<p>OK Confused, now we can make more meaningful comments.</p>
<p>In Number Theory Princeton is ranked number two and MIT is ranked number five. Probably not a meaningful difference. See: [Best</a> Algebra, Number Theory, and Algebraic Geometry Programs | Top Math Programs | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/number-theory-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/number-theory-rankings).</p>
<p>If you enjoy research you will really like Princeton. In order to graduate you are required to conduct research both your junior year and your senior year. During your junior year you will write a JP (junior paper) and during your senior year you will write a thesis. The requirements for independent work are found here on page three: <a href=“http://www.math.princeton.edu/undergraduate/MathMajorsInfo2010-2011.pdf[/url]”>http://www.math.princeton.edu/undergraduate/MathMajorsInfo2010-2011.pdf</a> </p>
<p>At the end of the above paper a quiet mention is made of afternoon tea. Every afternoon tea is served in its large and luxurious common room of Fine Hall, which fills up with mathematicians, mathematical physicists, engineers, visitors from Forrestal and the Institute for Advanced Study, research scientists from industrial laboratories, and others mathematically inclined. Students and teachers alike relax with cup and saucer. Professor emeritus Harold Kuhn *50 said, If you sat long enough in the Fine Hall (the math building) common room you eventually would have tea with 98 percent of the world’s great mathematicians.</p>
<p>Elon Lindenstrauss, winner of the 2010 Field Prize said, I have spent many years in Princeton at various stages of my career, and think that the combination of the Department of Mathematics at Princeton University and the School of Mathematics at the IAS (Institute for Advanced Study) in close proximity makes it a wonderful place to do mathematics – possibly the best place there is." </p>
<p>One method to expand your math interests into related areas is through certificate programs. Certificate programs are somewhat similar to minor at other universities. However, all certificate program are interdepartmental studies. Some popular certificate programs for math majors include Applied and Computational Math, See: [The</a> Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics](<a href=“http://www.pacm.princeton.edu/index.shtml]The”>http://www.pacm.princeton.edu/index.shtml) and Applications of Computing. See: [Undergraduate</a> Certificate :: Princeton Computer Science](<a href=“http://www.cs.princeton.edu/academics/ugradpgm/pac.php]Undergraduate”>Welcome and Overview | Computer Science Department at Princeton University) . A full list of certificate programs is found here: [Princeton</a> University - Certificate Programs](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/main/academics/departments/certificate/]Princeton”>Areas of Study | Princeton University) .If you are interested in obtaining a job in mathematics after graduation the Operations Research & Financial Engineering Department is excellent in applied math. See: [Operations</a> Research and Financial Engineering | Engineering for Business, Commerce and Industry](<a href=“http://www.orfe.princeton.edu/]Operations”>http://www.orfe.princeton.edu/) The physics and astrophysics departments are excellent.</p>
<p>There are many opportunities to do volunteer work at Princeton. See: [Princeton</a> University | Student Volunteers Council | Welcome](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/svc/]Princeton”>http://www.princeton.edu/svc/) Prior to freshman week admitted students can work as a group on a community service project. The purpose is to enable freshman to meet other freshman, make friends before classes start, and to help the community. This would be an excellent way to meet other students that want to do volunteer work. See: [Princeton</a> University - Community Action expands to support arts, environment](<a href=“http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S22/05/62A58/]Princeton”>Community Action expands to support arts, environment)</p>