<p>Okay, this MIGHT be a stupid question (I hope it's not xD), but since I've pretty much lost trust in rankings, I'm curious what current students/applicants think..</p>
<p>How good is UMich for undergrad physics/maths? Is the course at least somewhat challenging and are there any compelling reasons to choose UMich for physics/maths specifically?</p>
<p>I know that UMich is a great school in general, but I've never really heard much about it. I just want to have a rough idea of where I'm applying :D.</p>
<p>There are several different levels of Math, including one which is very proof based for freshmen and sophomores (295-296-395-396 sequence), which I imagine will be just as good or better than anything else anywhere else. </p>
<p>For physics, they have an honors sequence (160-260, not sure if there’s a 360). </p>
<p>Then they also offer a slew of classes above that level in Math and imagine just as many (well, almost as many) in Physics.</p>
<p>The Math department here is pretty awesome. I’m in the theoretical sequence, and it’s incredibly tough, but also one of the best math educations you will get. Warning though: This isn’t for everyone, and it gives a lot of work. Also, it’s worth mentioning the equivalent of 295 isn’t offered at most other colleges as a freshman class. </p>
<p>If you don’t take that sequence there are still tons of great math classes to pick from. I recommend the math department here highly.</p>
<p>NOOOOOO. Lol. I think there are two programs in the nation that are tougher than Math 295, Harvard’s 55 and Chicago’s 207.</p>
<p>Math 55 is what 295 does, although 295 is designed as a two year track (295-296-395-396), and Math 55 is designed to do ALL OF THAT IN ONE YEAR. Basically it’s insane. Really insane.</p>
<p>It’s worth mentioning that as of right now, I believe the ‘honors’ track is easier than the regular track. That’s because the math department is currently restructuring the courses, and they’ve already gotten to the regular courses and they haven’t done the honors courses yet.</p>
<p>Source: two friends’ parents who are UMich math faculty told me this, and actually said that this year the regular courses are harder. This seems to make sense because I’m taking 215 right now and I have other friends who are taking 285, and from what I can see 215 is much harder. This of course will vary since 285 is more theoretical, etc, so if you hate that then 285 will probably be harder. But even then it’s mostly my word against anyone else’s, so feel free to believe me or ignore me as you wish.</p>
<p>T-Bird is right for everything except for the fact that Honors Calc I is harder than Calc I. Generally speaking, Honors is easier than their non-honors equivalent. (Honors Math is excluded from this of course).</p>
<p>Um, I’m in Math 285 and I’m not going to lie, I definitely like being taught in a 30 student class by my professor better than anything, and she grades pretty reasonably.</p>
<p>QwertyKey - I really don’t know, but I would hazard a guess at just changing the pace of the course (from what I can see we are moving much faster than previous years) and difficulty of homework sets (but that also depends on the 285 professor).</p>
<p>CaptainWasabi also brings up a good point - 285 classes are substantially smaller and thus they’re nicer in that way.</p>
<p>Just one man’s opinion, but I wish they would rename the “Honors Math” concentration to something like “Theoretical Math”. It gets very confusing with honors classes and a honors concentration. I can tell you from my son’s standpoint it’s a difficult thing to explain clearly on a resume.</p>