DD interested in math and mid to large university - what schools to look at?

[Anonymous]

Subject line basically says it all. DD is interested in majoring in math, and she is interested in a mid to large sized university that isn't in the south (but also isn't freezing). I'm at a bit of a loss on where to start, since right now, the only school on her list is UMd (which is in-state for us). I think she'd prefer somewhere in the Northeast corridor but no further north than Boston, or somewhere on the west coast. She isn't interested in anywhere further south than Virginia. She's a sophomore this year, so this is less about what her stats are right now (roughly straight A's freshman year, or maybe a B in there?), and more just about some places for her to start poking around online.

[Anonymous]

Ohio State?

[Anonymous]

unless your DD is autodidactic or hyper good at mathematics, I would highly recommend that she does not major at math at a mid-large sized school.

I went to a school exactly like your daughter's dream while my siblings went to top 10 LAC's.

We were all stem majors and my siblings had a MUCH better academic experience.

majority at math at haverford is an immensely more rewarding academic experience than UVA.

i can say this as an asian minority - mid/large sized schools have way too many stem TA's and prof's that are terrible communicators and teachers. Top 10 LAC's do not suffer from this.

[Anonymous]

PP here - your typical american HS (even if you take AP) does not prepare you well for majoring in math in a semi-rigorous/rigorous program. It's a lot of work and a lot of suffering.

It's a lot easier when you have faculty that is focused on teaching and in a small, focused, community oriented environment.

[Anonymous]

Math major here. Went to a top LAC, and had a great experience, although I wish they had a more robust CS department at the time (they have built it up considerable since I left).

Bigger schools I considered before settling on a small LAC were Stanford and MIT. Stanford has some very cool interdisciplinary math programs (symbolic systems, etc.). If your DD is interested in AI, then Carnegie Melon and Pitt should be on the list. I am not familiar with their program, but I would think VA Tech would be worth a look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here - your typical american HS (even if you take AP) does not prepare you well for majoring in math in a semi-rigorous/rigorous program. It's a lot of work and a lot of suffering.

It's a lot easier when you have faculty that is focused on teaching and in a small, focused, community oriented environment.

I don’t think any school has an “easy” math major.

[Anonymous]

NYU Courant institute
Ranked high but prob easier to get into than Ivys or MIT.
Also, your student would be applying to college of arts and sciences, so could also get dual degree or minor in data science, Econ, physics, CS, or business.

[Anonymous]

Really not sure why you would consider schools other than UMCP for Math unless you are worried it’s a reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Really not sure why you would consider schools other than UMCP for Math unless you are worried it’s a reach.

You clearly didn’t read OP’s post. Way better attention and teaching to undergrads in small LACs.

[Anonymous]

Harvey Mudd [Just kidding - too small]

Not sure if SUNY Stony Brook will have too many teaching assistants - but another place to consider.

[Anonymous]

UMDCP

Teachers and TAs have been good so far for my kid there. It’s such a good program and professors are well connected.

[Anonymous]

What field of work is she interested in? Just curious

[Anonymous]

UT Austin

[Anonymous]

NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences isn't an undergraduate school. It's a graduate institute. An undergraduate would not be spending much time in Warren Weaver Hall, the home of CIMS.

Courant faculty teach both graduate and undergraduate courses. I went to graduate school there: the teaching was not great. It may have improved over the last few decades; you'd have to check that out.

I went to a large not very well ranked public university for my undergraduate degree. I had some good, some bad, and some mediocre math teachers. (Overall the quality was much better than what I encountered at Courant.) What I really missed out on was a group of like-minded students to study with. I think I would have been better off with a SLAC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvey Mudd [Just kidding - too small]

Not sure if SUNY Stony Brook will have too many teaching assistants - but another place to consider.

mudd is an excellent suggestion.