U Chicago - Experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So not certain about no fun - there is an active Greek life at U Chicago, as well as many active Div 3 sports that have their own communities. It could be that because my son is an athlete, he has many sports-centered friends who do not view extra labs as their definition of fun, but actually do have fun. His roommate is a recruited soccer player, and U Chicago Men's soccer actually won the Div 3 championship this year.

As I said earlier, the quarter system is what makes it intense and takes away the fun. . Incidentally, that is not changing anytime soon; the faculty love the quarter system, even though it is harder for the students.

But Dean Ellison is working to make the undergraduate culture more social overall, with more traditions of weekly/seasonal house/ undergraduate college events.

Why is the quarter system difficult for students?

One semester worth of work condensed into 10 weeks. You take 3-4 classes per quarter, so fewer classes but at a much faster pace. Get sick or miss a couple of classes and you’re instantly behind.

Well said. Very unforgiving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So not certain about no fun - there is an active Greek life at U Chicago, as well as many active Div 3 sports that have their own communities. It could be that because my son is an athlete, he has many sports-centered friends who do not view extra labs as their definition of fun, but actually do have fun. His roommate is a recruited soccer player, and U Chicago Men's soccer actually won the Div 3 championship this year.

As I said earlier, the quarter system is what makes it intense and takes away the fun. . Incidentally, that is not changing anytime soon; the faculty love the quarter system, even though it is harder for the students.

But Dean Ellison is working to make the undergraduate culture more social overall, with more traditions of weekly/seasonal house/ undergraduate college events.

Why is the quarter system difficult for students?

10 weeks go fast. Students literally can't afford to get sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So not certain about no fun - there is an active Greek life at U Chicago, as well as many active Div 3 sports that have their own communities. It could be that because my son is an athlete, he has many sports-centered friends who do not view extra labs as their definition of fun, but actually do have fun. His roommate is a recruited soccer player, and U Chicago Men's soccer actually won the Div 3 championship this year.

As I said earlier, the quarter system is what makes it intense and takes away the fun. . Incidentally, that is not changing anytime soon; the faculty love the quarter system, even though it is harder for the students.

But Dean Ellison is working to make the undergraduate culture more social overall, with more traditions of weekly/seasonal house/ undergraduate college events.

Why is the quarter system difficult for students?

One semester worth of work condensed into 10 weeks. You take 3-4 classes per quarter, so fewer classes but at a much faster pace. Get sick or miss a couple of classes and you’re instantly behind.

Well said. Very unforgiving.

It takes a lot of the pleasure out of learning, even for very motivated and intellectually curious students. My kid transferred and was much happier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So not certain about no fun - there is an active Greek life at U Chicago, as well as many active Div 3 sports that have their own communities. It could be that because my son is an athlete, he has many sports-centered friends who do not view extra labs as their definition of fun, but actually do have fun. His roommate is a recruited soccer player, and U Chicago Men's soccer actually won the Div 3 championship this year.

As I said earlier, the quarter system is what makes it intense and takes away the fun. . Incidentally, that is not changing anytime soon; the faculty love the quarter system, even though it is harder for the students.

But Dean Ellison is working to make the undergraduate culture more social overall, with more traditions of weekly/seasonal house/ undergraduate college events.

Why is the quarter system difficult for students?

Compressed and intense. I was always able to power through trimesters 1 and 2 but my grades for 3 were always significantly lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The problem with UofC is that it is so freaking boring that the kids HAVE to get off campus to have any fun. If you have a child who is in anyway an extrovert the school social environment will kill them, not the random crime.

This is exactly what a private counselor told my nephew. Kid is high stat, athlete etc but enjoys time with friends, the occasional party and going to football/basketball/baseball games. He's still putting his list together, but the counselor advised against U of C and MIT because the cultures are all work and very little fun. We participated in a webinar with five top schools where the students were asked to describe what they did for fun. The kid from MI talked about going to sporting events with friends, and the kid from Harvard talked about a bar/restaurant that students went to every week. The U of C kid said I know our reputation is "where fun goes to die" but that's just not true, and then proceeded to explain how he added another major or minor (I can't remember which) for fun. He was basically working 1 on 1 with a professor to learn Swedish and was excited to talk about the additional studies as his fun. If your kid is interested, definitely make sure it's a good fit.

I think this is mostly correct, and I *like* U of C. But I wouldn't say that it's universal, and I also wouldn't say that "fun" is always "more labs" or "learning Swedish." I know a U of C student who's secondary passion is EDM music and he puts on concerts at local venues. I think that the defining characteristic is that U of C folks tend to get really, deeply, INto their passions, whatever they may be. They're not typically dilettantes. This can present in a variety of ways and I can totally see how it might be off putting or not for everyone.

Sounds like:
Heaven for my daughter.
Hell for my son.

Know your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The problem with UofC is that it is so freaking boring that the kids HAVE to get off campus to have any fun. If you have a child who is in anyway an extrovert the school social environment will kill them, not the random crime.

This is exactly what a private counselor told my nephew. Kid is high stat, athlete etc but enjoys time with friends, the occasional party and going to football/basketball/baseball games. He's still putting his list together, but the counselor advised against U of C and MIT because the cultures are all work and very little fun. We participated in a webinar with five top schools where the students were asked to describe what they did for fun. The kid from MI talked about going to sporting events with friends, and the kid from Harvard talked about a bar/restaurant that students went to every week. The U of C kid said I know our reputation is "where fun goes to die" but that's just not true, and then proceeded to explain how he added another major or minor (I can't remember which) for fun. He was basically working 1 on 1 with a professor to learn Swedish and was excited to talk about the additional studies as his fun. If your kid is interested, definitely make sure it's a good fit.

I think this is mostly correct, and I *like* U of C. But I wouldn't say that it's universal, and I also wouldn't say that "fun" is always "more labs" or "learning Swedish." I know a U of C student who's secondary passion is EDM music and he puts on concerts at local venues. I think that the defining characteristic is that U of C folks tend to get really, deeply, INto their passions, whatever they may be. They're not typically dilettantes. This can present in a variety of ways and I can totally see how it might be off putting or not for everyone.

Sounds like:
Heaven for my daughter.
Hell for my son.

Know your kid.

Yeah, it sounds like hell for my sporty, extroverted, partying (but physics loving!) kid as well.

But that said, I do know some kids a lot like this who are at Chicago and seem to be having a good experience.

[Anonymous]

Dartmouth and Northwestern are on the quarter base as well
And most of California schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So not certain about no fun - there is an active Greek life at U Chicago, as well as many active Div 3 sports that have their own communities. It could be that because my son is an athlete, he has many sports-centered friends who do not view extra labs as their definition of fun, but actually do have fun. His roommate is a recruited soccer player, and U Chicago Men's soccer actually won the Div 3 championship this year.

As I said earlier, the quarter system is what makes it intense and takes away the fun. . Incidentally, that is not changing anytime soon; the faculty love the quarter system, even though it is harder for the students.

But Dean Ellison is working to make the undergraduate culture more social overall, with more traditions of weekly/seasonal house/ undergraduate college events.

Why is the quarter system difficult for students?

One semester worth of work condensed into 10 weeks. You take 3-4 classes per quarter, so fewer classes but at a much faster pace. Get sick or miss a couple of classes and you’re instantly behind.

9 weeks of classes plus a week for reading period and exams.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, my junior is very interested in UChicago but is all over the map in academic interests. He takes a tough course load and added on two more outside classes really against my wishes. He seems to be thrilled to take a core curriculum. He’s strong in all academic areas except any hands-on area of engineering. UChicago is strong in several of his interest areas.

So he’s a bit unfocussed but really likes a bunch of different subjects. Would UChicago be a good school for him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, my junior is very interested in UChicago but is all over the map in academic interests. He takes a tough course load and added on two more outside classes really against my wishes. He seems to be thrilled to take a core curriculum. He’s strong in all academic areas except any hands-on area of engineering. UChicago is strong in several of his interest areas.

So he’s a bit unfocussed but really likes a bunch of different subjects. Would UChicago be a good school for him?

It's all about fit. UChicago seems to like full pay kids. It's not always about your kid. Half the equation involves what UChicago wants and needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, my junior is very interested in UChicago but is all over the map in academic interests. He takes a tough course load and added on two more outside classes really against my wishes. He seems to be thrilled to take a core curriculum. He’s strong in all academic areas except any hands-on area of engineering. UChicago is strong in several of his interest areas.

So he’s a bit unfocussed but really likes a bunch of different subjects. Would UChicago be a good school for him?

How are his grades?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, my junior is very interested in UChicago but is all over the map in academic interests. He takes a tough course load and added on two more outside classes really against my wishes. He seems to be thrilled to take a core curriculum. He’s strong in all academic areas except any hands-on area of engineering. UChicago is strong in several of his interest areas.

So he’s a bit unfocussed but really likes a bunch of different subjects. Would UChicago be a good school for him?

The core curriculum sounds like a good fit for him, actually! Rigor across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, my junior is very interested in UChicago but is all over the map in academic interests. He takes a tough course load and added on two more outside classes really against my wishes. He seems to be thrilled to take a core curriculum. He’s strong in all academic areas except any hands-on area of engineering. UChicago is strong in several of his interest areas.

So he’s a bit unfocussed but really likes a bunch of different subjects. Would UChicago be a good school for him?

The core curriculum sounds like a good fit for him, actually! Rigor across the board.

Yes, but more importantly for what your kid is bringing to the table, are you full pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So not certain about no fun - there is an active Greek life at U Chicago, as well as many active Div 3 sports that have their own communities. It could be that because my son is an athlete, he has many sports-centered friends who do not view extra labs as their definition of fun, but actually do have fun. His roommate is a recruited soccer player, and U Chicago Men's soccer actually won the Div 3 championship this year.

As I said earlier, the quarter system is what makes it intense and takes away the fun. . Incidentally, that is not changing anytime soon; the faculty love the quarter system, even though it is harder for the students.

But Dean Ellison is working to make the undergraduate culture more social overall, with more traditions of weekly/seasonal house/ undergraduate college events.

Why is the quarter system difficult for students?

One semester worth of work condensed into 10 weeks. You take 3-4 classes per quarter, so fewer classes but at a much faster pace. Get sick or miss a couple of classes and you’re instantly behind.

It's 9 weeks now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious, my junior is very interested in UChicago but is all over the map in academic interests. He takes a tough course load and added on two more outside classes really against my wishes. He seems to be thrilled to take a core curriculum. He’s strong in all academic areas except any hands-on area of engineering. UChicago is strong in several of his interest areas.

So he’s a bit unfocussed but really likes a bunch of different subjects. Would UChicago be a good school for him?

How are his grades?

Very solid but not perfect. Highest rigor. 3.95 UW. Very tough private where he’s maybe top 20%. EC are mainly academic. So I agree UChicago is a reach for him.