<p>I dont understand how a college can be "better" for math than another. I mean, most likely they'll both offer the same classes and its not like something like Philosophy where it involves a lot of discussing and such</p>
<p>Please explain.</p>
<p>I agree with you for the most part, but there are a few distinguishing factors:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Unusual courses offered, like Harvard's Math 55 (it's said to be the hardest undergraduate math course in the country)</p></li>
<li><p>The breadth and depth of courses offered: are there a lot of electives in different areas of pure and applied mathematics (or the area of your interest) offered every semester? Does the department have a graduate program, and may undergraduate students enroll in graduate courses?</p></li>
<li><p>The rigor of the courses offered. (Trust me, there are huge differences.)</p></li>
<li><p>The student/faculty ratio in higher-level courses</p></li>
<li><p>Funding available for student research etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Maybe most importantly: the reputation of your professors. Whom your recommendations are from matters a great deal for grad school admissions.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Princeton Math > Harvard
MIT Math > Princeton Math</p>
<p>Math is based on the classes they offer.
For example topology is better at MIT then State University.</p>
<p>Applied Mathematics is also very important and isn't strong everywhere.</p>
<p>To Nightmare: I just dont understand how topology at MIT can be "better" than State U's. I mean, the professors can be better sure. But topology is still topology</p>
<p>Math is one of those highly established subjects in society. Undergraduate math differs from school to school only negligibly since you don't go that indepth in the subject.</p>
<p>It only matters at the graduate level.</p>
<p>topology is still topology but that doesnt mean that everyone is taught the exact same thing. So I would venture to guess that Math classes at MIT are probably more rigorous and intensive then in BobU. They probably focus more on the theory and the amount you are expected to learn probably varies quite widely.</p>
<p>Topology is still topology, but the level of the students (and ability of the teacher) can limit how quickly you can get through concepts, and ultimately how much material you'll cover. Also, topology might be a senior level class at some schools, whereas sufficiently advanced students at better schools may learn that material their first year. As was mentioned, schools like Harvard, Chicago, and Michigan have theoretical introductory math sequences for freshmen/sophomores that cover material most people don't get to until junior or senior year.</p>
<p>"Math is one of those highly established subjects in society. Undergraduate math differs from school to school only negligibly since you don't go that indepth in the subject.</p>
<p>It only matters at the graduate level."</p>
<p>If you go to one of the good schools and know what you're doing, you can easily start doing graduate level work while you're an undergraduate.</p>
<p>Math is ranked by the amount of "upper" classes available. MIT will have more classes and more theory then BobU</p>
<p>As nightmare said, Some colleges don't involve applied mathematics as much as they should</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you go to one of the good schools and know what you're doing, you can easily start doing graduate level work while you're an undergraduate.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is a very important point.</p>
<p>Actually Princeton's Math Department is second to none.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you go to one of the good schools and know what you're doing, you can easily start doing graduate level work while you're an undergraduate
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thats is on an individual by individual basis. You can argue that stronger programs attract stronger minds that dives into deeper subjects but that doesn't describe how a department is better than one another department now does it. Individuals choose whether or not to take high level courses. Certain departments may have major requirments such as requiring you to take one or more higher level graduate level course. That still doesn't describe how a program or department may or may not be better than another. :)</p>
<p>Btw, I've taken Calc at Harvard and also Multivariable Calc and Linear Algebra at Harvard ext......we use the same textbooks at Hopkins, there isn't really a big difference for math at the undergraduate level. Its all the same.</p>
<p>
[quote]
there isn't really a big difference for math at the undergraduate level. Its all the same.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Some undergraduate institutions have special "honors" versions of math courses that are often much more rigorous than the standard versions. The idea that an honors version of a class at a top university will be just the same as the regular class at another "lesser"-ranked institution is silly.</p>
<p>"Btw, I've taken Calc at Harvard and also Multivariable Calc and Linear Algebra at Harvard"</p>
<p>But you didn't take 55, which is what people who are serious about going into math would take, and no other school in the country has an introductory sequence as rigorous or as advanced as it.</p>
<p>There are many who feel that Chicago's Honors Analysis is just as tough (and some argue tougher) than Math 55...</p>
<p>
[quote]
But you didn't take 55, which is what people who are serious about going into math would take, and no other school in the country has an introductory sequence as rigorous or as advanced as it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Neither have you, you don't see me complaining do you. lol. I'm going to disqualify you based on your lack of experience as well. Believe me, The only difference betwee Harvard math and Hopkins math, especially in the Linear Algbebra coures I've taken is that the author of the textbook is the actual professor teaching it at Harvard. lol Mr. Otto Brescher, look him up, he is the author of my black linear algebra textbook. I even got him to autograph my book too. lol</p>
<p>You expect me to take Math 55 when I'm a highschooler? Get out of here...</p>
<p>I'd have to see some of the homeworks from Chicago's real analysis sequence to compare. The difficulty of Michigan's sequence is fairly dependent on who's teaching it. The pace doesn't really pick up until second semester (first semester is more to acclimate people who haven't done "pure" math before and eliminate the under qualified/uninterested), and even with the good teachers I'm not sure the last 3 semesters ever get as bad as H55 appears from the homework.</p>
<p>That's not the kind of linear algebra that a person who wanted to go into math would learn, that's the kind of linear algebra somebody doing economics/engineering/business would take. If you're at Chicago/Harvard/Michigan and take their advanced introductory sequences, you'd never touch the material in that book. If you went to a place like John Hopkins (no clue what their curriculum actually is, just using it since you mentioned it), you might be forced to muck through some worthless classes like that before you get to get to take "real" math courses. That's just one way the quality of a math department can make a big difference. But don't worry, I'll just chalk that up to your apparent lack of experience.</p>