<p>But the acronym would. Wobbly wobbly tuna fish.</p>
<p>Oh look, it didn’t work.</p>
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<p>Just to clarify, the Putnam is not really emphasized at MIT. There’s a freshman problem solving seminar aimed at preparing for the Putnam, but other than that, most people don’t spend very much time, if at all, preparing. Most people who do well on the Putnam did well on math contests in high school, and those abilities seem to stay with them in college. Also, I don’t know of any other math contests that MIT participates in, except for possibly the MCM, which is a really different type of contest than the contests most people are familiar with.</p>
<p>Would you guys recommend taking linear algebra or differential equations? It’s the end of year for calc right now and we just went over like very elementary differential equations and I kinda like them so far and i feel it’s more calculus based as opposed to linear which is basically an entirely new subject so to speak so what would you guys recommend?</p>
<p>Both, but if you have to choose, differential equations. It’s less practically useful but more often demanded of you in college.</p>
<p>Also, between the two, linear algebra is conceptually taught better at a relatively tough school. Whereas I think a first differential equations course might be taught in about as interesting a way regardless. Experiences can differ.</p>
<p>Linear algebra can be hard to appreciate when you’re first taking it, and I personally think a non-conceptual introduction to it is probably not useful.</p>