Best Small Colleges for Math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son also loves math and plans to major in Applied Math. He put Tufts, CWRU on his list. Also University of Rochester and Emory. Not sure how big they are. He did a lot of research and evaluation on the applied math programs at each.

All good schools, and CWRU and Rochester are both particularly good for math, but they're not small. Even Tufts has 13,000 students, which is bigger than three of the Ivies.

[Anonymous]

If you're looking for target/likelies, mine is a math major (wanted math and performing arts). She had (in addition to Wes and Williams) Vassar as a Target and Muhlenberg (more for the arts but checked out math department as well) and UMDCP as likely.

York College might make a good likely. It has an engineering program as well if she wants to dabble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son also loves math and plans to major in Applied Math. He put Tufts, CWRU on his list. Also University of Rochester and Emory. Not sure how big they are. He did a lot of research and evaluation on the applied math programs at each.

All good schools, and CWRU and Rochester are both particularly good for math, but they're not small. Even Tufts has 13,000 students, which is bigger than three of the Ivies.

My kid is at Tufts which has 6500 undergrads. The grad schools are very separate feel, many of them not even located on main campus. My kid is only a soph but is interested in possible applied math major, and loves Tufts (he also seriously considered Carleton and Wesleyan).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also thought MV calculus was the most fun thing ever and would encourage her to consider Mechanical Engineering as a major. If not Mech E, there are a lot of other applied math majors like data analytics or majors that require math-like analytical skills, like CS.

Math majors end up focusing on theory more than fun math like calculus and many math majors become disillusioned. It's just not the same.

This is really helpful, thanks! We’re both foreign policy parents flying blind.

I’m flip of you - spouse and I are quant focused but our son loves international politics/affairs! Maybe you are one of the helpful parents who responded on my recent thread looking for info for intended foreign affairs majors 😂. On a school break we should each take the other’s kid out for coffee

I was also going to suggest she try some engineering courses if she loves mv. That will be harder at smaller colleges, of course, since they usually don’t have engineering schools. For pure math, Carleton is tops among slac’s. Williams and Wesleyan would be great, too. Bowdoin isn’t as known for math but it is an excellent college so no doubt she’d have a great experience. Wesleyan is an easier admit than Carleton, Williams and probably Bowdoin. Wellesley has an excellent math dept and is a wonderful school for stem oriented women. For an easier admit, St Olaf has an excellent math dept.

She also might want to explore Tufts - it is larger than these slac’s but has a slac “feel” and has a strong and upcoming engineering school they are trying to grow, and my understanding is that there is more flexibility between engineering and A&S majors and classes than in a larger engineering program (eg, often students double major in an engineering discipline and an A&S discipline), so possibly there is the ability for her to explore some engineering classes even if she doesn’t want to enroll in the school of engineering.

This is great info, thanks!

[Anonymous]

Davidson has a wonderful math department. DC also liked Haverford's math curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also thought MV calculus was the most fun thing ever and would encourage her to consider Mechanical Engineering as a major. If not Mech E, there are a lot of other applied math majors like data analytics or majors that require math-like analytical skills, like CS.

Math majors end up focusing on theory more than fun math like calculus and many math majors become disillusioned. It's just not the same.

Calculus isn't the same as "fun math". Fun is personal preference.

Pure math is harder than applied math. High school and calculus is applied math.

Engineering majors get disillusioned too. It's hard in a different way.

OP said that her daughter considers MV calculus fun. I was using her definition. If that's what her daughter loves, she'd likely enjoy engineering more than a pure math major.

[Anonymous]

This is a great thread, excellent info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also thought MV calculus was the most fun thing ever and would encourage her to consider Mechanical Engineering as a major. If not Mech E, there are a lot of other applied math majors like data analytics or majors that require math-like analytical skills, like CS.

Math majors end up focusing on theory more than fun math like calculus and many math majors become disillusioned. It's just not the same.

This is really helpful, thanks! We’re both foreign policy parents flying blind.

I’m flip of you - spouse and I are quant focused but our son loves international politics/affairs! Maybe you are one of the helpful parents who responded on my recent thread looking for info for intended foreign affairs majors 😂. On a school break we should each take the other’s kid out for coffee

I was also going to suggest she try some engineering courses if she loves mv. That will be harder at smaller colleges, of course, since they usually don’t have engineering schools. For pure math, Carleton is tops among slac’s. Williams and Wesleyan would be great, too. Bowdoin isn’t as known for math but it is an excellent college so no doubt she’d have a great experience. Wesleyan is an easier admit than Carleton, Williams and probably Bowdoin. Wellesley has an excellent math dept and is a wonderful school for stem oriented women. For an easier admit, St Olaf has an excellent math dept.

She also might want to explore Tufts - it is larger than these slac’s but has a slac “feel” and has a strong and upcoming engineering school they are trying to grow, and my understanding is that there is more flexibility between engineering and A&S majors and classes than in a larger engineering program (eg, often students double major in an engineering discipline and an A&S discipline), so possibly there is the ability for her to explore some engineering classes even if she doesn’t want to enroll in the school of engineering.

This is not true; Carleton is an easier admit.

For class of 2022, Wesleyan was 14.5%, Carleton was 16%; Wesleyan had a higher ED admit rate (40% vs 22%). For class of 2023, Carleton was at 22%, and Wesleyan was at 16.5%.

Selectivity is about more than admit rates. In terms of test scores at least, it appears Carleton students are more self-selecting.

Wesleyan:
SAT 1310-1505
ACT 30.5-34

Carleton:
SAT 1430-1540
ACT 32-35

[Anonymous]

Tufts definitely.
-married to a Tufts Math alum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also thought MV calculus was the most fun thing ever and would encourage her to consider Mechanical Engineering as a major. If not Mech E, there are a lot of other applied math majors like data analytics or majors that require math-like analytical skills, like CS.

Math majors end up focusing on theory more than fun math like calculus and many math majors become disillusioned. It's just not the same.

This is really helpful, thanks! We’re both foreign policy parents flying blind.

I’m flip of you - spouse and I are quant focused but our son loves international politics/affairs! Maybe you are one of the helpful parents who responded on my recent thread looking for info for intended foreign affairs majors 😂. On a school break we should each take the other’s kid out for coffee

I was also going to suggest she try some engineering courses if she loves mv. That will be harder at smaller colleges, of course, since they usually don’t have engineering schools. For pure math, Carleton is tops among slac’s. Williams and Wesleyan would be great, too. Bowdoin isn’t as known for math but it is an excellent college so no doubt she’d have a great experience. Wesleyan is an easier admit than Carleton, Williams and probably Bowdoin. Wellesley has an excellent math dept and is a wonderful school for stem oriented women. For an easier admit, St Olaf has an excellent math dept.

She also might want to explore Tufts - it is larger than these slac’s but has a slac “feel” and has a strong and upcoming engineering school they are trying to grow, and my understanding is that there is more flexibility between engineering and A&S majors and classes than in a larger engineering program (eg, often students double major in an engineering discipline and an A&S discipline), so possibly there is the ability for her to explore some engineering classes even if she doesn’t want to enroll in the school of engineering.

This is not true; Carleton is an easier admit.

For class of 2022, Wesleyan was 14.5%, Carleton was 16%; Wesleyan had a higher ED admit rate (40% vs 22%). For class of 2023, Carleton was at 22%, and Wesleyan was at 16.5%.

Selectivity is about more than admit rates. In terms of test scores at least, it appears Carleton students are more self-selecting.

Wesleyan:
SAT 1310-1505
ACT 30.5-34

Carleton:
SAT 1430-1540
ACT 32-35

Carleton is tougher to get into. And it is a wonder that PP offering the “stats” seems oblivious to the fact that the overall rate for Wes is lower only because it’s ED rate is so high — the two are not independent.

[Anonymous]

Swarthmore
Williams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Swarthmore
Williams

This is dumb.. OP said their concern was that Bowdoin and Wesleyan might be too selective, so you suggest Swarthmore and Williams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also thought MV calculus was the most fun thing ever and would encourage her to consider Mechanical Engineering as a major. If not Mech E, there are a lot of other applied math majors like data analytics or majors that require math-like analytical skills, like CS.

Math majors end up focusing on theory more than fun math like calculus and many math majors become disillusioned. It's just not the same.

Agree with this 100% - mathematical theory is very different than applied math - it is highly abstract. My guess is that she hasn't been exposed to theoretical math this way (although there are a few local DMV privates that do this). In addition to engineering, another option is economics (eventual PhD) - where she'd need to take Linear Algebra, Differential equations, Real Analysis, Stats, Econometrics to be prepared to start at a strong graduate program. Students get full ride and sometimes paid RA/TA jobs to get an Econ Phd (the strong ones who are meant to be there do, anyway).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Smith is a great place for math.

Our niece just graduated from there and had two offers for phd programs from Ivy League schools.

Smith grad here. Math major and PhD from top three university in my field. The math classes at Amherst were more difficult, though Smith faculty were much more supportive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also thought MV calculus was the most fun thing ever and would encourage her to consider Mechanical Engineering as a major. If not Mech E, there are a lot of other applied math majors like data analytics or majors that require math-like analytical skills, like CS.

Math majors end up focusing on theory more than fun math like calculus and many math majors become disillusioned. It's just not the same.

We have tons of statistics and math majors doing data science and machine learning. It’s a fantastic field for people who love math and are interested in the world. The techniques can be used for many different domains; you’re always dipping your toes into new areas. Good luck!