<p>I don’t know if whenhen knows which LACs would offer enough depth for you, but if you truly want a LAC perhaps you should consider a dual major with Math and Comp Sci or Math/Finance.</p>
<p>I know you do not seem to want Harvey Mudd, but what about Pomona or Claremont McKenna? It would leave open the option of taking Mudd classes. Both would offer strong aid to your families income bracket.</p>
<p>whenhen and I were focused on you running out of math courses at a LAC. The flip side is you could attend a LAC a slow the math down while focusing on other learning aspects like study abroad.</p>
<p>Pure Math folks seem to focus on a PhD and eventual teaching/research. Is this a path you want?</p>
<p>Many students change over senior year. I urge you to apply to both LACs and Universities so that you will have a choice in the spring.</p>
<p>Do not underestimate yourself. Even with a lack of leadership, you are a solid candidate for any school.</p>
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<p>Oh, I don’t have anything against it…I just don’t think I’d get in. Do they have more math courses than most LACs?</p>
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<p>Yeah, but I should probably have some kind of backup plan. The problem is I’m not really good at anything in STEM other than math.</p>
<p>I’m not familiar with a pure math major (beyond looking at what some of the top math universities require of their undergrads), but from what I remember on a chances thread she is far beyond what most college sophomore math majors take. That’s why I think a LAC, even one as distinguished as Harvey Mudd or Williams (two of the top math LACs in the country) might be limiting assuming she wants to continue with a math major. Maybe she won’t. Most people switch majors, but if she does want to continue on with pure math, a LAC, unless it’s one that I don’t know about, might severely limit her. </p>
<p>The valedictorian of my high school was in a similar predicament. By his senior year of high school he had completed almost three years worth of college math, and according to him, even Harvey Mudd wasn’t good enough in his field. He’s now happily studying math at one of the top universities in the country where there’s no problem of limited course availability.</p>
<p>They’re mostly right. Pure math course availibility is less at a LAC, but you can make that up by doing research (matters way more for grad school) and self studying the topics. In fact, LACS have the advantage of professors who just teach undergrads, so there’s the chance of better mentoring as well. </p>
<p>I would recommend:
- Swarthmore (LAC, extremely academic and focused, but everyone I know who went there absolutely loved it; you can also take classes at Penn)
- Yale (Math dept is good, but you’re not surrounded by math/science 24/7; they also love overcoming hardship stories)
- maybe a women’s college like Smith or Wellesley</p>
<p>I recommend that you attend a small university that has a strong math research program. You are correct, you will top out at all but the best liberal arts colleges. Most of the ivies fit this bill. </p>
<p>Look for schools that offer a theoretical version of Calculus that uses Spivak or Apostol.</p>
<p>University of Chicago is ideal. Their honors calculus, particularly their inquiry based learning section will bring you right out of your shell.</p>
<p>Alternates are Brandies, University of Rochester, Rice. Stanford and MIT need no introduction and Washington University in St Louis is strong in math. </p>
<p>For what it’s worth, Ohio State is one of the few large universities that offers this theoretical option through their honors college. Wisconsin also offers it. </p>
<p>Rochester offers it too and though it’s a university, it feels like a liberal arts college, and you wouldn’t top out there. They are also fairly generous with merit aid which you might need.</p>