<p>So we know the UofC is academically demanding. I would like some suggestions on how I should prepare myself for it, such as any advanced reading which would be useful for my time there. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Chill. Relax. Have fun! To be honest, it’s much more important to learn how to handle yourself and even enjoy life under high levels of stress, than learning any concept or doing any reading. Your happiness will reflect in your performance.</p>
<p>Yeah. Be chill. It’s not that bad.</p>
<p>It doesn’t seem bad at all. Read a lot. Think a lot. Discuss a lot. Think a lot. Write a lot. Repeat (many times). Pretty soon you’ll be amazed at the product (they don’t call it the Life of the Mind for nothing).</p>
<p>If you’re really worried that you aren’t ready for the academic stress of UChicago, consider doing CAAP (Chicago Academic Achievement Program). It’s basically taking classes for practice.</p>
<p>haha when I said “prepare”, what I meant was: What kind of things should I polish up my knowledge on in order to make the transition easier - e.g. some reading on social contract…or just some topics you guys discuss a lot in class :)</p>
<p>Solid. Well, you have to do the standards, Arcade Fire, the Decemberists, Tegan & Sara, etc., then toss in a few classics like the Smiths or Steely Dan, and finally discover something underground and you should be good to go.</p>
<p>Don’t forget Foucault.</p>
<p>You are in. There is no need to worry/think/prepare. Just re-memorize your unit circle and you should be fine. The first year is all about learning all the things that people talk about all the time anyway (such as, per J’adoube, Foucault).</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and remember your NME and your Pitchfork. Essential to keeping up (if not staying ahead).</p>
<p>Brush up on your calculus before the math placement exam (especially if you’ve gone awhile since taking the class, as I did). </p>
<p>Read some books over the summer. They don’t have to be Marx, but they should be comparatively “serious” literature (e.g., books in the New York Times Best Books of the Year list).</p>
<p>Keep up with current international events.</p>
<p>While all of these are merely suggestions, the first one will guarantee you the proper math placement, and the latter two will ensure you always have something to talk about during those awkward first couple of house dinners.</p>
<p>Chill. The more you let the dread set in, the worse you’re going to end up doing. Just relax.</p>
<p>buy a really good winter coat, boots, etc.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already, you might want to read some Douglas Adams (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), The Lord of the Rings, and watch the (sadly canceled) TV series Firefly. These are pretty popular on campus, although you don’t by ANY means have to have read/seen them to fit in. </p>
<p>Develop a taste for strong coffee! I started feeling a lot more comfortable in Hyde Park once I had made a point to sample all of the cafes on campus and on 57th St.</p>
<p>You really don’t have to do anything to prepare ahead of time, although I will say I wish I had spent just a few hours brushing up on my calculus before the placement test. But even that isn’t really necessary, since you can always set up a meeting with your adviser or the math department to find a better math course “fit” for you.</p>
<p>LDR, that’s the type of thing I was asking for 
thanks</p>
<p>thanks everybody!</p>
<p>Besides what LDR said, just read whatever interests you - you won’t have much time for personal reading once classes start! Please please don’t think that everyone comes in here having internalized Foucault, etc. and that you will be severely behind in your Hum/Sosc classes if you don’t! I made the mistake of thinking such, and worried for practically no reason.</p>