<p>I haven’t seen any cut-throat competition but I am in the Humanities so perhaps a math or science major would speak differently. Even in the math and science classes I took for the Core, though, I didn’t see much in the way of competition. In fact, in one of my classes I was approached by a student I only marginally knew and we worked together to study for the final. I’m very good at memorization but I definitely lack understanding of the big-picture, and he was great at the exact opposite. Although we were technically competing against each other on a curve, I know I wouldn’t have been able to do so well on that final had it not been for his help.</p>
<p>I also think the Socratic seminar style of learning facilitates student-student dialogue and reduces competition. And students really are eager to help other students out. I edit friends’ papers all the time and have received calc help in return. </p>
<p>I think the real competition present at UChicago is with our own expectations. I’m not upset when someone in my classes does better than me-- I’m upset when I know I personally could have performed better.</p>