UCHICAGO CORE CURRICULUM (classes deep-dive, study abroads, and professor tea)

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Don't forget to say hi and drop a video request if you have any. :) Good luck with whichever stage you are in the ~college~ process 💛(timestamps in description box!)

[@avah.9418]

As an incoming first year, I found this video to be super helpful! Thanks so much :))

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Congratulations on getting in!!! I'm so glad I could help. :)

[@avah.9418]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Thanks!! :)

[@johnliu977]

Results come out today and I’m dying from anticipation 😭 wish me luck

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

OMG I didn't know that they were out today - GOOD LUCK!!! Whatever happens, I'm so confident you'll end up at the right school. :)

[@johnliu977]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist got waitlisted but I’m still hopeful! Imma send a letter of continue interest next week and hope for the best! 🙃

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Ok getting waitlisted is still an achievement! Definitely send in a letter of continued interest and emphasize specific classes, resources, RSOs on campus that you hope to incorporate into your time at UChicago to achieve your goals. Get specific and tell them that you'd accept your spot in a heartbeat if you get off the waitlist. :)

[@johnliu977]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist thanks for the tips/advice! I’ll keep you updated fam :)

[@raghavpardasani2301]

Thank you for this -- appreciate this so much!!

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

You are so welcome!! :)

[@madhavilingutla4031]

Very helpful info!!

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Thank you!!!

[@koolkiwi2546]

hi Priya! thank you so much for this video - it really helped me understand the UChicago core and what classes I could take! I have been accepted to the UChicago Class of 2026 (go phoenixes!!), and I am trying my best to choose between two majors: Econ w/Data Science Specialization and Data Science. Do you have any thoughts/advice as a current data scientist and UChicago graduate?

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Congratulations!!! That's awesome! I hope you have the best time on campus! I think that it's really about what you enjoy learning about. I'd recommend taking as many classes as you can in both vocations your first year, and just paying attention to what interests you more. Getting a job as a Data Scientist isn't major-dependent. For example, I majored in astrophysics and because of the computationa skills I learned (and the CS120s sequence WHICH IS A MUST for any data scientist), I learned enough to do well in the interviews and land job offers senior year! I hope this helps!! And don't hesitate to add me on LinkedIn if you ever have more data-science specific questions. Always happy to help!

[@krishnarao4840]

Nice

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Thanks Tata!!!!

[@mohammadsaeedmahmood6012]

2-300 pages a day??? How do you manage, please give some tips

[@adsmanager9024]

hi! i was wondering where to find the peer reviews for all the professors is it on ratemyprofessors is there somewhere else?

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

Hi! It's actually an internal uchicago page, so once you have your own uchicago.edu email and access to courses.uchicago.edu (or something like that haha it's the internal course request catalog), they'll have links to peer reviews there. :) I would not trust reviews that aren't from that uchicago portal, so I'd pass on the ratemyprofessors!

[@alexciss]

OMG I did the IB program too!! Do you feel as though IB prepared you for the coursework at UChicago? I’m wondering if I attend UChicago, will I be better off because I have already prepared myself through IB.

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

I definitely think the IB program was so rigorous and great preparation for any college honestly!! The whole college system and the rigor of coursework just didn't phase me because we went through that in 11th/12th grade with the IB program lol! You will totally be prepared. :)

[@alexciss]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Okay that’s very reassuring!! Would you say that the students who say UChicago is extremely hard are exaggerating, and would you say these students are mostly students who didn’t do IB in high school?

[@alexciss]

@@TheAlmostAstrophysicist Is it possible to test out of core curriculum requirements? Like since I’ve taken IB Spanish, can I take a placement test at UChicago and then not have to take a foreign language if I ace the test? Also, will UChicago give you credit for core curriculum classes if you have a 5 on AP exam or 7 for IB exam? Just wondering if I could take less humanities courses since I got a 5 on my AP Lang test

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

I would say that UChicago is definitely extremely hard haha, I wouldn't say it's an exaggeration. But it's completely doable and really depends on the courses you take! I feel like I challenged myself a lot with the courses and thus it felt hard (but so fulfilling). :)

[@TheAlmostAstrophysicist]

And yes! You can test out of certain core requirements for sure, especially if you have a high AP or IB score. I tested out of a spanish class and got elective credit for my 6 in IB English Literature. You should check out their website for testing out of core - they have the exact numbers. :) collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/examinationcreditandtransfercredit/