Siddharth Bhammar

Class: 2007
From: India
Academic interests: Economics

What do you value most about Chicago?

Its emphasis on teaching students how to "think." I think that such an emphasis (not stressed by most other schools, worldwide) would sharpen my analytical, personal, and reasoning skills, as well as refine and enhance my level of understanding society.

What do you want prospective students to know about Chicago? What advice would you give them?

You'll come across a lot of people who will discourage you from coming here because of the workload and the level of difficulty in academia, reasoning, and problem-solving. I recommend that you not listen to them. Looking back upon my experience so far, although it's been a challenging year, I have way too much to thank the school for. It literally transforms you from a high school boy/girl into a young man/lady. One feels much more mature. It feels great. The right word is "challenging," not "hard;" and an undergraduate education, in my opinion, especially at a top school like Chicago is all about being "challenged," isn't it?

I never expected that . . .

I'd find my niche easily. Considering that I, by nature, have found it hard to adjust to different environments around me, I found it surprisingly easy to feel "at home" here.

Professors/classes that have challenged you most?

Since I am an international student, the educational structure here is completely different at first. When I came here, the class that I was most challenged by was the Humanities sequence. Since I had never had any prior experience in writing profound essays in Philosophy and Literature (the educational system in India is more "test-oriented"), I found it particularly difficult. However, once again, as a result of frequent meetings with my professor as well as guidance from the teaching assistants, I managed just fine. Also, this quarter I have begun my Economics concentration sequence with ECON 200. With Professor Steven Levitt and his thought-provoking questions on his tests, I find the class particularly challenging. Nevertheless, I can say undoubtedly that it is my favourite class, that I enjoy it and have learned a great deal from it !

How have your fellow classmates contributed to your academic experience?

Students here have helped me learn a lot about myself. Apart from academics, in which discussions with students have gone a long way in improving my study skills, my friends here have helped me learn more about "myself" as a person, than I could imagine. I can confidently walk up to any one of them and talk over my concerns, academic and otherwise, knowing that I would be more than welcomed. They're literally my family here, and are of particular importance since I come here from far away. Students here are bright and caring. More than anything else, students here are down to earth. That's always a great thing quality to possess. Lastly, with the diverse student body here at Chicago, different students have different methods perceiving different questions and issues. Their diverse cultural backgrounds, and different methods of thinking and solving problems has helped me gain a lot of knowledge about academics, and more importantly, about different cultural ethics and issues of concern in different parts of the world. Global awareness is something I lacked to a great extent when I came here. Solely due to the diverse student population, I now know a lot more than I did! It's all about learning, eh? ... !

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

At present, I am a member of the South Asian Student's Association (SASA - sasa.uchicago.edu). SASA is a cultural student organization and has various South Asian cultural activities throughout the year which are fun to participate in. Secondly, I am a member of the University Chorus. "UChorus" sings symphonies in conjunction with the University Symphony Orchestra, it's great fun! (music.uchicago.edu). Lastly, since I am one of those "Econ majors," I am a member of an Business / Investment Analysis Group called the International Leadership Council. I have always loved taking part in extra-curricular activities. Personally, they have taught me more than what I learn through books.

Did you have concerns about Chicago before coming? Did your parents have concerns? Has being here changed them?

We did hear some negative aspects with respect to the neighborhood. However, actually living in Hyde Park has changed my opinion on those issues of concern. The University Police service is fantastic, and I have felt safe no matter from/to where, and no matter at what time I have traveled on road or by foot. It's as safe as a student can ask for.

International Student Profiles

Siddharth Bhammar