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<p>Seconded so hard. There’s no grade deflation, but there’s a whole lot of fair grading - and that’s what I really love about the entire school. If you work hard, you will do fine and your GPA won’t suffer (that much ;)). If you don’t work hard - well, if you’re lucky, your professor will be one of the easy graders, and if you’re not, uh, work harder. You get the grade you deserve, folks.</p>
<p>A B is not really a good grade for a pre-med. ilovepeople712, was your friend taking the AP5Bio sequence? That’s more geared towards students who want to go into research rather than medicine. In fact, all the major science intro classes are separated out that way–there’s an honors sequence, a regular sequence, and an intro sequence. This way pre-meds can take the regular or intro sequences and not have to compete with the serious scientists. </p>
<p>I think that’s the problem with doing pre-med here: the pre-med mentality of “take easy classes and get a high GPA” is so fundamentally opposed to the UChicago mentality of “challenge yourself to the max”. Our advising is competent, but don’t expect the kind of advising you’d get at Duke or Penn. I don’t regret being here for a moment, though; this place is awesome. In spite of gen chem, a job, and three other classes I had time to go out to the city once or twice a week, and I still did quite well first quarter. </p>
<p>A word on South Campus: we’re known as the “party dorm”. At least in my house, the noise level went up as soon as reading period started and rose steadily through finals week. Based on what I’ve heard, we’re less intellectual than the other dorms, though no less weird. (Seriously, the adcoms aren’t kidding when they tell you the people here are quirky.) If you want something closer to a “normal” college experience, put Max P or South as your first choice on housing.</p>
<p>On the other end of the spectrum, I live in BJ, directly north of South Campus and constantly at odds with the SC people who feel the need to walk down Ellis screaming at 3 am some nights. (My house in particular is NOT FOND of South Campus, its ginormousness, and the louder side of the spectrum of residents there). BJ is a little over 300 people and GORGEOUS. Best architecture for a dorm, bar-none. We’re “quiet” and considered nerdy, but trust me, there’s plenty of alcohol going around in my house for those who want it. We’re just more traditional U of C (though not as hardcore “weird,” stereotypically, as either Breck or Snitchcock). I didn’t want modernity or normal (or a building that looks like legos, in Max’s case, or like some silver behemoth, in SC’s case) so I stuck with BJ and the like on my housing app.</p>
<p>hey! i have a specific question about the FRENCH DEPARTMENT.
are there a lot of events hosted by the france chicago center? have you attended them?
have you met a lot of ppl that shares a common interest/are extremely passionate about french?</p>
<p>ilovepeople712 - great series of posts thus far. The one caveat I’d add though, in comparing Chicago to a place like Yale is this: Yale doesn’t benefit as much from the ivy league label. Rather, the term ivy league benefits tremendously from having a school like Yale associated with it.</p>
<p>I think Yale benefits mainly from being an old, entrenched school with lots of connections to the power elite in this country. Remember, the Ivy League only really started in 1954, and if anything, schools like Brown and Penn benefit tremendously from being able to piggyback off the strength and success of places like Yale and Harvard. I think a place like Yale (or Harvard) is pretty much strong enough to stand on its own, and the ivy league label more helps the lower ivies (places like Cornell and Penn). </p>
<p>Additionally, I think the comparison between Chicago and Yale is pretty apt, except, again, Yale is more connected to avenues of power, and also has a more robust housing system.</p>
<p>I JUST GOT IN EA! I am euphoric, but I think I will still apply to a few for schools. I love Williams and Brown. Do you think you could talk about the student body? That’s one of my most important critieria, an interesting student body.</p>
<p>Parent of a second-year and a newly accepted EA '14 here…</p>
<p>S1 took three courses his first quarter and recommended this highly. Said he had time to focus on his coursework, since he didn’t know how tough it was going to be (and he had two killer classes), and time to get out and meet people. He has taken four classes every quarter since, but he has realized he likes being busy. Has gotten heavily involved in some ECs this year and is loving it. He is also a Calc junior tutor (TA) and works 8-10 hours/week.</p>
<p>He’s in one of those “hardcore” houses and does Scav. Plans to be there all four years. He says he is only in his room to sleep – the lounge in his dorm is a huge social gathering place (along with the kitchen) and says he is able to get lots of schoolwork done in the lounge, too. </p>
<p>If you find you’re having trouble in a class, there are plenty of resources to help you – but you have to make the effort. No hand-holding here.</p>
<p>S2 reports that when he visited in November, the stadium stands were full for the CMU football game and there were tailgate parties w/grills and beer in the parking lot. Also reported late-night philosophy discussions and foam sword battles. To each his own.</p>
<p>@ilovepeople</p>
<p>i really appreciate all your comments!! they make me fall in love with this school – which deters me from going on further with my regular apps :(</p>
<p>do people sail/windsurf in UChicago? how’s the athletic atmosphere there??</p>
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<p>I think there is a Sailing Club, actually. I remember one of my friends saying he might go ahead and join, but I’m really not sure as to its status.</p>
<p>That said! An athletic atmosphere does exist! It isn’t as prevalent as it would be at, say, a Div. I school, but there’s a healthy sports scene here. Lots of teams you can join, lots of IM sports. Fun stuff, fun stuff.</p>
<p>My D is finalizing applications for Fall 2010. She is interested in studying chemisty. She has received several mailings and multiple e-mails from UChicago. She has recently added Tulane and UW Madison to her list but not sure about UChicago. The attraction for UW Madison is not only chemistry but the opportunity to possibly double major or certify in dance. She has been involved in an intensive dance program for over seven years with her current schedule requiring a minimum of 3 days/week 12 to 15hrs/week. Does UChicago have a dance program? If not, are there any dance studio’s close to campus that she could attend? </p>
<p>Thank you for any information you can provide.</p>
<p>Chicago has dance clubs, and a student ballet company; it also offers some dance classes as part of its phys ed program (which is effectively non-credit). There is nothing like a dance major or certification. The classes offered are not high level, and the performance groups cover a wide range of abilities. </p>
<p>Hyde Park must have a dance studio somewhere, but I have never seen it.</p>
<p>My son had a longstanding interest in tap, and had taken classes for seven years before going to college. He did some investigation, but was unable to find an advanced tap class he could get to on public transportation in less than an hour. His first year, he did some tap performances with other students, but in general he has found other areas of physical expression that work better at Chicago.</p>
<p>Thanks for the information. I researched the studio she knows and unfortunately (by mapquest) it is approximately 50 min away. That is her current commute but UChicago she won’t have a car. I am guessing she will probably pass on UChicago for now. As a parent, I am concerned she will omit some great undergraduate programs in order to find a school that will also provide a strong dance program. But, I guess it is the fit she needs to find.</p>
<p>@wg90210:</p>
<p>I know the French program at the University of Chicago hosts weekly films and guest speakers. I’ve had numerous friends who have taken French here in Chicago and many others who have studied abroad in Paris. They have had a great time! I’m sorry I do not personally have any experience with French at UChicago, but the Italian program here is great! I am a current student who just got back from studying in Rome (check out my letters from Rome at <a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/features/emailfromrome.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/features/emailfromrome.shtml</a>), have taken five Italian courses here at Chicago, and am a member of CIAO, the Italian club here on campus. There is great support outside of the classroom for students studying languages. You typically meet with a graduate student for 50 minutes once a week where you go over the week’s lessons and practice the things you’ve learned. These sessions typically have about 6 students, though I’ve had one that only had two. They are a great forum for students to practice their speaking skills!</p>
<p>They also host fun cultural events each week. You can set up a time to grab coffee with one of the grad students and talk in that language, go see a movie, play games in the language, listen to music, etc. UChicago has a film studies center that has SO MANY foreign films for our use, and one of the dormitories, Max Palevsky Residential Commons, has a foreign language center. Besides all the films available, there are newspapers, books, and great international food!</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>
<p>^They do show a lot of foreign films on campus. I went to see the French film Un Prophete at Doc Films. I think it was the second time that the film had even been shown in the US, and it won the Jury prize at Cannes and is now nominated for Best Foreign Film for the Golden Globes. It’s also France’s official entry for the Foreign Film Oscar this year.</p>
<p>Hi! I’m going to try and go through and answer some more questions and comments since yesterday. Other UofC posters–thank you for the help!</p>
<p>Regarding Dance. This is the deal: There are plenty of dance RSO groups on campus. Two in particular are UC Dancers and Rhythmic Bodies in Motion. Your daughter can be as affiliated with the dance groups as much as she wants to be during her time here. There are people who dance 10 hours a week, whereas there are also people who dance only an hour a week. There is no dance major, however. I think this is the case with many elite institutions. There are plenty of avenues for dance expression though. </p>
<p>Something you should seriously consider researching and learning about (this is for all future artists at UofC) is the new center for the Creative and Performing Arts at UChicago. It’s going to be BEAUTIFUL. It opens up my junior year, so sophomore year for the Class of 2014. It’s main emphasis in fact is to level the arts with academics and prove that arts should not be sidestepped with respect to academics. There’s going to be alot of dancing, painting, designing, acting, drawing, performing, music playing, etc in this arts center. </p>
<p>[arts.uchicago.edu</a> | The Reva and David Logan Center for Creative and Performing Arts](<a href=“http://arts.uchicago.edu/logan/]arts.uchicago.edu”>http://arts.uchicago.edu/logan/)</p>
<p>You should definitely check out that link and explore the videos and informational text about this new center. I’m ecstatic, as I’m extremely passionate about both dancing and painting.</p>
<p>Just to add about the arts center. One thing that’s great about the University currently is that it’s really growing. We’re definitely in a booming stage. We’re building centers in Beijing and somewhere in India. We’re adding a huge extension to our library which will open next year.</p>
<p>Check out the link about the library:
[Joe</a> and Rika Mansueto Library](<a href=“The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library - The Joe and Rika Mansueto Library - The University of Chicago Library”>http://mansueto.lib.uchicago.edu/)</p>
<p>Regarding French: This place is AWESOME to study French. I just started French, because I studied Latin for six years prior to college, but I know plenty of people in the more advanced classes and they love it. We’re also one of the few institutions in the nation that actually has more French speaking and learning students than Spanish students. Not that Spanish isn’t good here as well. In general languages are very strong, as is the Linguistics department. </p>
<p>Back to French, though. I seriously love my French class. It’s really fun and the emphasis is totally about conversation, learning about French culture and life and fashion and politics and so on. We go very quickly through material, but it’s a good pace and forces you to really learn the language. I meet three hours a week for French class and then I also meet for a fourth hour with my lector in a small group for French conversation practice. We’ve had classes outside when the weather is beautiful. They also provided us information for the French Film festival that was in Chicago this autumn, and the French program at the University itself hosted French movie nights every week. We had two mini French parties at the end of the quarter where we got extra credit if we baked or bought some sort of French treat. Lots of fun.</p>
<p>Not to mention, the Paris Institute, which is also really respected here. It’s our biggest center outside of the US. Many students study abroad in Paris. I’ve not heard a single negative thing about it.</p>
<p>I read some posts about people who are unsure whether or not they should apply to other schools. If I were in your situation, assuming I could afford UofC, these are the only other schools I would still consider applying to: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and possibly Stanford. Though, I have a really good friend in my dorm who turned down Stanford for UofC and he doesn’t regret it at all. I think the total educational experience at UofC outdoes alot of other schools including Columbia, Duke, Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, Penn, etc. I applied to 17 schools last year, why? I don’t really know now that I look back. </p>
<p>But just remember, this is my two cents, you should apply wherever your gut feeling tells you to apply.</p>
<p>And I agree with the poster who discussed the Yale and Chicago comparison. They are two very like schools, and the one thing Yale does have more of is avenues of power. That was probably the best way of articulating it. Though, Chicago is definitely increasing.</p>
<p>THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!!! i get chills hearing about the fun french activities…IM SO EXCITED!</p>
<p>Regarding sports, of course there are sports here! Seriously, there are too many stereotypes clouding the reality of this school. It’s unfortunate. Anyway, we have a beautiful athletic center known as Ratner. It’s gorgeous with an Olympic size swimming pool, etc. If the Olympics were going to be in Chicago, I heard that our athletic center was going to be used. Not to mention Michael Phelps used when he was training for the Olympics in China.</p>
<p>We have most all of the sports you’re probably imagining. Though, there’s definitely more of an emphasis on sports at the intramural and club level. I know lots of kids on IM teams in my dorm. Actually there is so much of an emphasis in my South Campus house, that we would have weekly emails to participate in different sport activities as a house. Literally there was a different activity happening every night. Flag football, Ultimate Frisbee, Midnight Soccer on the fields, and Team Volleyball. It’s pretty sweet. And it’s great, because our house bonded over these games, while getting in a competitive spirit.</p>
<p>My good friend does Ultimate Frisbee here, and she has practice twice a week for two hours, and during the winter she’s going to have workouts three days a week in the morning. So yes, plenty of people are involved in sports if you want to be. The sports teams are really close, as well.</p>