p>If you don't think your political views/life outlook will jive with what you believe to be the school's, you should probably just keep away. We wouldn't want you exposing yourself to new ideas, that's really not what UC is all about. </p>
<p>Are you politically liberal? Do you understand that there's a huge difference between being politically liberal/conservative and economically liberal/conservative? (I didn't until I took Econ in senior year). They're not going to make you write essays on tax cuts while saluting the American flag and saying a rosary. </p>
<p>Regardless, it would be ridiculous if professors attempted to mold students to follow their own beliefs as it would be completely counterproductive to getting a useful education. Rather, they're going to rape your brain with Wealth of Nations, Das Kapital, and other fun books before they even let you form your own opinions.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. </p>
<p>First of all, I'm not a high school student; I'm looking to transfer, and of course my mind is always open to new ideas. But even as a high school student I was very well versed in economics and have always done a lot of reading. With regards to my economic views, I believe in capitalism for the most part, but I have some socialist leanings as well.</p>
<p>Jack4640, I understand that professors can try to be neutral, but 1) it's very rare to find teachers that can do this well (at least in the experience I've had up to his point) and 2) even in the definition of neutrality there is inherent bias because the concept of neutrality over an issue forms around the social norms surrounding that issue--for example, few people weep over bias against holocaust deniers and most people consider that to be taking a neutral stance. That example isn't 100% analogous, but it ought to get my point across.</p>
<p>Anyway, I just wanted to make sure that the program wasn't a drone factory of sorts, so corranged put my concern to rest.</p>
<p>OK. Now that I know a little more, I'll give you some extra info. I've found at the U of C a very clear difference between the socialist kids and the econ majors (yes, they tend not to be the same people). Most of the student body is socially liberal, as is the case with most colleges. I'd say a good 1/2 of students would identify as socialist to some degree. The econ majors tend to be more economically conservative, especially since the US has a capitalist system. A lot of the people I know who identify as socialists just have no interest in studying economics or considering capitalism. Professors of course have their own opinions, and it's true that many of the professors would not consider themselves strictly of the Chicago School. Having said that, I'm not sure whether there are any econ profs here looking to elect some socialist candidate for President (I know you said this isn't necessarily you; I'm just letting you know). </p>
<p>Jack pretty much nailed it, though: you don't really make your own opinions at first. Before doing that, you have to learn. You'll likely read The Wealth of Nations, tons of Marx (from manuscripts to the Manifesto), Weber, Rousseau, Harvey, and many others in your first quarter of sosc. Economics classes are, of course, more problem and textbook based.</p>
<p>Go the the economics department web page and read about the program. Then, check out the faculty and their interests (<a href="http://economics.uchicago.edu/faculty.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://economics.uchicago.edu/faculty.shtml</a>). Next, find out who teaches the undergrads (look at the course schedules), you can then track any potential point of view trends. If one is really ambitious, one can Google the names to see what they are into in a little more detail.</p>
<p>The economic professors at UChicago will be tops in their field...I don't think you need to worry about being "repressed". 1) They probably won't care what undergrad #25664 thinks (as long as you can express it clearly in a paper!) 2) They're well respected academics; those guys usually aren't big on ignorantly squelching opposing viewpoints.</p>
<p>Oh not ignorantly but definitely squelching opponents is quite rampant i would think haha...</p>
<p>but seriously i agree with corranged and jack and all...despite being in a similar position i think no need to worry nauru/nuveen.</p>
<p>and that lil juicy tidbit on the socialistic beliefs of UofC students is...heartening to say the list. haha...</p>
<p>My mother once said to me, "If you are not a socialist/communist by age 18 I will disown you, If you are still one at 25, I will disown you."</p>
<p>Uh, maybe I haven't been here long enough, but half of the U of C would NOT identify themselves as socialists and even less as "communists." I've actually noticed a much larger libertarian faction here than you would expect, plenty of "middle-of-the-road" politically apathetic kids, and mainstream liberals with some mainstream conservatives thrown in. Not homogenous and definitely not 50% socialist.</p>
<p>On the campus tour the first student I saw was wearing a shirt with a hammer and sickle on it (nothing else, just a huge hammer and sickle). I did a double take and stared at him for like 5 minutes with my mouth wide open. I mean what if some kid wore a swastika around? Everyone would flip, right?</p>
<p>So anyway: UChicago is an elite university. I would say that EVERY elite university has a left-leaning political atmosphere. Chicago, despite the reputation, is no different. There are plenty of Kerry stickers still around, and not a single Bush. In my interview, the couselor said "the campus probably leans more left than right". There are free-market capitalists in the Econ department, sure, but is everyone going to be "Chicago School"? Heck no! I wouldn't even bet that most of them were. We are dealing with a secular University! Being a right-wing fanatic, I think I have much more to be worried about in going to U of C.</p>
<p>The econ courses are very apolitical. They are taught like engineering, and frankly applied math rarely gets anyone too riled up.</p>
<p>Based on what I've read, it seems like at Chicago, they teach economics as if the belief in the superiority of free markets is a fact- not a dogma- and that those who don't agree with that fact are simply ignorant. I tend to agree with that school of thought.</p>
<p>But, depending on what you've read, doesn't that just indicate that the famous stuff that gets printed outside the university is more capitalistic, but not necessarily an indication of the teaching done there or the leanings of individual profs?</p>
<p>Although I too, am highly in agreement with that view, although I suppose it could have elements of both fact and dogma.</p>