<p>I'm highly interested in math in general, and I'm wondering how strong the math and computer science / engineering disciplines are at Wesleyan. I know about the strong sciences (lots of $, lots of publishing and collaborating, 3-2 program, etc.), but I'm not sure how specific this strength is to math and comp sci. How many courses are available, relative to other LACs? Relative to other universities? How good are the faculty, classes, and students in these areas? How many students at Wesleyan pursue these areas?</p>
<p>Also, if a prospective student is <em>not</em> interested in the film or music scene, how appropriate is the social atmosphere for him or her? Would (s)he feel left out?</p>
<p>Unlike any other top LAC I can think of, Wesleyan offers masters and PhD degrees in mathematics, and a masters degree in computer science. My understanding is that the graduate degree programs offered at Wes are one of the main reasons to choose it over other top LACs. Although Wes offers graduate programs in a number of areas, there are only 200 graduate students (or so) overall, which means that undergrads are needed to assist profs with research. The ability to do meaningful research in math/compsci while an undergrad at Wes would certainly give a boost to one’s grad school application, I would imagine.</p>
<p>My daughter loves numbers and is considering doing a University Degree (self-designed major) at Wesleyan in “applied mathematics,” combining various math and compsci courses, while double-majoring in psych (with an emphasis in research/stats). Another of Wesleyan’s strengths is the open curriculum that allows students to create their own majors and pursue this kind of individualized course of study as an undergrad. This semester, her first at Wes, she’s taking multivariable calculus and is also auditing discrete mathematics (to see how well she likes more advanced proof-based math courses). She really likes both her math profs. It’s a pretty busy schedule, (5 units, plus an audited class), but she’s enjoying it. Next semester, she plans to take discrete math for credit and explore compsci a bit, and then make up her mind about the undergrad major in “applied math.”</p>
<p>Wes also offers a free fifth year of study leading to a masters degree in mathematics and/or compsci, I believe (if you qualify). My understanding is that it’s possible to graduate in three years, and then take this extra tuition-free subsequent year of grad school work at Wes. Doing so, one can actually graduate in four years with both a bachelors and a masters degree in math/compsci from a prestigious university, while most of the rest of your high school class is graduating with a bachelors degree, only.</p>
<p>I would contact the math/compsci departments, make some faculty connections, and ask a ton of questions. You may find that applying to Wesleyan is a wise move. Based on my daughter’s positive experience there, I think it’s well worth consideration, in your case. </p>
<p>Our daughter also got a very good financial aid package, which really helped.</p>
<p>Forgot to comment on the “social scene” at Wes.</p>
<p>I can report that my daughter was a bit “out of her element” in the dorm she was assigned to, the “jock dorm” known as Bennet Hall. As it turns out, there is a prevalent party scene in that dorm starting late in the week, which means she sometimes takes a trip to the library or to the quiet study spaces in the dorm to get her work done. She’s made friends with students in another freshman dorm (Butterfield), and loves her roommate. With 200 clubs, it seems to me it should be possible for her to find sufficient opportunities to socialize. At the moment, she’s doing a lot of studying, and is kind of easing her way into the social scenes at Wes (there a many/varied social scenes, actually … check out a student blog called “Wesleying”) as she gets used to the place. </p>
<p>Our daughter has several good friends already, and overall she really likes it at Wes.</p>
<p>Below are links to Wesleying and info on the free fifth year:</p>
<p><a href=“http://wesleying.org/[/url]”>http://wesleying.org/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/academic_regulations/advanced_degrees.html[/url]”>http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/academic_regulations/advanced_degrees.html</a></p>