<p>What does it take to get into Math 55, and what's the workload really like? Just wondering... Probably wont get in, but hey, no harm in trying.</p>
<p>Please what is Math 55?</p>
<p>Its an extremely rigorous freshmen math class at Harvard (I think).</p>
<p>I don't know the exact details, but the math department does a big advising fest during freshman week to help people choose which math class to take.</p>
<p>Here's the dirt on 55, from the course catalogue:
Note: Mathematics 55a is an intense course for students having significant experience with abstract mathematics. Instructors permission required. Every effort will be made to accommodate students uncertain of whether the course is appropriate for them; in particular, Mathematics 55a and 25a will be closely coordinated for the first three weeks of instruction. Students can switch between the two courses during the first three weeks without penalty.</p>
<p>The "difficulty" rating in the course evaluation is a 4.9 out of a possible 5 (that's very, very, difficult). "Workload" is 4.4 (which would mean something like 13 hours a week on the problem sets, on average).</p>
<p>sounds pretty challenging.</p>
<p>Here are some links to Math 55 information: </p>
<p><a href="http://math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/freshmenguide.html%5B/url%5D">http://math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/freshmenguide.html</a> </p>
<p><a href="http://math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/which_course.html%5B/url%5D">http://math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/which_course.html</a> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.math.harvard.edu/teaching/courses.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.math.harvard.edu/teaching/courses.html</a> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.math.harvard.edu/%7Eelkies/M55a.02/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.math.harvard.edu/~elkies/M55a.02/index.html</a> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.math.harvard.edu/%7Esiu/math55a/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.math.harvard.edu/~siu/math55a/index.html</a> </p>
<p><a href="http://abel.math.harvard.edu/%7Eschmid/55a/%5B/url%5D">http://abel.math.harvard.edu/~schmid/55a/</a> </p>
<p>The basic idea is that Math 55 is for either </p>
<p>1) students who have had years of college math, including multivariable calculus and linear algebra, before entering Harvard, </p>
<p>or </p>
<p>2) International Mathematical Olympiad medalists (of whom there are several, from various countries, in every Harvard first-year class). </p>
<p>All other first-year students at Harvard might be better off taking an easier math course, but anyone can attend Math 55 during the shopping period (or is that anyone who places into the Math 21/23/25/55 set of courses? more likely that) to try it out. The instructor will try to scare off the students unwilling to work very hard with really tough problem sets for the first few weeks. People who have a strong math background, but who aren't ready for Math 55, should probably try Math 25. </p>
<p>See a detailed</a> thread about Math 55 from earlier this year that can tell you much more, in the words of some current Harvard students and other knowledgeable persons.</p>
<p>yeah, math 55 isn't for those who become faint when looking at a 2+ page long proof of an analysis theorem.</p>
<p>Does anyone know when we'll get our Course of Study book? I want to get an idea of what I'll be studying next year over the summer.</p>
<p>It usually comes out in July. I actually think they've stopped mailing the books to freshmen, but you can check out the website at <a href="http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/Courses%5B/url%5D">http://www.registrar.fas.harvard.edu/Courses</a></p>