<p>Hi guys, </p>
<p>So im trying to decide between Berkeley and UChicago. I want to major in math and eventually become a math professor so my first criteria in choosing will definitely be quality of the math department. Where I go for grad school is probably much more important so I am also interested in each university's grad school placement.</p>
<p>Some of my thoughts and impressions:</p>
<p>-It appears that both departments are pretty flexible in allowing students to take grad courses(and both departments have amazing grad programs). </p>
<p>-If I were to go to Berkeley, I would probably start with Math 53 and 54(is it possible to test out of these?)</p>
<p>-If I were to go to UChicago, I would start with Math 160s, Math 19900, Math 207(Honors Analysis) depending on how well I do on the placement exam. (I've been studying real analysis this year and have experience with proofs but I've heard mixed accounts about what it takes to do well on the placement test so idk)</p>
<p>-I dont know about the research opportunities for Berkeley, but Chicago seems to have good ones.</p>
<p>So yea... Does anyone have any advice or info that I should consider?</p>
<p>bump*</p>
<p>UChicago vs. Berkeley anyone?</p>
<p>How big a deal is the net price for each school?</p>
<p>You should contact the Berkeley math department on the subject of placement out of Math 53 and 54 if you know the material but do not have formal transferable course work (e.g. college courses taken while in high school).</p>
<p>Note that Math H53 and H54 are usually offered; these are honors courses of about 30 students that often do not get filled up (unlike the 400 student regular versions).</p>
<p>for me, the net price ends up being being the same because I am out of state for berkeley and chicago is giving some merit aid. </p>
<p>how soon can people start taking grad courses at berkeley and how long do the upper division math courses take?</p>
<p>[General</a> Catalog - Mathematics Courses](<a href=“http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Mathematics&p_dept_cd=MATH]General”>http://general-catalog.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Mathematics&p_dept_cd=MATH) lists math courses and their prerequisites.</p>
<p>Some of the graduate courses only require one upper division math course prerequisite (e.g. Math 202A, 203, and 204 require just 104), while others require more.</p>
<p>A math major at Berkeley needs to take at least 6 upper division math courses (plus 2 upper division or graduate math electives) some time before graduation:</p>
<p>[Course</a> Requirements: Pure Mathematics | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley](<a href=“Meet the Mathematics Undergraduate Advising Community! | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley”>Course Requirements: Pure Mathematics | Department of Mathematics at University of California Berkeley)</p>
<p>^ Send a private message to user “mathboy98”…he may have some insight into your question.</p>
<p>This is a really tough question. For increasing your prospects of being a professor, both schools are about equal. If you live near Berkeley, you can always sit in the Math 53/54 classes.</p>
<p>Technically, the registration system won’t block you from registering for grad courses; it won’t check for prerequisites. If you take grad courses instead of the major requirements, however, you’ll have to talk to the advisers if you want your major (or you can switch to another major and just take math courses for fun :P).</p>
<p>As for how quickly you can get to grad courses while satisfying their prereqs, let’s assume you want to take the grad analysis (202A-B) and algebra (250A-B) sequences. The analysis sequence requires 104 (undergrad analysis) and the algebra sequence requires 113 (undergrad algebra). If you start with 53 and 54, you can do something like the following:</p>
<p>Freshman (Fall): Math 53, 54
Freshman (Spring): Math 104, 113
Sophomore (Fall): Math 202A, 250A
Sophomore (Spring): Math 202B, 250B</p>
<p>So you can take grad classes your sophomore year if you want to. This even leaves room for two non-math courses per semester. The math department does recommend taking 110 before the other upper div classes, but if you’re diligent and have decent experience with proofs, you can take 104, 113, etc. before 110. (110 is still a major requirement, so you’ll have to take it at some point if you major in math, though.)</p>
<p>Since price is the same for both, you should go to UofC.</p>