Math Major

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Which Ivy would be easiest to get in for math?</p>

<p>Definitely no for Princeton, and most likely Harvard, and Yale.</p>

<p>I would like your opinions. I think Columbia might be the easiest because it attracts so many literature and other majors centering around the core curriculum? </p>

<p>By the way, I plan on switching to premed after i get in.</p>

2

<p>It doesn’t work like that.</p>

3

<p>? …10 char</p>

4

<p>Of the Ivies I applied to (though it is different for pre-professional programs at UPenn and Cornell), you just apply to the school. You don’t actually apply as a math major or biology major. So there is no point in applying as a math major unless you have the classes and background to substantiate that claim.</p>

5

<p>you do list a major of interest on the app though. If you pick something really obscure, like Hungarian Folk Hymns or something, it might help. Otherwise, your best call is to make your major mesh well w/ your image and passion.</p>

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<p>i think you might find this relevant: i’m pretty sure the only reason i got into harvard was my huge interest in comp sci (they wrote on the letter that the computer science department would like to have me). so colleges definitely take your considered major into consideration, at least a little.</p>

7

<p>How would u rank the ivies in terms of math departments??? Wut about econ?</p>

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<p>One, I can promise you that isn’t the main reason you got into Harvard. Second, as you said, you have a huge interest in comp sci. The OP doesn’t seem to have a huge interest in Math, if actually doesn’t even want to study it in college. So all I’m saying is that unless the OP has some major background in Math he hasn’t shared, I doubt the committee will be swayed. A good portion of the brightest math majors in the country come here every year, you’re better off picking something like Folklore and Mythology.</p>

9

<p>Ranking I’d say…</p>

<p>Harvard
Princeton</p>

<p>Columbia
Cornell
Yale</p>

<p>Others.</p>

<p>But I could totally be wrong on that. But the first two are definitely tops.</p>

10

<p>So…why would you switch into premed after…??</p>

<p>And I heard Princeton’s math department is legit…</p>

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<p>Would having taken 4 college math classes in high school (up to Diffeq and Real or Complex Analysis) be seen as a major background in math? (along with a finished math research project published in a journal)</p>

11

<p>Sure. What I’m saying is that they didn’t just look at applications, see “math major,” and accept the person because they are in desperate need of math majors. They accept potential math majors because they feel that they are top caliber mathematicians who could do productive work in Harvard’s intense math environment. Plus, unless you’re IMO material, don’t expect to get in with only a strong math background.</p>

12

<p>What about somewhat without all the math competitions and such but top grades on math SAT’s and Calc classes who actually does want to major in math? Do they pick their math majors based solely on who has won the most awards and different competitions?</p>

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<p>Keep in mind that according to Dean Fitzsimmons, Harvard accepts about 300 academic starts per year out of around 2000 (for a class of 1600+). So you don’t need to be a math star and to have won competitions to be admitted. Nor does Harvard pick “math majors.” Students only declare their concentration in their sophomore year. Students are the ones who decide if they want to major in math or not. And definitely, not all math majors took Math 55!</p>

14

<p>Yeah, I came to this thread expecting it to be about the math major, and was surprised to see it’s about someone wanting to get into Harvard. I don’t think there is such a thing as getting in to Harvard’s math major – you get into Harvard. Why you get in may depend on your math interest. </p>

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<p>Let me comment, however. Harvard needs to see you stand out in some way to take you. Since the math resources available to a student in high school may be somewhat limited, your best way to show Harvard your strength in math may have to involve competitions. This is probably why strong math majors end up all over the place, and several Math 55 students at Harvard are the <em>kinds</em> of strong math students who thrashed and destroyed tough math competitions (also why Harvard does so great at the Putnam, for instance).</p>