Anonymous
Post 03/23/2026 03:52     Subject: Williams vs CMU for Math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We know a math major currently transferring out of Williams due to major fit and QOL issues. He’s so far been underwhelmed by the department and wis he would’ve gone to his other choice, Uchicago. Really make sure a tiny school in the middle of nowhere with limited faculty is what you want.


Why on earth did he pick Williams over UChicago in the first place? UChicago for pure math is significantly better than Williams.

Williams is the #1 SLAC and that means a lot. A lot.


I graduated with a BS in math from Stony Brook. Yes Williams is great. But Pure Math at the UChicago is exceptionally good. Undergrads get to do independent research in Algebraic geometry and number theory from a vast number of professors. I'm just puzzled when someone says because Williams is the #1 LAC therefore it's better than Chicago for pure math. I did my junior REU at Chicago and that place is exceptional. And i.am saying this as someone who was attending another very good pure math program at Stony Brook.

Anyone who has actually looked at the opportunities would laugh if you suggested williams is better than Chicago at math, because it has a few seminar courses in math.


"More" is not "better". Your kid won't take every class Chicago offers or research with every professor. The PhD numbers don't lie.

What a trash defense. You don’t need to take every class available because you aren’t constrained by the limited coursework of your department.