Both schools have terrific math departments. The Putnam focus at CMU — just weird? — but presumably not required participation.

Either one will provide terrific preparation for graduate work in math and/or related fields. Your kid should pick on which campus/lifestyle they like better.

Anonymous wrote:Math with a minor in a CS discipline is a killer combo. CMU is probably the best in the country if this is something that your child is interested in.

Nah...I would go Michigan. Same result and more fun.

Math with a minor in a CS discipline is a killer combo. CMU is probably the best in the country if this is something that your child is interested in.

My first thought, as a parent with a kid admitted to and likely to attend Michigan next year for math, is that these schools are so different that you should focus on what your kid wants out of the college experience. I would guess that will make the decision easier.

If that's not sufficient to make the decision, then I'd say that if your kid thinks he might want to double major, especially in a field that doesn't overlap with math, Michigan is not ideal. The LSA requirements mean that to double major pretty much every elective credit has to be in the second major. This is a concern my kid has--wants to double major in a social science--but it does not seem to be enough to overcome all of the things they love about Michigan.

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:DC is in the Engineering school at UMich. Second year. Has not had any problems getting classes he wants. Sign up for the wait list and monitor the classes. They open new sections with there is high demand all the time. No problem getting classes DC wanted. Graduating early.

This. Kids at these schools will always be able to take the classes they want. They may not get it the semester they want it in, but they will get it and all will be fine.

DC is in the Engineering school at UMich. Second year. Has not had any problems getting classes he wants. Sign up for the wait list and monitor the classes. They open new sections with there is high demand all the time. No problem getting classes DC wanted. Graduating early.

FWIW, at CMU, just about every kid (non drama and architecture) will be able to take CS classes. Most CMU kids finish w either double major or double minors. This will help to set them up for better recruiting opportunities.

Not sure how easy it is to branch out at U Mich. I have heard signing up for the classes you want can be competitive. A friend’s son in Enginerring wanted to move ahead and graduate early. But was shut out during freshman and Sophmore years. But he wasn’t able to get into the CS classes either because that was not his major. So it was a bit frustrating.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:St Olaf

That was an unexpected name. I live in Minnesota. How do people in the DMV even know these small schools out here in farmland? Too funny

It is very well known for having a strong math program that feeds into many math phd programs.

Anonymous wrote:financials aside, which school for math? likely pure math focus, and likely go onto Master or PhD.

They're both excellent assuming you take the rigorous track. I would say without some advanced credit, the math 295 sequence at UMich is more rigorous. CMU is very good in combinatorics, though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does this kid have an instate option? I wouldn't spend $85k year for math at either Michigan or CMU.

Why not? I thought math is becoming really popular now, and the math kids could go into quant and make big bucks (either out of undergrad, or MS/PhD)?

Like 1/10,000 math kids or any kid is going to make big bucks in quant. You can't make your life plans around this.

Anonymous wrote:financials aside, which school for math? likely pure math focus, and likely go onto Master or PhD.

Does your kid want to teach Math at some level?