So many math majors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a math major here. He just loves math, and always has. I don’t think math is a super competitive major at his school— he’s had no trouble getting the math classes he wants, and they tend to be small classes. He’s really enjoying it. It makes me happy to hear more kids are majoring in math. I hope some of them go into teaching — we desperately need more good math teachers in this country!

Agree! I posted above about having an aspiring math major who really likes math but doesn’t have a particular career path in mind, and I suggested to him that he consider teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

When they’ve already accepted more than their quota of math students from both the United States and overseas (China/India/ME) early, how many more math majors do you really think they are going to look at seriously in RD ?

Won’t they be intrigued by what they have not seen? The majors with 6 kids in the graduating class?

Have you talked to an admissions officer off the record?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a math major here. He just loves math, and always has. I don’t think math is a super competitive major at his school— he’s had no trouble getting the math classes he wants, and they tend to be small classes. He’s really enjoying it. It makes me happy to hear more kids are majoring in math. I hope some of them go into teaching — we desperately need more good math teachers in this country!

Yes. Unfortunately, many of these kids are money hungry, so they won’t become math teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ai can't math.

lmao.....what!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

You might want to read this:

From YCBK about Duke and institutional priorities in admissions (recorded in Jan I think:

“But even so, there's some things I couldn't share, because if Duke indicates that, you know, we have this under-subscribed major and we might have to lay some faculty off because we're only getting four to six kids in this class, unless we get more interest here, then they're going to have people lining up to pretend they're interested in that major.

Right, yeah, of course, of course, yeah.

So there's some things you really can't do, because people will just try to game the system.

Yeah.

Or if it's a school that's trying to get more full-pay, not that Duke could have this problem, but trying to get more full-pay families or more people that have donor potential. How does that sound to say that in front of a group of people that need financial aid? Like they'll get out and walk out on you.”

From Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews: Is It Ever A Bad Idea To Submit A Test Score That Is Too High, Feb 26, 2025

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

When they’ve already accepted more than their quota of math students from both the United States and overseas (China/India/ME) early, how many more math majors do you really think they are going to look at seriously in RD ?

Won’t they be intrigued by what they have not seen? The majors with 6 kids in the graduating class?

Have you talked to an admissions officer off the record?

One more time: these schools don’t admit by major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

When they’ve already accepted more than their quota of math students from both the United States and overseas (China/India/ME) early, how many more math majors do you really think they are going to look at seriously in RD ?

Won’t they be intrigued by what they have not seen? The majors with 6 kids in the graduating class?

Have you talked to an admissions officer off the record?

One more time: these schools don’t admit by major.

They don’t admit by major. They consider your major during admission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ai can't math.

lmao.....what!

It’s true at the super high levels. Math research takes too much creativity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ai can't math.

lmao.....what!

It’s true at the super high levels. Math research takes too much creativity.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a math major here. He just loves math, and always has. I don’t think math is a super competitive major at his school— he’s had no trouble getting the math classes he wants, and they tend to be small classes. He’s really enjoying it. It makes me happy to hear more kids are majoring in math. I hope some of them go into teaching — we desperately need more good math teachers in this country!

But it doesn’t work both ways. The person who finds their people in a math department isn’t going to go back and enlighten the haters. I hope your kid doesn’t make that mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

You might want to read this:

From YCBK about Duke and institutional priorities in admissions (recorded in Jan I think:

“But even so, there's some things I couldn't share, because if Duke indicates that, you know, we have this under-subscribed major and we might have to lay some faculty off because we're only getting four to six kids in this class, unless we get more interest here, then they're going to have people lining up to pretend they're interested in that major.

Right, yeah, of course, of course, yeah.

So there's some things you really can't do, because people will just try to game the system.

Yeah.

Or if it's a school that's trying to get more full-pay, not that Duke could have this problem, but trying to get more full-pay families or more people that have donor potential. How does that sound to say that in front of a group of people that need financial aid? Like they'll get out and walk out on you.”

From Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews: Is It Ever A Bad Idea To Submit A Test Score That Is Too High, Feb 26, 2025

Why can't the be open about the poor performing majors? It's not as if the people who pretend to have interest in the major will be at an advantage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elite schools have open majors so you don't need to apply to a specific school or major in the first place.

lol.
So cute that you think that’s how this works.

All of the cynicism in the world doesn’t change the fact that most highly selective schools do not admit by major.

You might want to read this:

From YCBK about Duke and institutional priorities in admissions (recorded in Jan I think:

“But even so, there's some things I couldn't share, because if Duke indicates that, you know, we have this under-subscribed major and we might have to lay some faculty off because we're only getting four to six kids in this class, unless we get more interest here, then they're going to have people lining up to pretend they're interested in that major.

Right, yeah, of course, of course, yeah.

So there's some things you really can't do, because people will just try to game the system.

Yeah.

Or if it's a school that's trying to get more full-pay, not that Duke could have this problem, but trying to get more full-pay families or more people that have donor potential. How does that sound to say that in front of a group of people that need financial aid? Like they'll get out and walk out on you.”

From Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews: Is It Ever A Bad Idea To Submit A Test Score That Is Too High, Feb 26, 2025

Why can't the be open about the poor performing majors? It's not as if the people who pretend to have interest in the major will be at an advantage.

Of course not! lol
We know how universities work! And their budgets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a new thing? The kid from New Jersey who thought he was screwed, endless questions here for next cycle or disappointed parents from this cycle whose math kids have to go to Europe.

What is going on with math… When did it become the hottest major?

It's a way to get into tech/FAANG without the competitiveness of CS. It may be competitive, but not as competitive as CS. Students use it as a proxy.

Or, some of our kids excel at and LOVE math. Mine hates CS. Not seeking a back door to tech/FAANG, so no worries for your kiddo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mom of a math major here. He just loves math, and always has. I don’t think math is a super competitive major at his school— he’s had no trouble getting the math classes he wants, and they tend to be small classes. He’s really enjoying it. It makes me happy to hear more kids are majoring in math. I hope some of them go into teaching — we desperately need more good math teachers in this country!

Yes. Unfortunately, many of these kids are money hungry, so they won’t become math teachers.

You may speak for your family only.

Some math students don't want to or like teaching. My student has and will have enough money for life. He can be whatever he wants.