Uchicago math (vs columbia)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I need some help deciding where to go to study math (posted similar thread on columbia board). I know that uchicago has an awesome program, but columbia is also very good. If i go to uchicago i will probably start in the honors analysis course, which i hear great things about.</p>

<p>I know the responses will be somewhat biased since this is the uchicago thread, but can you guys give me some truthful comparisons of what you think math at uchicago (in the honors classes) would be like compared to columbia (where i'd start in high level courses)?</p>

2

<p>I have friends who are math majors, and they absolutely love it. Some of these people were accepted to Harvard, MIT, and other excellent schools. The classes are dynamic, interactive, challenging, theoretical, and demanding. There are a number of females in high level math classes, which I heard is rare at other schools. The students in these math classes I know really love and respect their professors, and I think that the respect is mutual. Many of these students have jobs within the math department. The professors are supportive but have extremely high expectations in the higher level classes. I have never heard someone in one of these classes complain about any aspect of the course, professor, or department (besides while trying to finish a problem set!).</p>

3

<p>Well, of course, I've only been to one place, but I will offer my truthful opinion of things here:</p>

<p>The UofC is certainly probably one of the best places to study math. Even for the non-mathematically inclined, even the 130s math sequence gives students significant exposure to proofs and detailed analysis of E-d proofs (they claim that we're the only school to require all its calculus sequences to do it). But, since you are confident that you'll place into Honors Analysis, then we're talking about a whoooolllleee 'nother ball game.</p>

<p>Honors Analysis is taught by Paul Sally Jr., director of undergraduate studies in math at the university. Professor Sally is kind of a big deal in mathematics education, especially because of his effort in editing the Chicago Math Series, a set of math textbooks that are used in classes K-12. Sally has been teaching at the UofC for over 40 years, and in 2001 won the MAA award for excellence in teaching. Despite all of that, what makes Paul Sally Paul Sally is his demeanor in the classroom. I have never seen someone so excited about anything in my entire life. He absolutely loves teaching and loves his students. Now, hard to do that since he teaches Honors Analysis, the cream of the crop of Chicago mathematicians. However, this year he started to teach Intro to Analysis 199, a transition class for kids who took the lower two calculus sequence. I am in it, and his devotion to us is amazing. He'll have extra study sessions on Thursday nights, leave his office right open for us, really amazing person... and he's a really fun guy. So, my point is that if you are this certain of being placed into Honors Analysis, if you happen to visit before you decide, try to get in touch with Paul Sally. He loves prospective students and will answer any questions you have.</p>

<p>Generally speaking, I know of a few interesting programs that the school has for its math students - and not just concentrators. One such program is the DRP, or directed reading program. Open to students in all years, this program matches undergraduates with PhD candidate mentors. When you start the program, you decide on a given topic in math that you want to explore semi-independently, and then the department matches you with a graduate student who is either working in or close to the area of study you want to pursue. The program last one full quarter and at the end of it you are asked to give a presentation on what you've learned/done over the quarter. </p>

<p>There are also several summer opportunities if you want to do further research in math:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.math.uchicago.edu/%7Emay/VIGRE/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.math.uchicago.edu/~may/VIGRE/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Also, if you have any questions, I'd suggest contacting Diane Herrmann. She's Sally's partner in crime, and would surely answer any questions you have a whole lot better than anyone around here.</p>

<p>P.S.: We did better than Columbia in Putnam this year LOL.</p>

4

<p>thanks for the info so far... this is strangely making my decision even harder, because at first i thought i'd definitely go to columbia, but the more that i hear about uchicago, the more i like it.</p>

<p>A question that probably deserves a different thread: how generous is uchicago fin aid compared to other colleges? i have a very good offer from columbia, so if uchicago's sucks that will probably make my decision, but if it is on par with columbia (or duke which had the second best offer), my decision will still be hard.</p>

5

<p>Haven't you gotten UChicago's offer yet?</p>

6

<p>nope, they're slow pokes... i should be getting it very soon though. But i'm still anxious so i was wondering how generous they are generally.</p>

7

<p>I didn't apply for financial aid, but I have heard some complaints, I have to say. Most are about clear problems with financial aid that the office did not deal with efficiently. I do hope that you get a good package; I have heard good things from other people, as well. Good luck.</p>

8

<p>Unfortunately it seems Chicago can be a bit stingy with their financial aid sometimes...</p>