University of Chicago Top Questions

Chicago has an extensive core curriculum, and because the undergraduate school is not divided into "schools" and is simply "the College" each UChicago student has to fulfill the same requirements. Even in these first and second year classes, however, the class sizes are very small. Every professor I have had thus far in my undergraduate experience has known my name and most of my classes have been heavily discussion based. The small class sizes and sincere interest professors take in their students make it difficult for a student to skip class often or fall very behind. Chicago is also known for being extremely difficult. In my experience, Chicago has lived up to its reputation in this regard. The quarter system at Chicago forces classes to move swiftly and demand students work incredibly hard. While undergrad at Chicago is anything but easy academically, and Chicago definitely is worthy of its academic reputation, some students complain that being able to read Nietzsche is not a marketable skill. However, the economics department that Chicago is famous for definitely encourages students to go into lucrative fields like investment banking.

Academics at the University of Chicago are rigorous, there's no getting around it.One of the great things about this school is that class sizes are generally small, especially in Humanities major like mine (English), and that means that if you take a class with a well-known professor (like one of the 90+ Nobel laureates the University can claim), you have a chance to work closely with a giant in the field! Teachers will know your name if you put yourself out there by speaking in class and going to office hours. Students study quite a bit--it is a top 10 university, after all. Finals week is especially grueling, and the quarter system is really fast-paced, so students should know how to stay on top of their game. The education at the University of Chicago is famously geared toward learning for its own sake. Classes, especially the unusual ones like the Reality TV Analysis class I took this past quarter, are focused on thinking about old issues in new ways. However, there's no doubt that a degree from University of Chicago is a foot in the door in many industries, and the University has a fantastic career services division (CAPS) that works incessantly to help students find jobs and internships.

The academics are terrific! I feel lucky every day when I go to class. The Core classes emphasis logical thinking and articulation in every area of life. As you take these classes, you can feel yourself becoming a person who thinks more rigorously and more insightfully, and who expresses herself better. There will probably be at least one Core class that you are completely uninterested in taking, but even that class will teach you how to think in a new way. The professors are readily available during office hours and by email. They are very interested in making sure you can succeed in the class. However, you must also be very interested in making sure you succeed in class. Classes do require a lot of work. My thought process about homework is usually that although it can be a pain to do, I always want to do it so I can participate in class and get as much out of it as possible. Most other students feel the same way, which leads to great class discussion and participation. These conversations will often spill out outside of class. A side benefit of the Core classes is that with so many students on campus learning the same material, these conversations can occur with almost anyone.

Like most other schools, beginning science and math classes and intro classes are often large lectures, while classes in the humanities and more advanced are generally smaller discussions with professors seemingly more invested in your input and success. As a English/Romance Languages major (who dabbled in Linguistics and Arabic), I am more used to the latter, though the majority of my friends are in the former category and so I have a general idea of how class size/individualized attention works in most majors. I have personally found most professors extremely accomodating and invested in your success, though this is less true of professors teaching some of the Core sequences. Sosc and Hum sequences (part of the Core that everyone has to take to graduate) form a common intellectual ground for people to begin intellectual debates and discussions (knowing that your conversational partner has likely read Marx and Adam Smith helps facilitate such things). Other Core sequences, like Physical Science classes, are generally more of a pain, and most people complain that these requirements are silly and unnecessary. Some students even have to take Physical Education classes (your requirements as far as that goes are determined during O-week swim and P.E. tests). Over all the school's academic requirements in terms of classes needed to graduate are reasonable, even if workloads in some of those classes aren't. Very few majors prepare you for a job straight out of school (as most majors are highly theoretical), and most students intend to eventually further their education in graduate or professional schools before beginning their careers.

Make no mistake, academics are the biggest part of one’s experience at the University of Chicago. Luckily, your academic experience is bound to be a great one given the University’s faculty and facilities. Not only has the University been home to more Nobel Laureates than any other schools, but it is also in the process of revamping its infrastructure (meaning gyms, labs, libraries, and all the other good stuff). The classes offered at the University, moreover, are more interesting in reality than they sound on paper. Students share a reciprocal feeling for their classes and often talk about them out of class. Surely, it is not uncommon for students to be discussing their classes in the dining hall (or their GPAs for that matter). Of course, the academic rigor also means a lot of studying with the average student probably doing about 4-5 hours a night (that is given a regular course load which is 4 classes). These 4-5 hours a day do not include, furthermore, the time one spends at problem sessions and/or meeting with one’s professors (who are usually very flexible and try and see you whenever necessary). Overall, I’ve noticed that the University of Chicago fosters learning for the sake of learning and- through its mandatory Core Curriculum- ensures that every student receives a fulfilling liberal arts education. At the University of Chicago, then, it is possible to get the advantages of a big city and the research facilities and the benefits of a great engaging education.

Make no mistake, academics are the biggest part of one’s experience at the University of Chicago. Luckily, your academic experience is bound to be a great one given the University’s faculty and facilities. Not only has the University been home to more Nobel Laureates than any other schools, but it is also in the process of revamping its infrastructure (meaning gyms, labs, libraries, and all the other good stuff). The classes offered at the University, moreover, are more interesting in reality than they sound on paper. Students share a reciprocal feeling for their classes and often talk about them out of class. Surely, it is not uncommon for students to be discussing their classes in the dining hall (or their GPAs for that matter). Of course, the academic rigor also means a lot of studying with the average student probably doing about 4-5 hours a night (that is given a regular course load which is 4 classes). These 4-5 hours a day do not include, furthermore, the time one spends at problem sessions and/or meeting with one’s professors (who are usually very flexible and try and see you whenever necessary). Overall, I’ve noticed that the University of Chicago fosters learning for the sake of learning and- through its mandatory Core Curriculum- ensures that every student receives a fulfilling liberal arts education. At the University of Chicago, then, it is possible to get the advantages of a big city and the research facilities and the benefits of a great engaging education.

Make no mistake, academics are the biggest part of one’s experience at the University of Chicago. Luckily, your academic experience is bound to be a great one given the University’s faculty and facilities. Not only has the University been home to more Nobel Laureates than any other schools, but it is also in the process of revamping its infrastructure (meaning gyms, labs, libraries, and all the other good stuff). The classes offered at the University, moreover, are more interesting in reality than they sound on paper. Students share a reciprocal feeling for their classes and often talk about them out of class. Surely, it is not uncommon for students to be discussing their classes in the dining hall (or their GPAs for that matter). Of course, the academic rigor also means a lot of studying with the average student probably doing about 4-5 hours a night (that is given a regular course load which is 4 classes). These 4-5 hours a day do not include, furthermore, the time one spends at problem sessions and/or meeting with one’s professors (who are usually very flexible and try and see you whenever necessary). Overall, I’ve noticed that the University of Chicago fosters learning for the sake of learning and- through its mandatory Core Curriculum- ensures that every student receives a fulfilling liberal arts education. At the University of Chicago, then, it is possible to get the advantages of a big city and the research facilities and the benefits of a great engaging education.

Course work at the University is very difficult, but professors are incredibly accessible, both inside and outside the classroom. Many of the classes are arranged in the Socratic seminar style of learning, without a podium in sight. This way, students and professors sit as equals around a table, and students are able to engage not only with the text, but also can learn from professors and their peers at an equal rate. It really enables you to get to know your professors and classmates on a greater level. Students may study a lot, but they truly do love it. There is a love of learning that permeates the air at UChicago, and it's true that discussions of academic topics often can be overheard while eating in the cafeteria. Though that is true, many students are very normal in their everyday lives, and a math genius in the classroom. It is truly remarkable how much your peers have accomplished, and how humble they are about these accomplishments. You can definitely learn as much from your peers as you can in any classroom. Additionally, UChicago has very good pre-professional programs called Chicago Careers In ________ (business, science and technology, health professions, journalism, and more). One of UChicago's former criticisms was that the school was too theoretical. Now, students have the opportunity of enrolling in these programs to receive practical instruction in their intended careers. Through CCI programs, students meet with advisers to discuss resumes and cover letters. They often work with mentors in the field, job shadow over spring break, and hear about unique internships. There are also recruiting fairs and guest speakers, both of which are incredibly useful.

One of the things that the school is known for is their strict Undergraduate class requirements. Commonly called "the Core", it is a guideline and list of classes that all undergraduate students are required to take, in addition to classes for the major. They emphasize the necessity of being a well-rounded person, so the core is filled with classes ranging from physical sciences and mathematics to art and physical education. Outside the core, however, there is such a diverse range of classes that people can take. Sometimes they offer classes about Lord of the Rings, modern and ancient civilizations, among countless other subjects.

Yes, UofC is academically challenging but it is very manageable. Here, professors and other members of the university help students a lot. They always invite students to their office hours and they answer student e-mails within hours. We also have very talented TAs who are always there to help us. With those in mind, students here spend minimum 4-5 hours studying every day. My favorite class so far is Media Aesthetics. It is a Humanities Class. Students take Humanities to meet the requirements for the Core Curriculum. I really enjoy Media Aesthetics because the class is very small and it is led by a very skillful, knowledgeable professor. The academic environment of the class is mind blowing making students to ask questions and answer those questions during discussions. Moreover, I am very undecided about my major right now but probably, I will be a biology major. Biology department in the University of Chicago is very good. Often people know UofC with its Econ Department but biology, biological research and biochemistry are very well taught in the University. For example, for first year students with an early interest in biology and with an AP 5 score who want to research, there is an intense biology sequence offered by the department . It is very hard to find such an opportunity in other schools.