<p>As the title says, I’m looking to study math in college. BC fits me fairly well in most ways, except that I had heard from someone who went to BC as a math major that she didn’t think she got a great education (in math), and that friends who went to lesser-known schools got a better education (she’s probably in her late twenties, so I’m guessing a lot of the profs. would still be there).</p>
<p>Soooo… how popular is a math major? Does anyone know how good the math department really is?</p>
<p>BC is a liberal arts college, so its rare getting math majors. Although im not certain about how well the math department is, you're better off applying to heavy math concentrated colleges</p>
<p>Like most schools focusing on the liberal arts, BC does have a relatively small number of math majors. Of the 2,229 bachelor’s degrees that BC awarded 7/1/05 – 6/30/06, only 36 (less than 2%) were in math & statistics (according to the National Center for Educational Statistics).</p>
<p>However, don’t dismiss BC right away if you really feel it is a good fit for you. (After all, if you are like most college students, you are likely to change your major at least once during your 4 years there.) I urge you to do some homework – contact the math department directly, check out their course list, talk to some professors – and draw your own conclusions.</p>
<p>By the way, my son and I were shown around the BC campus last spring by a math major (just finishing his junior year) who was very happy there. He really liked most of his math professors and said they were very accessible to students.</p>
<p>I'll be honest here, BC IS NOT A MATH POWERHOUSE, we are not even in the top 100 in term of Math research. We don't even grant PhD in math, only Master. Saying that however, the Math department is wonderful in term of teaching. A friend of mine decided to do math at BC rather than at CMU because the professors he met at BC were down to earth and not abstract introvert, they can teach, and he wouldn't be locking himself in a room 24/7 doing math and contemplating suicide. If Math is the ultimate and only goal of your undergraduate education, I advise you look elsewhere, if you want a solid math program that will give you all you want to learn and yet offers you a sense of sanity after four-year and a healthy social life, then apply to BC.</p>
<p>Regardless of the university, undergraduate mathematics curriculums are largely identical. Standard course work include three semesters of Calculus, one semester of Linear Algebra, at least one semester of Abstract Algebra (ring, group theory), one semester in Differential Equations, and at least one semester of Real Analysis or Advanced Calculus. At a minimum, those seven courses form the core of ten or so courses needed at most schools. If you take two semesters in Algebra or Real Analaysis (advised), you have eight or nine courses to start.</p>
<p>Most schools will then offer electives such as Euclidean Geometry, Non-Euclidean Geometry, Topology, Probability, Statistics, Graph Theory, Logic, Numerical Analysis, or a host of other topics.</p>
<p>As a non-BC math major, I can tell you that the curriculum is fairly standard until you begin your Master's Degree work. So, if you are comfortable with the BC Mathematics Department and the entire BC education process, you should feel good about pursuing your undergraduate degree at BC.</p>
<p>Is it easier to get into Boston College as an undergrad in mathematics than as an undergrad in other fields? (they do ask for the major on their application, right?) The main reason I want to apply to Boston College is that it is need-blind for citizens (since financial aid is the chief factor). Secondly, the acceptance rate at BC seems to be more than that at other need-blind colleges like the ivies, MIT, Caltech, etc.</p>
<p>My SAT scores are decent (2250 with math 800, reading 760) and I have mostly A's on the 11th grade transcripts, but the 10th grade scores are quite low (I am a US citizen living in India and my high school does not have the GPA system). The recommendations will be good. I don't know whether BC cares for other stuff, but I do have a few ECs like the indian equivalent of the USAMO, selection for a couple of national graduate math seminars, etc). Could I get in?</p>