<p>I will be applying to colleges this winter as a prospective math major. I do wish to major in math, but have not completely decided to do so, and may choose a field in the humanities (probably Philosophy if that happens) if things change. I am looking for colleges that have very good math programs, but are not necessarily "the best in the world" type deals. I will be applying to some of these schools, as I do see myself as being a competitive applicant, but do not want to rest my hopes on getting accepted. Thus, which schools should I consider picking as my "matches" to apply? I will post my r</p>
<p>If you need decent financial aid, run the net price calculators on each school. The out of state publics (other than perhaps Virginia and North Carolina) are unlikely to be affordable, unless you can pay close to their out of state list price.</p>
<p>Consider Minnesota, as its out of state list price is relatively inexpensive (about $30,000 per year). Stony Brook is also relatively inexpensive. Rutgers is somewhat more (about $40,000 per year), but has a well respected philosophy department as well as a good math department.</p>
<p>As noted above, North Carolina and Virginia may be reasonable for out of state financial aid.</p>
<p>Also, will you have completed more math than calculus BC by the time you graduate from high school? If so, consider that many students who do that want to take graduate level courses in math as undergraduates.</p>
<p>Yes. I will have completed Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, and Abstract Algebra.</p>
<p>You probably want to remove any undergraduate-only colleges, since you are likely to exhaust their math offerings.</p>
<p>After you see their net price calculator results, you probably want to remove Berkeley and Michigan, unless one of them is in-state. (What is your state of residency and net price limit?)</p>
<p>Stony Brook University. They have the 4th best Geometry program in the USA, if that’s your interest. They have a pretty kick ass program.</p>
<p>Minnesota
Stony Brook
Utah</p>
<p>I’m in Illinois.</p>
<p>Taking your advice, I’ve been able to remove some colleges from my list. However, my goal was to add colleges, and I’m still having some trouble. My current list looks like this now:</p>
<p>Princeton University
The University of Chicago
The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (in-state)
Carnegie Mellon University
Tufts University
Harvard University
Stanford University
Cornell University
Columbia University</p>
<p>Obviously, this list is still too top heavy for me, or for any student. I need to add some less elite institutions that still have great math programs, or as you might say, I need better “reaches.” Since this is extremely relevant, I’ll add my resume, too:</p>
<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): Will take tomorrow.
[</em>] SAT I Practice Test: 800 Math, 760 Critical Reading, 740 Writing (? Essay - this could be anywhere from 700-800 depending on how well my essay actually was), 2300 Composite
[<em>] ACT: 34 (35 SS) (36 Math, 35 English, 31 Reading (33 SS), 33 Science (35 SS), 8 essay)
[</em>] SAT II: Will take in November.
[<em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.96, 4.25 weighted
[</em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 19/526 (I transferred from a private school my junior year. My previous two years’ grades were not weighted when added to my current school’s transcript. Thus, since rank at my school is determined by weighted GPA, I am at a severe disadvantage.
[<em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Calculus BC (5), English Language and Composition (4), Statistics (5), US History (4), Psychology (5), Music Theory (4, self-studied)
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: Economics, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Chemistry, P.E., Choir, AP European History, Principles of Engineering, AP Spanish, Multidimensional Calculus, Linear Algebra/Differential Equations, Modern Algebra
[<em>] Honors/Awards: National Honors Society, National Merit Semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, Spanish IV Student of the Year, Scholastic Bowl MVP, Honor Roll, WYSE (1st place regional in math and English, 6th place state in English)
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Extracurriculars: Scholastic Bowl (Team Captain, MVP), Math Team (team captain, state qualifier, 3rd regional), Tenor Voice (All State Honors Choir, various regional awards), Piano (self-taught, 4 years), Percussion (Band freshman/sophomore years, local orchestra), extra self-taught courses/studies (rigorous calculus, vector analysis, linear algebra, number theory, mathematical logic, abstract algebra, complex analysis, calculus-based Physics, introductory computer science), English Club, Robotics Team, Jazz Band
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: ~250 hours; ~600 hours working for my mom at our farm, independently designing and constructing bridges and stairs.
[</em>] Summer Activities: extra math classes, music camp, community service, practicing piano, reading philosophy and novels and math and stuff, self-studying extra courses, sleeping, eating, PC gaming. . .
[<em>] Essays: I have yet to write these.
[</em>] Teacher Recommendation: I read one of them - my chemistry teacher’s. The teacher called me one of the self-motivated students she’s ever seen. And a “genius,” but seemingly lightly. I guess it was a good recommendation. My Calculus BC teacher’s, I have not read.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: No idea
[/ul]Other[ul]
[</em>] State (if domestic applicant): IL
[<em>] School Type: Public (~1500 students, meh reputation)
[</em>] Ethnicity: 100% white
[<em>] Gender: male
[</em>] Income Bracket: ~$80,000
[li] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I’m a pirate. I have a hook for a hand.</p>[/li]
<p>. . .
just kidding. 
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[<em>] Strengths: strong math background, well-rounded, test scores, GPA, motivation
[</em>] Weaknesses: community service, limited leadership, no AMC12/AIME/etc. I never even heard about these until later last year, when it was already too late. Meh high school in a meh town with meh opportunities for people like me who really like to learn. [/ul]</p>
<p>Did you take the PSAT?</p>
<p>Remember, a safety must be assured in terms of both admissions and finances.</p>
<p>Yes, I took the PSAT and got a 217 (70M, 80W, 67CR), and national merit semi-finalist.</p>
<p>My safety is the University of Illinois. If I get rejected there, then ■■■. I also don’t think it would be a big financial problem. But the point of this thread is to help me find other safeties and reaches. That’s where I need help.</p>
<p>I believe I have confused my terminology for the schools I need. What I need are better “matches,” not “reaches.”</p>
<p>UIUC is a perfectly fine school for math. It is probably a low match or safety in admissions for you, although it considers some subjective criteria that make it hard to say with 100% certainty. You can check the net price calculator for cost.</p>
<p>Very high stats students may not have a lot of match choices, since schools where their stats might be considered a match are often reach-for-everyone schools that large numbers of very high stats students apply to. You may want to add the less expensive out-of-state public universities if you can afford them, like Minnesota, Stony Brook, and Utah, and those which offer out-of-state financial aid like North Carolina and Virginia, for more non-reach schools.</p>
<p>If you were just going for math, I’d suggest GT or RPI, but with the potential humanities major I suggest some of the state flagship schools also. I’ve Haredim UMich is good at just about everything.</p>
<p>Most Big 10 schools and UC publics (for OOS) fit into the category you are looking for re strong math/not insanely competitive in admissions.</p>
<p>I don’t understand how you don’t have Courant Institute of NYU not listed, that’s arguably the best applied math program on earth. Don’t just chase brand names, look a bit deeper and search for hidden Jewels. For example, if you are into geometry, Stony Brook has the 4th best Geometry program in the USA, with top notch, leading researchers in their applied math department.</p>
<p>[Stony</a> Brook University - Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics](<a href=“http://www.ams.sunysb.edu%5DStony”>http://www.ams.sunysb.edu)</p>
<p>
UIUC is a great school and it is a good safety if and only if you apply by 11/1. That way you will get your decision with enough time to apply elsewhere if necessary. I would recommend checking the financial details now, not later.</p>
<p>I stand by my earlier recommendations. The math programs at Minnesota, Stony Brook, and Utah are all excellent.</p>