<p>Hi, looking at priors threads I have seen posters say varying things about the math department--some saying that the teaching is weak and others loving it. But these threads are a year or 2 old. Any current students available to comment on these 2 depts for a potential major? Thanks!</p>
<p>Bumping–anyone can comment?</p>
<p>My D has just declared as a physics major and her best friend as a math major. Both are loving their courses. From here it looks as though Vassar is putting some effort into developing the sciences - there is a very whizzy new science building going up for bio & chem (opening fall 2015) and the physics and psych buildings have both just been fully refurbished and modernized. The physics building got lots of new equipment and a nice lounge for the physics majors. The physics department is growing- they have just hired more staff, and the number of people declaring for physics has gone up each year for the last several years.</p>
<p>I know less about the math side. The math major came in expecting to be a chem, or possibly chem/math major, and by the end of first semester had gone over all the way to math. The only complaint I have heard is that there isn’t enough time (in four years) to take all the great courses that are on offer (b/c you have to take a certain number of classes outside your major). </p>
<p>There has been some chat about taking one course or section of a course instead of another, in order to get (or avoid) a paticular teacher, but I am sure that is true at every college! </p>
<p>Thanks so much! </p>
<p>It is recommended that you place out of hte intro courses (AP Calc AB/BC portion) and head straight to mult-variable calculus and beyond, because the teaching in the intro courses are a bit weak. But it gets a lot better afterward (in terms of teaching quality and whatnot), or so I’ve heard.</p>
<p>fyi, there is a 1 semester course for people who have done Calc AB but not BC (minimum score 3, I think)that is a good bridge. </p>