<p>Can anyone tell me a few things about the pure math major at columbia?
I'm an intl, so finding out on myself is kinna out of the question... i've read everything on the site, but still am not satisfied. How are the teachers? The courses? the atmosphere?</p>
<p>I saw in another thread something about lit courses being necessary for all pure science majors, but actually that is a great thing for me, and i would look forward to that... other things?</p>
<p>I especially want to know if my 2 silver medals at the IMO (intl math oympiad) can be considered an important hook. I've also been first place at the national math comp for 5 years now...</p>
<p>thanks a lot, any details about math dep will make me happy :) </p>
<p>Ps short question: how long should the pers essay be?</p>
<p>Congratulations on your IMO achievement! I am sure that any university would see that as important.</p>
<p>My son is a first year at Columbia and may or may not major in math, though he'll probably at least get a concentration in it. He is in the class that's intended as the toughest first year math, which has about 50 students (quite a few from Eastern Europe). He says the professor is great and many of the students in the class are very smart. It's basically proof-based linear algebra and multivariable calculus. However, given your math background, you might very well start at a higher level. I'd suggest three things if you haven't done them already: go to the CULPA site (just google culpa) -- which is the online student evaluation of teachers and take a look at the math department. They have some very good teachers, but are they in the areas of math that interest you? Also, you might e-mail any questions you have to the math department undergraduate advisor, who has a reputation for being accessible, enthusiastic, and an excellent teacher. Third, you might e-mail students who are involved in the math student association, especially undergraduates.</p>
<p>That said, my sense is that Columbia does not attract many of the math super stars who are likelier to head to Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Princeton or even University of Chicago. At Harvard, for example, I think there are two freshman math classes that are more advanced than the honors sequence my son is in at Columbia. Many students who know they are headed into math or science do not want to deal with the humanities-heavy curriculum at Columbia, which takes up about one third of your courses over four years. However, like you, my son really looked forward to the core curriculum and is enjoying it.</p>