Questions about UChicago - Page 2

dsultemeier · 05-12-2008, 09:09 PM

Thanks for the information. We'll also be doing whatever the admissions office is offering - tour, information session, interview, etc. My D also has a friend from math camp who offered to meet up with her. At other college visits we enjoyed walking through the different departments and getting a feel for the overall personality. Reading the flyers posted is always educational and also sampling the campus food is a high prority. Thanks!

dsultemeier · 05-12-2008, 10:49 PM

One more question -- my EC is baking and I'm always looking for a great bakery, especially for bread. Can you suggest any bakeries or coffeeshops within walking distance of the campus that I can try? Thanks.

unalove · 05-12-2008, 11:03 PM

you must must must check out the Medici Bakery on 57th Street. Basically face the Reg (huge ugly library) head on and turn right. It's east, towards the lake shore, about 2-3 blocks.

Medici Bakery on Centerstage Chicago - Medici Bakery : 1331 E. 57th St., Chicago, (773) 667-7394, Restaurant, Bakeries, Dessert,Editor's Pick - Chicago City Life in Chicago, Illinois

jack4640 · 05-12-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

At other college visits we enjoyed walking through the different departments and getting a feel for the overall personality.

One of my best memories from the UChicago tours was when I e-mailed a random prof in the political science dept. (which I was interested in at the time) saying that I was a prospective student and that I wanted to talk with him about the program. He arranged a meeting, and we had a nice, relaxed chat about Chicago, politics, the faculty, etc.

I can't guarantee that all faculty members will be that inviting but if you want to get a feel for the school, it can't hurt. And by the way, my e-mail was basically "I'm a prospective student interested in political science, I'm interested in talking with a professor, would you be so kind?" They're not going to be the people admitting you, they probably don't want to hear about anything besides why you're interested in the program.

Another great place to observe student character, pick up flyers, find out which RSO's are active, etc. is the Reynolds Club (basically the student union; it's at 57th and University, look for the big tower, there are always events going on inside).

Faculty listings are available at all the dept. sites, for example Math at math.uchicago.edu

Finally, seconding the Med (both for quality of food and it being an excellent place to observe Uchicago students/character)

idad · 05-13-2008, 01:08 AM

Stop by the Oriental Institute, right down the street from the Reynolds Club, and check out the Harper Library as well.

dsultemeier · 05-13-2008, 08:14 AM

The Medici looks like my kind of place. I'm sure I'll be visiting there frequently. The student center, Oriental Institute and library sound good also. I also want to look at the Frank Lloyd Wright house.

Related to the departments, my D and I toured northeast schools in March and at each stop we walked around the Classics Dept and took pictures for my D's Latin teacher. It was very interesting to see the variations in atmosphere/decor from shabby with comfy couches to modern and sterile. I am looking forward to seeing the Chicago Classics Dept.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am really excited about our trip.

cottonwood513 · 05-13-2008, 11:01 AM

My son had a first class experience with the Classics Dept when we were
visiting and it is in the Goth part.

Right across from the FLW house is the Graduate Business School, beautiful and there is a good cafeteria in it.

The Medeci, the Oriental Institute (close to admissions) and the Seminary
Book Store--all good.

dsultemeier · 05-13-2008, 07:58 PM

"it is in the Goth part" -- does this mean everyone will be wearing black? That sounds interesting.

Thanks for information on the business school and the book store. I hope we have time to see everything.

jack4640 · 05-13-2008, 08:19 PM

If everybody's smoking cloves with a Bauhaus record on, you've found the Goth part (or Cobb).

cottonwood513 · 05-14-2008, 10:10 AM

Classics Dept is in the picturesque quad Gothic part of campus.

unalove · 05-14-2008, 10:14 AM

It and social sciences are the prettiest quad-lets of the quads.

Most academic buildings are in the neo-gothic part, with some glarily ugly exceptions.... geophysical sciences, for example.

dsultemeier · 05-14-2008, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the clarification. I was picturing a department populated by all the goth kids who hang out at the Hot Topic store in the mall.

Every university seems to have some ugly modern buildings. It's rather sad.

JHS · 05-14-2008, 12:32 PM

(1) In cities, goth kids don't hang out at any chain store in any mall.

(2) "Goth kids" would be awfully passe.

dsultemeier · 05-14-2008, 06:47 PM

Sorry, didn't mean to offend.

JHS · 05-14-2008, 08:33 PM

Wasn't, and didn't mean to seem, offended. I just thought it was funny to imagine UChicago kids hanging out at the Hot Topic in a mall. It's like a bad photoshop job. And my distant, parental impression is that the "goth" fashion is a thing of the past, except that it survives in Hollywood because it's a great visual joke. Not that there aren't plenty of equivalents of yesteryear's goths hanging around on the Chicago campus (not at the mall), but they wear different clothes now.