<p>I am an international student. I need to choose between Illinois Wesleyan University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. </p>
<p>I plan to major in mathematics. I've got enough scholarships from both Colleges. My father suggest me going to WPI, but I think Wesleyan is a good school too. I think things learnt in WPI are too practical. Of course, WPI's location is better. Do you have any suggestions for me?</p>
<p>Well, one thing about WPI is that they have 7 week terms; 3 courses per term. So, you really have to stay on top of your course work. Plus, they have all the project work. Our S (HS Jr.) is looking at WPI, and he really likes the whole hands-on aspect of the project work. What about you? And I’m not sure how what you learn can be “too practical?”</p>
<p>DD2 just returned from visiting IWU. She didn’t like the town - a little depressed. The town is about an hour to Champaign or Springfield. WPI is closer to Boston for recreation events.</p>
<p>ayaartist: both of these are very good schools, but technically, WPI does not offer a degree in Mathematics at all, but in “Mathematical Sciences”. I am not sure of all the implications of this; but I believe the program is strongly oriented towards applied math. So, you need to figure out what kind of math you want to study and then see if WPI would really meet your needs. Illinois Wesleyan, as you say, has a good academic reputation also, but I don’t know anything about their math department.</p>