Please Be Advised.

When One Blog Closes…

bwant — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:50:40 +0000

This blog has been fairly successful, and ordinarily, I’d keep maintaining it. But the College is going to release a redesigned website for the fall, and one of the features will be a college advising blog — not sure on the name yet. The new blog (URL coming soon) will include posts similar to those appearing here, along with even more content. Accordingly, I’ve decided to close the Please Be Advised blog.

Because multiple folks will be blogging, the new College-wide blog should stay fresher and be more dynamic.

I doubt anyone will have questions, but if you do, just email.

CREScendo

bwant — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:03:22 +0000

I think I have hinted about this earlier, but a new interdisciplinary major in Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies has been given final approval by the College. The catalog description and list of requirements will be available soon. This program is being offered in conjunction with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture.

Students will have the opportunity, if desired, to specialize in African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Native American Studies, Latino(a) Studies, and Africa: Past & Present. However, choosing a specialization is not required. The major will require a BA paper, which is a culminating research experience that I believe is especially critical for students in an interdisciplinary major.

[Note: Current students (i.e., those entering the College before Autumn 2009) may choose to pursue the requirements for the African and African American Studies major.]

If you have questions about this major — or about the corresponding minor — please let me know. I would also strongly encourage you to talk with Theresa Mah, who is part of the leadership at the CSRPC, about your interests.

Suite Music for Studying

bwant — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:34:07 +0000

I tend to play this particular orchestral suite (it’s on YouTube in 5 parts) when I want some energizing, spritely background music. I always feel dashingly productive when I work to this.

This is the Slovenian Philharmonic, led by Charles Olivieri Munroe, performing Tchaikovsky’s Orchestral Suite No. 3.

Chem 10100-10200-10300

bwant — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:55:42 +0000

This is a new version of General Chemistry, and it will only be open to first-year students based on placement exams. Any returning students needing to take a general chemistry sequence should take Chem 11100-11200-11300 (“Comprehensive General Chemistry”) — or the honors sequence if appropriate.

BIOS 10130: Core Bio 2010

bwant — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:46:58 +0000

This is the shiny, new, and (hopefully) improved version of the old Bios 10110, which was affectionately known as Core Bio — and which also required a separate zero-unit registration for the lab/writing as Bios 10900.

Now, the lab/writing components have been folded into the class time, so only one registration is required: the brand-new BIOS 10130. The total amount of in-class time is also reduced slightly.

Global Warming x 2

bwant — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:32:38 +0000

In the world of Phy Sci Core offerings:

The always-popular PHSC 13400 (Global Warming) will be offered twice next academic year, in both Fall 2009 and Spring 2010. It’s usually only offered in spring quarters.

The flip side of this news is that PHSC 10900 (Ice Age Earth) will not be offered at all next academic year.

If you are confused about which PHSC courses may be paired together for Core, please consult the Physical Sciences catalog entry.

2009-2010 Catalog – Online Release

bwant — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:20:42 +0000

The 2009-2010 College Catalog was released a few days ago. This one will not be printed for distribution. Many updates and revisions are included, so it’s worth at least scanning the section for your major(s) or prospective major(s). And minor(s). And so on.

Think of it as a software update for the curriculum.

Note that the 2008-2009 catalog — and previous catalogs dating to the late ’90s — are archived. If you are ever unsure which requirements apply to you, ask me!

PRISM. Or, in this case, PRI$M.

bwant — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:14:43 +0000

Summer research funding is available for students in the following (PRISM) majors:

Anthropology
Art History
Comparative Human Development
English
Philosophy
Psychology

See the document below for details. Deadline is May 18.

Prism Summer Research Grants 2009

April in Paris…or Pisa

bwant — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:42:43 +0000

Not all study abroad deadlines have passed for next academic year! There are still some programs accepting applications, including:

Paris – Spring 2010 – Humanities
Paris – Spring 2010 – Math
Paris – Spring 2010 – Astrophysics
Pisa – Spring 2010 – Italian Language

See the Study Abroad site for details. If you are wondering whether/how a program fits into your overall plans, by all means come and talk to me.

CCiB Info Sessions

bwant — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:46:53 +0000

I recommend the CCiB (Chicago Careers in Business) program to first-year students who are seriously interested in eventual business careers. Students who have participated in the program have performed very well in internship and full-time job hunts!

A few reminders:

It is NOT only for Econ majors. In fact, students intending other majors are especially welcome.

You do NOT have to commit to a particular realm of business — i.e., consulting, finance, marketing. Part of the purpose of the program is exploration of different functional areas under the umbrella of “business” and networking with alumni who work in varied settings.

The program requires students to take Chicago Booth courses as electives, but you do not have to be in CCiB to take Booth courses.

It is competitive. You have to apply and interview.

Information Sessions are scheduled for the following dates:

Tuesday, April 7, 5:30 -6:30pm @ Ida Noyes Hall, 2nd floor

Tuesday, April 21, Noon –1:00pm @ 5710 S. Woodlawn Ave.

Thursday, April 30, noon-1:00pm @ Ida Noyes Hall, 2nd floor

Thursday, May 7, 5:30 – 6:30pm @ Ida Noyes Hall, 2nd floor