Coe or Randolph for math major

<p>I am an international student and I just got accepted into Coe College and Randolph College (among some other schools, but my family cannot afford). I am going to major in mathematics in college, having been serious about the subject since high school. I hope that I can get into a good graduate school for mathematics.</p>

<p>I have done some research on both schools, but it is hard to find information on the strength of the math undergraduate department for liberal arts colleges. Can someone give me advice on which school I should attend for a better quality of mathematics education?</p>

<p>Taking a gap year isn't a great option for me, because I am already 2 years behind my peers due to studying abroad. I do think that if I reapply, it will be a lot better but starting college at 21 when most of my friends have 1 year left until graduation... it doesn't so sound so good to me.</p>

<p>Any help is appreciated. Thank you.</p>

<p>Wife and I are Coe alums neither are big fans.I do know Coe has a respected science department that attracts a number of international students.Campus is mediocre and Cedar Rapids is a blue collar Midwest city nothing remarkable really.</p>

<p>You may want to see which college has the advanced math courses more in line with your interests (both have relatively small lists of courses, though not identical):
[Coe</a> College | Mathematics & Computer Science - Curriculum](<a href=“http://www.coe.edu/academics/mathcompsci/mathcompsci_curriculum]Coe”>http://www.coe.edu/academics/mathcompsci/mathcompsci_curriculum)
[Randolph</a> College - Course Offerings in Mathematics](<a href=“http://www.randolphcollege.edu/x13772.xml]Randolph”>http://www.randolphcollege.edu/x13772.xml)</p>

<p>Any more options?What are your stats?</p>

<p>Just how strong is your math background? A serious math major with AP Calculus background would quickly run out of classes to take at either college. Neither college has enough resources to prepare you for the better graduate programs in mathematics. </p>

<p>That being said, on paper Coe looks like the better option: they have more math faculty, higher graduation rates, and a computer science program. (I would strongly urge every math major to get some background in computer science as well.)</p>

<p>Thank you everyone for your replies.</p>

<p>I got 2200 for SAT I (800 math) and 2310 for SAT II (790 math 2, and i forgot to bring calculator…). I won gold/silver/distinction for a few math competitions (singapore math olympiad, shanghai ti cup, singapore international math challenge, australian math competition etc). I did study calculus quite thoroughly, im not sure if it is on par with AP Calculus.</p>

<p>Drexel and Quinnipiac also accepted me, but their FA award is not enough. So do you think I should choose Coe over Randolph? Randolph gives me much better FA though.</p>

<p>Not really sure how you selected these colleges for Math, but looking at their websites it shows Randolph with 3 math faculty and Coe with 5.</p>

<p>OP- what are your options in your home country? If you have a choice between a top tier math education at home vs. a second tier (or less) math education in the US, I can’t imagine that the lure of the US is strong enough to make this worth your while. A 3 person or 5 person math department does not a graduate student make… this suggests that the math program is a “support” program- i.e. offering math classes for students who will be majoring in other subjects who still need math. So your classmates are likely to need math to study economics, or become math teachers, or accountants, or pharmacists-- but not to study math at a graduate level as an intellectual exercise.</p>

<p>Aren’t there better options close to home for you?</p>

<p>Drexel has approximately 50 Math Faculty and Quinnipiac has around 25.
You need to look at:

  1. How out of reach financially these two are for you
  2. Should I again next year and do more research into math programs.
  3. Call the Head of the Math Department at each college and tell them what your background is and how do they think you would fit in? How many math majors are there? How many have gone on to grad school?</p>

<p>I know of one person that did a math undegrad at Coe and then did a math PhD at U Iowa. There are probably more. Here is his link at his current LAC where he teaches…consider sending him an email about the math dept at Coe…I doubt Coe is adequate prep for the best math PhD programs but I suspect it is fine for many like U Iowa…</p>

<p>[Carroll</a> University :: Mathematics :: Faculty Profile](<a href=“http://www.carrollu.edu/programs/mathematics/faculty_profile.asp?id=2538064C002A]Carroll”>http://www.carrollu.edu/programs/mathematics/faculty_profile.asp?id=2538064C002A)</p>

<p>I attended both Randolph College (when it was Randolph-Macon Woman’s College) and Coe College. Both are excellent schools. The biggest difference to me was the location. Randolph is in Southern Virginia, and Coe is in Eastern Iowa. At Randolph, you’ll be close to Washington DC and Charlottesville, should you wish to pursue advanced studies in Mathematics. At Coe, you’ll be close to Iowa City and Chicago. Since you got a better financial aid package at Randolph College, I’d lean you toward that school. It’s really beautiful, and you’ll have a lot of options for your classes. Have you talked to any of the math majors there yet?</p>

<p>50ishwoman -</p>

<p>Randolph isn’t close enough to Charlottesville or DC to pop by for a grad-level Math class during the school year. And, while a student with a car could conceivably get to Iowa City from Cedar Rapids for a grad seminar once a week, that would require a car. To the best of my knowledge (and bring me up to date if I’m wrong) there isn’t any regular public transit between those CR and Iowa City. That would be my concern for the OP. Neither Randolph nor Coe appear to have a lot of high-level courses, and it would be possible that this student could run out of courses at these two places. If none of the other US options are affordable, the OP needs to think long and hard about completing his/her first degree in his/her home country instead of coming here.</p>

<p>Thank you everyone for your advice. I’ll definitely think long and hard about my options before making a final decision.</p>

<p>I do have 2 other options closer to home, but they are not guaranteed and I will know the outcome much later. Also, it is not a very supportive and nurturing environment.</p>

<p>At the moment I am leaning towards Coe, I know their program is not fantastic but I’ll work my hardest and see what happens.</p>

<p>Happymonof1:</p>

<p>Actually, many of us students at RMWC in Lynchburg often took classes at Charlottesville (only 1 hour away) and semesters at colleges in DC. Students at Coe often take classes in Iowa City (30 minutes by car). While there isn’t any public transportation between CR and IC, like you say, all a Coe student would have to do is find someone going to IC and ride-along. Students at Randolph can also take classes at Hampden-Sydney, W&L, and Hollins College. I don’t see why kids would have a problem getting around without a car now…If the OP is leaning towards Coe and/or Randolph, why are you raining on her parade? OP: If you’re now leaning towards Coe, don’t worry about Iowa City being 30 minutes away. Iowa City and Cedar Rapids are in the “corridor” and a lot of people live in one city and work/go to school in the other. The U of IA even has shuttles up to Cedar Rapids to pick up and return staff. If you really like Coe and want to take classes at the U of IA, it will happen. Good luck to you!</p>

<p>50ishwoman -</p>

<p>Thanks for the info about Randolph College’s network. I didn’t know it was that strong. That might change the picture for the OP. I’m not trying to “rain on the OP’s parade”. I just want the OP to have a clear picture of the issues that might come up at an LAC for a math major having followed some of b@r!um’s experiences at her LAC over the years. </p>

<p>I haven’t visited Coe in years, but one of my nephews is a graduate. He loved his time there.</p>