Anonymous
Post 12/12/2025 00:30     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:Carleton is extremely liberal vibe. No thanks.


It really isn’t anymore, or at least not more than most SLACs. It’s quirky and serious though.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2025 00:06     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Very woke like Oberlin.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2025 00:03     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Carleton is extremely liberal vibe. No thanks.
Anonymous
Post 12/12/2025 00:00     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Carleton is super liberal/woke. DC was very unhappy there


I have a kid there now and have to disagree. It does lean blue, but it is not full of activists and my (Democrat but not progressive) student is very comfortable on campus. Activists were actually held to standards and punished when rules were broken. I don't think it's any more liberal than the vast majority of college campuses.


My kid graduated recently and I agree.


Same.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 23:39     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m glad you got all these sincere replies, OP, but I feel like you are perhaps putting the cart before the horse a little. Is your child a sophomore? If they still have two math classes to take after the one they’re in it sounds like they may be. They still have a lot of learning to do and they may not want to study pure math in..3 years time! And it sounds like you are already planning their graduate work too? I would take all these kind replies and file them away and then take a deep breath. I didn’t know whether to giggle or sigh with this one.


OP here: sorry if I wasn't clear, DC is a senior! Already have a list of schools with pure math (he's known he wants to be a mathematician since 6th grade!), but most of them are reaches. So wanted to find a few more schools to round out the list.

Appreciate all the feedback in this thread - super helpful!

Op if he’s a senior he really isn’t very ahead. This is obviously fine, because life isn’t about doing abstract algebra at age 10. These would both be great additions to his list. At a top university, he’ll be with most students since the top are the type who will start graduate coursework their second or third semester.
OP was looking matches/safeties. The never suggested their child was especially ahead compared to other math majors. But their kid's proof experience will be an asset - even among math majors at non-top schools, most don't have proof experience
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 23:07     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Not familiar with the Carleton math program, but two very close family friend kids just graduated from Carleton and moved back to our hometown. They're pretty different kids, but both had great experiences, and we've also gotten to know their significant others who moved to our city too after graduating from Carleton. These kids are all lovely, down-to-earth, and seem to be thriving. One now in med school, one in law school, one humanities grad program, and one in tech startup. They all flat-out rave about their college experience.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 22:05     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Carleton math program has been great for my child. The students are very friendly and chill. I would seriously consider it.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 18:43     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m glad you got all these sincere replies, OP, but I feel like you are perhaps putting the cart before the horse a little. Is your child a sophomore? If they still have two math classes to take after the one they’re in it sounds like they may be. They still have a lot of learning to do and they may not want to study pure math in..3 years time! And it sounds like you are already planning their graduate work too? I would take all these kind replies and file them away and then take a deep breath. I didn’t know whether to giggle or sigh with this one.


OP here: sorry if I wasn't clear, DC is a senior! Already have a list of schools with pure math (he's known he wants to be a mathematician since 6th grade!), but most of them are reaches. So wanted to find a few more schools to round out the list.

Appreciate all the feedback in this thread - super helpful!

Op if he’s a senior he really isn’t very ahead. This is obviously fine, because life isn’t about doing abstract algebra at age 10. These would both be great additions to his list. At a top university, he’ll be with most students since the top are the type who will start graduate coursework their second or third semester.

OP never described him as “really ahead” or advanced. Just stated what math classes he’d taken and found not particularly difficult, which helps provide some context.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 18:31     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Carleton is super liberal/woke. DC was very unhappy there


I have a kid there now and have to disagree. It does lean blue, but it is not full of activists and my (Democrat but not progressive) student is very comfortable on campus. Activists were actually held to standards and punished when rules were broken. I don't think it's any more liberal than the vast majority of college campuses.


My kid graduated recently and I agree.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 18:28     Subject: Re:Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Both are excellent schools. Reed has long been know as an extremely intellectual school but isn't well known on the east coast. It's in a great location. Carlton has always been great but wasn't well known in DC circles until the last 5-10 years. It draws extremely bright kids.
Curious if your kid is in public or private school. The college counselors at the local privates seem more likely to recommend these schools.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 16:28     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:Carleton is super liberal/woke. DC was very unhappy there


I have a kid there now and have to disagree. It does lean blue, but it is not full of activists and my (Democrat but not progressive) student is very comfortable on campus. Activists were actually held to standards and punished when rules were broken. I don't think it's any more liberal than the vast majority of college campuses.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 15:53     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:Carleton is super liberal/woke. DC was very unhappy there


Can you give an example of "wokeness" that made your DC unhappy?
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 15:48     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Carleton is super liberal/woke. DC was very unhappy there
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 15:41     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m glad you got all these sincere replies, OP, but I feel like you are perhaps putting the cart before the horse a little. Is your child a sophomore? If they still have two math classes to take after the one they’re in it sounds like they may be. They still have a lot of learning to do and they may not want to study pure math in..3 years time! And it sounds like you are already planning their graduate work too? I would take all these kind replies and file them away and then take a deep breath. I didn’t know whether to giggle or sigh with this one.


OP here: sorry if I wasn't clear, DC is a senior! Already have a list of schools with pure math (he's known he wants to be a mathematician since 6th grade!), but most of them are reaches. So wanted to find a few more schools to round out the list.

Appreciate all the feedback in this thread - super helpful!

Op if he’s a senior he really isn’t very ahead. This is obviously fine, because life isn’t about doing abstract algebra at age 10. These would both be great additions to his list. At a top university, he’ll be with most students since the top are the type who will start graduate coursework their second or third semester.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2025 15:35     Subject: Carlton or Reed for a student who wants to study pure math?
Anonymous wrote:I’m glad you got all these sincere replies, OP, but I feel like you are perhaps putting the cart before the horse a little. Is your child a sophomore? If they still have two math classes to take after the one they’re in it sounds like they may be. They still have a lot of learning to do and they may not want to study pure math in..3 years time! And it sounds like you are already planning their graduate work too? I would take all these kind replies and file them away and then take a deep breath. I didn’t know whether to giggle or sigh with this one.


OP here: sorry if I wasn't clear, DC is a senior! Already have a list of schools with pure math (he's known he wants to be a mathematician since 6th grade!), but most of them are reaches. So wanted to find a few more schools to round out the list.

Appreciate all the feedback in this thread - super helpful!