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Admissions are competetive but not outrageous. I definitely plan on applying myself, but I don’t know if I’ll get in. It is harder for internationals, but since they can charge more slow economic times provide a strong incentive to accept more of us.</p>
<p>The faculty itself excels, especially in discrete fields such as optimization.</p>
<p>Bear in mind that there are both pros and cons to a liberal arts college. Having spoken to several mathematicians about it, there really isn’t a single opinion. If you work well with small classes and lots of discussion, a high-quality LAC such as Carleton or St. Olaf might be the right choice. On the downside, even the best LACs do not offer the same breadth of courses as a good research university. You will also miss out on working with professors on cutting-edge research.</p>