University of Chicago
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If you do not want an academic challenge, the University of Chicago is not the right fit for you. There’s a reason it’s consistently ranked in the top ten universities of both the United States and the world. Classes are tough. Professors will push you every day and give you more work than you thought possible. A lot of people come from the top of their high school class and find themselves struggling to maintain decent grades. However, if you’re willing to put the time in, you will be infinitely rewarded with irreplaceable knowledge and thinking skills. Within the incredibly challenging curriculum is the Core. The Core is a certain amount of classes that you need to take in order to graduate. They cover a variety of topics, including science, foreign language, and art. You’ll find severely different opinions on the Core. Some people hate it; some people love it. If you pick your classes right, it’s a great opportunity to get a well-rounded education. There are also a lot of fun classes to take where you can be more creative. Classes like “Horror Film” and “At the Piano” balance out tougher classes like "Organic Chemistry."

The University understands that the academics are incredibly tough, so it provides a lot of resources to help you with your academic career. There are daily tutors in Harper Library that cover every subject. The writing tutors are especially helpful, and professors are typically very good. Grad students are hit or miss—sometimes they grade students very hard. The real goldmine is in the teaching assistants or TAs. They are usually upperclassmen that know what you're going through, so they’re incredibly helpful and receptive to questions. The University describes its academic rigor as, “The Life of the Mind.” It truly lives up to that reputation.

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Academics at University of Chicago

readingfreak1993

Psychology '15

5.0

A+

AMAZING

University of Chicago is an academic experience like no other. I give it an A+, although we do not give A+s here(just As, and those are difficult to come by). If you have a passion for knowledge, this is the place for you. The professors are well-known in their fields, and research opportunities abound.

Mar 24, 2012

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Academics at University of Chicago

adabry

Environmental Studies '12

4.6

A

Strong Environmental Program in an Urban Context

I'm an Environmental Studies major, and I have been extremely impressed with the program at UChicago. I wouldn't have expected a school in a city like Chicago to have an excellent program oriented toward the environment, but it turns out that our urban location is in many ways a strength, and sets our program apart from that of other schools. Our Environmental Studies major has a strong focus on policy, and the faculty and staff do an incredible job of keeping students in the loop with regards to professional opportunities in Chicago.

Mar 14, 2012

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Academics at University of Chicago

beyonce123

International Relations and National Security Studies '15

3.5

B

Core Curriculum Is Boring but Classes Are Still Interesting

The core curriculum is sometimes kind of lame because you're required to take some classes that you find boring but other than that its great! The workload is manageable is you're a hard worker.

Nov 27, 2011

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