Yi-Ping Chang

Class: 2011
From: Canada/Taiwan
What is the food really like?: The food looks delicious. And you're going to love it, for the first week or so. That's all I'm going to say. But I promise you'll enjoy meal times regardless of the food. In fact, lunch and dinner are two of my favourite times of the day, because that's when I get to catch up with friends. Furthermore, the dinner conversations are phenomenal. And that's an understatement.

What do you think about the Core?

I hear prospective students complain about the ñinflexibilityî of the Core, but in a lot of ways the structure of the core resembles that of the IB program. So if you were involved in the IB program at your high school and enjoyed it, you'll definitely love the Core. How it works is that you get a set ñmenuî of courses within a particular category, and so you do get a fair amount of freedom within the Core. Of course there will be times when the science student will struggle in the humanities class, and vice versa. But that is the whole point. The core and I have a love/hate relationship. But at the end of the day, it's a lot more love than hate. In all seriousness, I chose to come to the University of Chicago precisely because of its strong commitment to the liberal education. The Core is at the centre of this commitment, and it has definitely manifested itself in my way of thinking. The small discussion based classes of the Core encourage students to engage in critical thinking and develop communication skills. Basically, there is no way to ñhideî or shy away from the excitement of intellectual inquiry. That being said, I feel like the focus of these Core classes is beyond the interpretation of fundamental texts and ideas which have shaped the western world, to the appreciation and celebration of the process of learning that we share with our peers, professors, and the great thinkers of our time. That's a mouthful I agree. But it's true

What are the people at Chicago really like?

When it comes down to it, the University of Chicago is what it is because of its people. And the people are amazing. Everyone I've met so far have been friendly and very open. What I mean by open is the common commitment to the life of the mind, which entails an openness to new ideas and divergent viewpoints. I promise it is not just a marketing slogan, but reflected in our daily interactions. The people experience you will have at the UChicago will be drastically different from your experience in high school, in the sense that you'll find so many kids who share your interest in the world around us, and of culture and politics. The diversity of the student body certainly created an exciting student life. I've met people from all parts of the United States, from the East to the West Coast, and from the Midwest. Internationally, there are kids from Nigeria, Sweden, and of course me from Taiwan. You'll never feel alone as an international student, and you certainly add to the richness of the University.

"Any advice to prospective students or upcoming freshman?

Start spending lots of time with your friends, and more importantly, with your parents and with your siblings. You have no idea how much you will miss them.

Last Words?

If you're still unsure about your college choices, let me impart to you something someone once said that I find to be very enlightening and true. At whichever University you choose in the end, chances are you will find exactly what you seek. And that is especially true at the University of Chicago. If you seek parties, you'll find parties. If you seek to be intellectually stimulated, you'll definitely be intellectually stimulated. And if you seek friends, you'll find them. You'll find people who share the same background as you, and you'll find people who are completely different from you. And that is why I love the university life, the fullness of it.

International Student Profiles

Yi-Ping Chang