<p>Anybody know of colleges with good, but not necessarily 'elite,' program? Like, I know that MIT, CalTech, etc. have great math programs, but what about less selective options?</p>
<p>I'm only a rising junior, but my school requires a lot of college research junior year, so I'd like to get a head start. I would prefer a college near the Northeastern US. As for any other criteria, I don't have any preference...yet. I guess as a guideline, less selective than colleges like the Ivies, but still somewhat selective and known for a rigorous program. If I had to put an SAT score, I would say like 1900-2000 average, but again, I'm not too picky at this point in my search.</p>
<p>Some LACs are good (e.g. Harvey Mudd), but many are essentially undergraduate-only.</p>
<p>If you are more than one grade level ahead in math (e.g. Calculus BC in junior year of high school is two grade levels ahead in math), then it is more likely that you will want to take graduate level math courses as an undergraduate (this might still be true of you are “only” one grade level ahead in math). If that is the case, then you may want to consider mainly schools with a strong graduate program in math.</p>
<p>Good point, I didn’t think about that. I am taking Calc. AB and Calc II (which is essentially like taking Calc BC, right?) so that probably should be important.</p>
<p>Although I’m just entering junior year, math seems to be my best, and favorite subject, so I don’t see myself not taking a good number of math courses in college (this could change I guess, I’ve still got two years - but I don’t think it will).</p>
<p>On a different note, what kinds of jobs can you get with only a bachelors math degree? When I look up jobs, it seems that only business/accounting/statistics type jobs are available, with graduate degrees leading to academic careers or other science related jobs. How true is this?</p>
<p>Personally, I could never do something business related (I don’t know why but I hate dealing with money, even if I am receiving it). My mom believes I’ll end up in graduate school eventually, and I think so too, but again, that is a long way off.</p>
<p>If you are taking Calculus AB (~= first semester freshman calculus) and second semester freshman calculus as a high school junior, then you are two years ahead of the normal sequence – presumably, you will be taking university sophomore level courses (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations) as a high school senior at a community college or local university.</p>
<p>This means that you may be jumping into junior level math courses as a university freshman. If you continue as a math major, you will likely be looking to take graduate level math courses as an undergraduate, so choose a school with a good graduate math program.</p>
<p>As far as math major jobs, typical jobs include actuarial jobs, quantitative finance jobs, and computer software jobs. Statistics is another type of job which may have applications to other areas besides economics and finance (e.g. political science, biology, medicine, etc.). Taking some courses in related areas like statistics, computer science, economics, and finance to supplement a math major can help you in terms of job and career options if you do not go to graduate school and try for a research career.</p>