<p>The topic Byerly just posted about Michael Viscardi is a good reminder of the caliber of student who will happily apply to Harvard for math, and get in. For young people who are mere mortals, Harvard is still an excellent choice for undergraduate study of mathematics, but a considerably more speculative shot for admission. What do all of you here recommend as a "peer" college or "almost peer" college for the young person who desires to study math as an undergraduate (asked the math team coach)? Where else is a good college to apply for study of mathematics, knowing that Harvard gets truly illustrious applicants and can't admit them all?</p>
<p>Alexandre posted this about two weeks ago in the College Search/Selection board. All schools listed are excellent for math, and schools in the same group are approximately equal.</p>
<p>GROUP I
Harvard University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton University
Stanford University
University of California-Berkeley
University of Chicago</p>
<p>GROUP II
Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Columbia University
Cornell University
Duke University
New York University
University of California-Los Angeles
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Pennsylvania
Yale University</p>
<p>GROUP III
Johns Hopkins University
Northwestern University
Rice University
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
University of Maryland-College Park
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Texas-Austin
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>
<p>What is the basis for the Group I, Group II, and Group III rankings?</p>
<p>It's roughly based on the US</a> News ranking of departmental strength in mathematics.</p>
<ol>
<li> Massachusetts Institute of Technology 5.0</li>
<li> Harvard University (MA) 4.9
Princeton University (NJ) 4.9
Stanford University (CA) 4.9
University of California–Berkeley 4.9</li>
<li> University of Chicago 4.8</li>
<li> California Institute of Technology 4.6
New York University 4.6
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 4.6
Yale University (CT) 4.6</li>
<li>Columbia University (NY) 4.5</li>
<li>Cornell University (NY) 4.4
University of California–Los Angeles 4.4</li>
<li>University of Wisconsin–Madison 4.3</li>
<li>Brown University (RI) 4.2
University of Texas–Austin 4.2</li>
<li>University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign 4.1
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 4.1
University of Pennsylvania 4.1</li>
<li>University of Maryland–College Park 4.0</li>
<li>Duke University (NC) 3.9
Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.9
Northwestern University (IL) 3.9
Rutgers State University–New Brunswick (NJ) 3.9
University of California–San Diego 3.9</li>
<li>Purdue University–West Lafayette (IN) 3.8
Rice University (TX) 3.8
SUNY–Stony Brook 3.8</li>
</ol>
<p>Hollywood really gives us so many choices here. Most recently, Proof was at UChicago (or do we backdate that since it was a play first...)?</p>
<p>Just kidding--but I second the good lists above me!</p>
<p>Cal Tech in group 2, is that right?</p>
<p>I'm wondering if it's self-evident that a college with a strong graduate program would necessarily have a strong undergraduate program, or whether a college lacking a strong graduate program (or any graduate program at all) would not be a place to study math as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>In no particular order, based on choices by a group of PROMYS attendees:</p>
<p>Harvard,
MIT,
Princeton
Caltech
Cornell
Duke
Harvey Mudd
Chicago
Michigan
UIUC</p>
<p>This is, of course, not a comprehensive list, but indicative of schools some strong math students applied to and are attending.</p>
<p>Obviously, MIT is probably the best mathematics school in the nation.</p>
<p>Obviously? How so.</p>
<p>Marite, you're forgetting Stanford.</p>
<p>Zephyr:</p>
<p>I do not forget STanford (S applied there and was admitted). It's just that none of his friends is going there :( As I said, it is not a comprehensive list.</p>
<p>Do not overlook or underrate Harvey Mudd.</p>
<p>Can someone please post the full list for Statistics? I bought the paper version and it only lists the top 10...</p>
<p>Havard will admit all of the truly illustrious applicants...it's the plain illustrious candidates that are part of the more random selection process!</p>
<br>
<p>college with a strong graduate program would necessarily have a strong undergraduate program</p>
<br>
<p>I don't think kids should go to schools where they aren't a good fit. If you want an LAC, for example, go to an LAC. That being said, if your priority is to be around the world's leading mathematicians and the most exciting research, then yes, I think there's a tremendous correlation between a great grad program and a great undergrad program. The content of the required courses in a math major is likely to be pretty much the same anywhere; it's the kinds of courses and specializations you can reach for as an upperclassman that really differentiate programs.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't think kids should go to schools where they aren't a good fit. If you want an LAC, for example, go to an LAC.
[/quote]
I have a few friends who did just that; they wanted a LAC for undergrad, so each went to either Amherst or Williams. Each later went to research powerhouses for grad.</p>
<p>Depending on what your financial situation is, look at English institutions. If you only want math, you can't beat Cambridge. If you don't know another language do Oxford. And if you don't want the Oxbridge experience, go for Imperial.</p>