<p>i keep on hearing that uchicago has a very academic atmosphere. but i have trouble trying to understand this, and what it exactly means. therefore i'd like to ask what the classes that you take are like. what are the projects and papes that you do on. what makes it an academic vs. pre-proffessional atmosphere? is that only dictated by the kids and the competition or is it more the classes?</p>
<p>well there's 2 types of classes, introductory (100 level in the course catalog) and regular (200 level) [also 300 level is grad, but whatever.] intro classes are generally easier and often tedious but you'll have to take them. all core classes are intro level. i'm in a regular level math class and the avg score on hw is usually between 50-60 percent and it takes hours. most classes have a couple midterms or a few papers. basically, there will always be work to be done until you take the final. </p>
<p>It isn't that competitive though. Most people work in groups for math and sciences and I haven't heard of cheating being a real problem. Competitive in the sense that, yes, everyone wants to make good grades, but not in the sense that people are extremely reluctant to help others out. I don't know if this answers the question at all.</p>
<p>I'm sure math and science courses are mostly lectures, but what about humanities?</p>
<p>The "academic atmosphere" comes from a few things.</p>
<p>1) Chicago's core curriculum and emphasis on reading "great books," no matter your prospective major.</p>
<p>2) The difficulty and quality that is characteristic of classes here.</p>
<p>3) The proportion of students who seek MA/PhD degrees after graduation.</p>
<p>Classes here are awesome-- they're difficult and they're challenging, but the professors want to help you understand the material. They're on your side. You'll read books that you wouldn't have otherwise, and you'll have the opportunity to discuss these books with your classmates and your friends. Chicago is the kind of school where students will work on their problem sets together, or they'll read each others' essays-- it's a great place to be if you love to learn.</p>
<p>Most classes, if they're lectures, have some lab/discussion component to them, which is typical of most colleges. Most humanities and social science core classes are discussion-based. Outside of the Core, it depends on the course you want to take, whether it's lecture-based (in which case the number of students taking the class can be pretty large) or discussion-based, in which case it's usually capped at 25. My Intro to Art History course was discussion-based and capped at 25-- the course I want to take next quarter, Islamic Art and Architecture, is a lecture and allows for 65 students.</p>
<p>now how would this differ if it was a pre professional atmosphere?</p>
<p>To be honest, I don't know.</p>
<p>One would probably point to the fact that Chicago doesn't have an undergraduate business or engineering program to make an argument that Chicago isn't "pre-professional" because it doesn't offer an undergraduate program targeted to those specific careers. Perhaps "pre-professional" is equated with "anti-intellectual" if you're going to college not to learn for the sake of learning, but rather learning specifically to get a job later in life and make money.</p>
<p>Chicago certainly falls under the "learning for the sake of learning" category, but it doesn't mean that you can't go on to develop yourself career-wise. I tend to think that people who learn because they love learning also end up with fantastic careers, because they love what they do rather than just make money doing it.</p>
<p>I agree with Amykins, this is definitely a place where you "learn for the sake of learning."</p>
<p>I'm taking HUM, SOSC, CALC 13200, and a Fiction course.</p>
<p>I generally love my classes! (well, Calc is very frustrating...but that's another story...lol)</p>
<p>HUM and SOSC are nothing but reading and interpreting, and then writing a damn good paper to get a B+.</p>
<p>Calc is my hardest class. I thought that I was good at math when I first got here....ummmm, NO. Uchicago math, in general, is definitely an eye popper!</p>
<p>Fiction.... <3 LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE <3
This is by far my favorite class ever, HS and college. My teacher is Megan Stielstra and she is one intense genius! Her class is refreshing and relaxed. However, i guess I'm biased because i'm an english major, I think I like literature, and i love writing all kinds of fiction :)</p>
<p>These classes are doable and you should expect for your classmates and teacher to push you and make you understand any material at hand. Just about everyone here is helpful. But if you want an "A" in any class, be prepared to sacrafice a whole lot of time on papers and perfect problem sets!</p>
<p>What fiction class are you taking, and what's it like? What kind of stuff do you do? I'm trying to plan out my next quarter. </p>
<p>...Is it weird to get course advice on this site?</p>
<p>naw, its not weird at all lol.</p>
<p>I'm taking the beginning fiction class with Megan Stielstra.</p>
<p>Well, the first half of the quarter we focus on learning how to "read as a writer." We read a bunch of different short stories and then we pick them apart, but as a writer would. We look for how a writier is getting things onto the page, why are we feeling sad when we read something? Why are we angry? Bored? What is this author doing to produce an affect? And then once we've figured out how that author did what he did to produce that affect, we add it to our own archive of problem solutions and use those solutions to solve our own problems in our own writing. The first half of the quarter is about figuring things out.</p>
<p>Also, during the first half we do these "writing exercises." These exercise usually involve some sort of visualization of an event that leads to another event that leads to another. One exercise that we did a few times is: Megan went around the room and pointed at a person and that person had to say random word. Then it was our job to, in our heads, run with it...see the word... play with the word and all of that; deep day-dreaming basically. It may sound dull to some, but it really gets the imagination pumping.</p>
<p>The second half of the quarter is about puting those solutions from the first quarter into practice. Figuring out what works where in your own writing, application. </p>
<p>What really makes this class is what you put into it. I'm really into writing, so I love it! I find myself pushing to create affects in my writing, to establish real characters, developing intriguing plots, playing with everything in my head and just writing no matter if its right or "wrong." This class is filled with literary freedom! When I go to that class its because I want to be there, not because I have to be there to get a grade. I've learned so much in that class about writing as a craft that i'd take any class with Megan. She's awesome.</p>
<p>Huh. Cool, thanks a lot.</p>
<p>highschool is ridiculous.
i want to go to UChicago-- RIGHT NOW.</p>
<p>OMG, I'm such in the same boat.</p>
<p>What is stopping you?</p>
<p>Umm, the fact I'm trying to survive full-blown senioritis in HS with a ridiculous scedule of 6 IB courses, while trying to balance extra-curriculars lol. But, I'm patient, one day, I will walk the hallowed steps into the ivy-covered quadrangles.</p>
<p>hehehe senioritis is an understatement. I have not done any work or handed anything in in the past two weeks hehe. I love it, all I do is crosswords now to keep my mind working</p>
<p>when I was in high school, my mind just stopped working after mid-year reports went out. lol</p>
<p>well the fact that i'm currently a highschool junior is what's stopping me.</p>
<p>i probably should spend more time bringing my GPA up or studying for SATs instead of this board... This thread just makes me want to be go to UChic already! robertsont, the fiction class you're taking sounds like a dream come true for me.</p>
<p>good... so work on getting that GPA up lol</p>