<p>I thought this would be fun and informative. I just hope that I don't scare all of you.</p>
<p>You know that you are at the U. of C. when . . .</p>
<ul>
<li><p>You find the frat boy's organic chemistry final in the alley -and he got an 'A'.</p></li>
<li><p>You pass a student going into Reynolds Club, and she has a three inch thick book: "Egyptian Grammar."</p></li>
<li><p>The two students across from you at the Reg are reading Macroeconomics and Freud's "Psychoanalysis." Another guy is a PhD. student in economics.</p></li>
<li><p>There are 25 students taking Intermediate Homeric Greek (yes, a dead language).</p></li>
<li><p>The students you pass while walking through the Quads are discussing Plato's "Republic" and analysis.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I guess the scary part is that I have not made up any of these. Don't let this intimidate you, but there are brilliant people at the UChicago. That's why I am going there next year.</p>
<p>Any UC students or people who live in Hyde Park: feel free to add to the list. :)</p>
<p>-When eating at a restaurant two students are discussing the physics of a glass candle holder</p>
<p>-When in the library you find a student reading a rare middle Dutch text and find out his major is sociology and that his professor suggested that he read an important early reference in its original language, so the student learns the language to read the text</p>
<ul>
<li>Linguistics students studying Norwegian so they can read their text book for a course in an Icelandic language, the definitive text only available in Norwegian</li>
</ul>
<p>-Students filling a room to hear a 14 hour Homer marathon reading by classics faculty</p>
<p>-A faculty member after apologizing for assigning so much work over the weekend and promising never to do it again asks for a show of hands of those who where actually able to get through it all, once the hands are raised, he says, "The rest of you may leave, I don't teach unprepared students..."</p>
<p>I have nothing of my own to add except that I was set on MIT before reading those, and now I'm thinking I need to take a second look at U Chicago before deciding.</p>
<p>idad, those are all great, but I must say I liked the last one the most.</p>
<p>Another two:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Two students during a fencing practice is discussing the physics of a lunch box.</p></li>
<li><p>Half of the people you know who attend the U. of C. have NEVER READ HARRY POTTER.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>I know that the grad students in classics read a lot of their books about Greek in Latin, German, French, and Italian, as the definitive texts are written in those languages. There is no easy way out of the U. of C. </p>
<p>By the way, there was a chalk sign in front of the classics building advertising the Homerathon- in Greek. Geez, I love the U. of C.</p>
<p>I just remembered something about the physics of the candle holder discussion, one, one student was a philosophy concentrator and the other an East Asian Lang & Civ concentrator, both, however were in advanced physics and the corresponding math thanks, in part, to the Core.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I know that the grad students in classics read a lot of their books about Greek in Latin, German, French, and Italian, as the definitive texts are written in those languages.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, you will find that MA and Ph.D students at any top classics program read books in their original language. This aspect is not unique to UChicago.</p>
<p>Many here like to emphasize UChicago's reputation for intellectualism, but there is no need to exaggerate. Some schools have some identical activities, but they are not as publicized.</p>
<p>Edit: I should say that I love the University of Chicago, but let us keep the discussion realistic. At the Brown forums, there are some posters earnestly convincing another that he should choose Brown over MIT for the sciences...</p>
<p>While this is indeed true, many schools have bright interested and interesting students, what I found most intriguing about Chicago, and I have experienced many top universities, is how the school's intellectualism is ingrained into the culture of the school, and how openly the students revel in it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
...and how openly the students revel in it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is actually what makes me skeptical; I do not want to offend UChicago students, but their flaunting intellectualism seems indicative of their having an affectation for knowledge. This is probably not the case, but I certainly feel hints of it from various comments on this board.</p>
<p>I visited Princeton during Spring Break, and intellectualism is also ingrained in their school; however, the students did not seem eager flaunt what they have. Perhaps they were secure with their intelligence, making such flaunting unnecessary?</p>
<p>This is all speculation. Here at Georgetown, I see many students who try earnestly to showcase their intelligence and it is unbecoming, especially since the average GPA here is not high at all. </p>
<p>I think there is a difference between flaunting and reveling. It is the later that typifies U of C students. </p>
<p>From Levine's the Idea of the University:</p>
<p>"Chicago has developed a celebrated--some would say notorious--brand of academic civility. It is a place where one is always in principle allowed to pose the hardest question possible--of a student, a teacher, or a colleague--and feel entitled to expect gratitude rather than resentment for one's effort."</p>
<p>
[quote]
I see many students who try earnestly to showcase their intelligence and it is unbecoming
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Although I've never been to Chicago, I doubt that would be a problem. I am actually at a two year college and I see a lot of what you're talking about. </p>
<p>At a place like Chicago I suspect that everyone knows that their is a high probability that a genius is among them, so they wouldn't dare flaunt for fear of being put in their place. :) And hopefully the true geniuses will be confident enough not to flaunt.</p>
<p>At my community college everyone who has passed calculus thinks they are a genius. lol</p>
<p>And idad's makes a good point... You can revel in the life of the mind while still remaining very humble.</p>
<p>Students here are naturally bright and do not flaunt it. They are simply bright, curious kids. They talk with each other about the big questions, but they know their place. The school is chock full of very smart students. I should know; I live on the campus. </p>
<p>Yes, the U. of C. has a very academic reputation, and it is well-deserved.</p>
<p>By the way, I know that all classics grad students have to learn many languages. I know many personally.</p>
-A faculty member after apologizing for assigning so much work over the weekend and promising never to do it again asks for a show of hands of those who where actually able to get through it all, once the hands are raised, he says, "The rest of you may leave, I don't teach unprepared students..."
</p>
<p>I actually had a teacher who did this at my community college! I confess, I had to leave class. :) But after two semester's with him (no I didn't fail! It was 2 different classes!), he ended up being my favorite teacher.</p>
<p>Yes... I am going to UofC next year and I am happy that all of the students there are going to be so smart... but I am worried (because of a visit) that they are the type of kids I will hate. All obsessed with trying to display how smart they are, rather than just being smart and enjoying it... </p>
<p>You won't be disappointed, my S found the kids to be fun and self-deprecating. Sometimes when goofing around they poke fun at themselves by trying to out smart one-another, but it is typically done in jest.</p>