<p>how's the mathematics department at dartmouth? I hear it's so bad, but I don't want to change my major choice just because the math department doesn't have the greatest reputation...also, is it difficult to get a good GPA (near 4.0) while a mathematics major at dartmouth?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Frankly, academically speaking, Dartmouth has little that stands out. That said it has amazing teachers across all departments, ones that are committed to their students, ones that are open to students dropping by their offices and sometimes even houses whenever. I've had many classes in profs' living rooms. I have not, however, heard the same about math department professors, who tend to be largely foreign--this means lectures are hard to comprehend and they are used to the "big university" ways of a prof-student relationship.</p>
<p>Also, Dartmouth, as with most other top universities, does not ask students to choose a major at application. Even the interest check will have little effect on your admissions.
However, I am not sure if this is same for math and engineering, two departments with tangible research results in which Dartmouth is especially weak.</p>
<p>When I applied to D, I didn't even really specify a math interest. But I had a pretty good math resume (BC Calc junior year, multivariable+lin alg at Harvard Ext., 2 year captain of a state champ math team, nothing that will wow any mathematicians, but certainly puts me in the above average pile in terms of math), which I believe helped counterbalance my ****ty GPA.</p>
<p>And I got a hand written letter/note from the head of Math Department along with my acceptance package =) Granted, this was some time ago, but I have heard little to convince me that the Math Dept has gotten any less desperate.</p>
<p>So I think they might give math kids a little bit of a special consideration...
good luck dude, although it seems you've got your mind set on Stanford. Please don't choose D as a "second choice", though. S and D are, for its similarities, very different schools. And the only thing I even remotely disliked about D is the fact that there was a sizeable population who whined all the time about (1) not being at HYPS and/or (2) being stuck in the boonies with only lame frat parties to go to.</p>
<p>There have been some threads in the past about the Math department. I suggest you go search around for them because you might find some useful information.</p>
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is it difficult to get a good GPA (near 4.0) while a mathematics major at dartmouth?
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<p>Why don't you ask Yangyang Liu '09 that - who still has a 4.0 despite having taken some of the most difficult Mathematics classes here at Dartmouth. She'll likely be the Valedictorian of her class - we'll see though.</p>
<p>It's certainly difficult - but not impossible. If you're one of those MOSPer kids who decide to go to Dartmouth - you'll find the Math classes here cake. Of course... it should be said that such kids don't really exist (except Yangyang). </p>
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I have not, however, heard the same about math department professors, who tend to be largely foreign--this means lectures are hard to comprehend and they are used to the "big university" ways of a prof-student relationship.
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<p>Completely false. </p>
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And the only thing I even remotely disliked about D is the fact that there was a sizeable population who whined all the time about (1) not being at HYPS and/or (2) being stuck in the boonies with only lame frat parties to go to.
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<p>Completely false as well.</p>
<p>I've only taken lower level math classes but from what I understand, anything less than or equal to Math 13 is probably not going to be terribly exciting. You might luck out and get a great instructor, but otherwise it won't be a highlight of your experience here. I've attended some Math Club talks from some great profs though, so I know that there are some fantastic faculty involved in research and teaching higher level classes.</p>
<p>I've only taken one math class with a "foreign" prof, so caveat the 1-datapoint sample, but she seemed terribly nice and not averse to answering questions or helping out students. Her accent did make things a bit hard for some students though.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say our math department is terrible - I think it's competent, and I really don't see how a Dartmouth degree can harm your chances for grad school. Bear in mind too that a plurality or small majority of students wind up changing majors.</p>
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And the only thing I even remotely disliked about D is the fact that there was a sizeable population who whined all the time about (1) not being at HYPS and/or (2) being stuck in the boonies with only lame frat parties to go to.
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<p>Looks like I should stop quoting DYE in front of prospies.</p>
<p>Hey? All that true about D? HUH?</p>