<p>ok, so i really love chicago, but the core scares me. i’ve already been accepted, so that’s not the issue. i really struggle with math. and the idea of physical science is scary. and the sequences for social sciences seem to prevent study abroad. any thoughts?</p>
<p>If you got in, you can do the core. There are a lot of options for math. You can take 131-131 for the easiest level of calculus, 112 for a non-calculus math, or even stats or computer science. A lot of students who don’t like the sciences take a Natural Science sequence, which is four courses that satisfy all science requirements. There are many other science courses in bio, chem, and physics students who don’t want to take the more difficult sciences or do the natsci sequence. You can look at the Course book online to check out the different options. There are also a lot of tutors available for free for core classes, office hours with the professor, office hours with TAs, problem solving sessions, and–often the best help–other students in your class to get together with or someone in your house who wants to be a math/bio/whatever major.</p>
<p>The social sciences sequence doesn’t prevent study abroad. Lots of kids study abroad, and everyone takes sosc. It used to be that students took the humanities sequence in first year and the sosc sequence second year, but that’s changed some and lots of students are taking hum and sosc concurrently as first years. A lot of students study abroad while fulfilling the civilizations requirement, studying a language, or taking classes in their major. You can find out more on their website, but I don’t know how good their information is: <a href=“http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/[/url]”>http://study-abroad.uchicago.edu/</a> .</p>
<p>The core is definitely manageable. I would say it’s most difficult for very math-oriented students because of the hum, sosc, civ, and language requirements, but everyone here can handle the core. It can be a lot of work depending on your classes and schedule, and some of the courses can be very challenging, but if you’re been accepted to the U of C then you’re all set. You can read more about the core set up and individual classes here: <a href=“http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/[/url]”>http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/</a> .</p>
<p>oh i’ve immersed myself in the catalog. any other thoughts?</p>
<p>What is the homework like for the core- lots of reading? Writing? Discussion?</p>
<p>Or maybe I should say- What do students spend the most time doing for core classes…</p>
<p>It depends on the core class. Hum and sosc are known for assigning lots of reading (which is why students used to do hum one year and sosc the next). Civ is also reading-based. The number of papers and their lengths depend on the class and the professor. My hum and sosc classes have had 2-4 papers a quarter, with 3 being a good average. Some professors have frequent, short papers, and a few have final exams instead of final papers (though this is more rare). Some professors have students do weekly or twice weekly response papers on the reading, but these are usually just a paragraph or two and not a big deal. Some classes have student presentations throughout the quarter. The classes themselves are generally discussion. Professors lead the discussion and will sometimes lecture briefly on a related topic not in the reading or to bring up a new point or question. Grades for these core classes always include papers and participation, with the other particulars depending on the professor and class. The core classes for math and the sciences are often structured differently, but it depends a lot on the class. Some courses (the sosc class Mind, some of the sciences come to mind) have a large lecture and then smaller discussion sections.</p>
<p>it sounds like so much fun…i can’t wait!!! i’m so excited.</p>
<p>I’m excited, too. I actually took a class this summer from a UofC grad, and it seems like she must have based her teaching around the way she was taught, since the class was just like those described above-lots of reading followed by discussion, short response papers once or twice a week, 3 medium length papers and a final paper, and a presentation. And I had a great time.</p>
<p>On a related note, how difficult do you current students find your course loads in comparison to your rigorous high school courses? I realize that Chicago is not the sort of place where I’ll find that high school was harder-that’s part of the reason I love it. I want to be challenged. But I’m curious as to how much of a step up it will be from my courses this year-Eng Lit, Econ, Physics B, French Lit, and BC Calc (all AP, very good teachers, extra material in a few of them).</p>
<p>From what I hear about the general difficulty of schools like U of C (from classmates of mine already there) is that no classes are harder or much harder than the APs in my school. The APs in my school are known to be very hard (which is why taking a total of more than 6 or 7 is very rare, there are other schools where people take a lot more). If the APs in your school are known to be challenging, from what I hear the classes are comparable to that (but get more challenging)</p>
<p>My S said they is considerable difference between AP and U of C classes, depending on what one chooses to take. For example, calc 130 sequence is more like AP calc BC, and the 160 series is quite different, with 150 series falling in between. Harder is a relative judgement. Once one has had the AP classes in HS, one may be doing more work, having to put more thought into one’s arguments, etc. in college, but does not necessarily experiencing that as “harder.” S thought he was well prepared for U of C, and although much more is required of him intellectually than it was in HS, it isn’t all that hard because he loves doing it. By the way, if you want hard, try some of those Classics courses.</p>
<p>“By the way, if you want hard, try some of those Classics courses.”</p>
<p>I second idad’s statement. Very difficult.</p>
<p>whoa, im lost, what do you mean “try some of those classics courses?”, i wanna do a major/minor in that, and i enjoy it, but what do you mean they are “hard”? is there a lot of writing/reading/memorizing? or, is it genuinly difficult to grasp?</p>
<p>The language classes , ancient Greek, for example are very demanding and move very quickly. The Core courses such as Greek Thought & Literature not only require substantial reading and paper writing, but one has to be ready to provide a position on the topic and be prepared to defend it. A student posted this sometime ago and my S tweaked it a bit:</p>
<p>“Basically, you must always construct a careful, step-by-step argument, you must always define and thoroughly understand your terms and the terms of your text, and you must be willing to apply your ideas to hypothetical situations and difficulties in interesting ways. Arguments must be*characterized by a strict adherence to evidence and logic, with exploration via examples and questions. Making irrelevent points, trying to argue without strong evidence, and making assumption without carefully defending them are all treated mercilessly. This applies equally to points raised in class discussions and to papers.”</p>
<p>Katharos can provide much more insight.</p>