<p>Any of you who have researched this: recommendations for excellent pure math programs?</p>
<p>Princeton, Harvard, Chicago. Maybe MIT, but I have oppositions to its undergraduate program.</p>
<p>can you elaborate on those oppositions to MIT? They were one he was considering applying to, but maybe he should consider it for graduate school instead</p>
<p>I doubt my son would have the SAT writing scores to get in there from HS anyway. Very high 700s math, (he is redoing them determined to get a perfect score mid 600s critical reading, but abyssmal essay scores (high 400s)
His subject test scores in physics and math were very high as well, but from what I can see, most of these high powered engineering and tech schools are almost as discerning as the Ivies</p>
<p>I was hoping there might be some other colleges out there with good pure math programs that he might be able to get accepted to with his less than stellar writing record</p>
<p>From what i've heard, MIT is the kind of school that you have a good chance at with a really unbalanced SAT score like you describe, as long is it is unbalanced in the direction of math/science</p>
<p>MIT is rreeeaaallly hard to enter trust me... I have saw people rejected with IMO medals. But it have really good program for undergrad pure math... at least is the one that focus more on pure math among other schools: it offers 5 options for math majors: one generic, one applied and 3 pure(with concentrations on algebra, analisis or topology/geometry) other colleges normally have more options for applied math like concentrations on physics economics, CS or operation research and only one generic math for pure math</p>
<p>what can u major in if u like math alot?</p>
<p>i dont want to become a math teacher but besides that?</p>
<p>check out mathematical decision sciences....UNC offers it and other schools but my d who is pretty much a mathematical person loves it.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, MIT (and many other schools), don't look at the writing score on the SAT. </p>
<p>One nice thing about MIT is that they have some really good non-engineering/science departments and math majors can have a lot of room for electives, so it's easy to do a minor in another area of interest. I did almost a full major in music there many years ago and also had really excellent poly sci courses, for example.</p>
<p>Well, there's always majoring in math ;-)
Many schools have options for specialization within the math major, such as applied math, statistics, computational math. I recommend visiting the math department websites and seeing which courses appeal to you. Also, many math dept. websites have links to sites that tell you what you can do with a math major. For example, I wasn't a math major, but ended up with a masters degree in statistics and have had a very rewarding career in medical research.</p>
<p>Williams College is know for its excellent math department - surprisingly large and broad for a small liberal arts school. Brandeis has a very good math department. You don't need to go to an Ivy/MIT to get a good math education. I'd look for a department that has courses in a wide range of areas, offers graduate degrees (for depth and breadth of offerings), and that offers students a chance to participate in research.</p>
<p>Thanks MGW, good suggestion
Son just got SATs back and got an 800 in math. He is pleased. Only a 650 in CR though, so some of the more Liberal Arts oriented schools may not be impressed.</p>
<p>I was thinking of state universities, also. Some of them have very good math departments (and the price is right).</p>
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Brandeis has a very good math department.
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<p>I agree. If there were a count of affiliations of famous mathematicians to universities, Brandeis would probably take the #1 spot. </p>
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I was thinking of state universities, also. Some of them have very good math departments (and the price is right).
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<p>University of Michigan has an outstanding undergraduate mathematics department. Not all major research institutions have great math programs; I won't name any, but I've seen some terrible math programs at large publics.</p>
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can you elaborate on those oppositions to MIT? They were one he was considering applying to, but maybe he should consider it for graduate school instead
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<p>Sorry for the belated response. I don't like MIT's undergraduate math program because it seems like it has none. I know way too many freshmen at MIT taking graduate courses because the undergraduate program doesn't offer enough. Some people, like myself, would prefer this. However, I think the majority of prospective students desire a program that is more focused on undergraduates.</p>