NRR - Best Liberal Arts School for Math

Other Running Related Topic

Page 2 of 2

1 2

Next Last

14 years ago 08/30/2009 3:45pm EDT

re: Orange

I got to step in here as a graduate of a liberal arts school (and current Ph.D. student at a major research university). I got news for everyone, the overwhelming majority of Ph.D. students in math and physical sciences come from liberal arts school. The reason your friend may want to go to a liberal arts schools is because he prefers to learn math from a professor in classes of <30 rather than from a TA who is usually a grad student teaching only to be paid.

Research experiences at a liberal arts college are for undergraduates while places like big research universities, Ivies, etc. could give a crap about undegrads as the graduate students are the focus because they are RESEARCH universities.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 3:58pm EDT

re: d3alum

d3alum wrote:
The reason your friend may want to go to a liberal arts schools is because he prefers to learn math from a professor in classes of <30 rather than from a TA who is usually a grad student teaching only to be paid.

This is excellent advice. Make sure your friend attends a university where the instructors are faculty who teach classes for free.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 4:26pm EDT

re: free college?

free college? completed misunderstood my original post. I do not claim that professors do not get paid to teach. On the contrary my implication is that I would much rather learn subject matter regardless of discipline from someone with a Ph.D. (i.e. demonstrated expertise in the subject) rather than from a possible 1st year grad student who may have no interest in teaching at all. Professors a liberal arts colleges teach everything (labs, lectures, etc.) and they teach their because they genuinely love teaching.

On the flip, any professor at a major research university is there to do research and bring money into the school via research grants and name recognition with high quality publications. If given the choice most professors at research universities would not teach any undergraduate lectures (and professors never teach labs at big schools). This is the difference I was highlighting.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 6:30pm EDT

re: Link

Link wrote:
Oh, and I included St. Olaf's because they have that wonderful trip abroad for math majors.

that's ridiculous. go on your own trips. St. Olaf should not be anywhere near a "tops" list. It's just a decent all-around liberal arts school.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 6:39pm EDT

re: dsgadfd

dsgadfd wrote:
A couple of the professors at my school (a rival school no less) said Harvard's program was really top-notch. I think the Chicago one is pretty well known also. Do these not count as liberal arts?

Princeton is better for undergrad math than Harvard and satisfies the OPs criteria.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 8:58pm EDT

re: Link

Link wrote:
1. Mudd
2. Amherst
3. St. Olaf
Agree? Disagree? Others?

4. Sewanee

5. Oberlin

Probably any of the top liberal arts schools would be a good place to study mathematics.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 9:09pm EDT

re: d3alum

d3alum wrote:
I got to step in here as a graduate of a liberal arts school (and current Ph.D. student at a major research university). I got news for everyone, the overwhelming majority of Ph.D. students in math and physical sciences come from liberal arts school.

{{citation needed}} I find this really hard to believe.

14 years ago 08/30/2009 9:32pm EDT

re: get ugly

St. Olaf ranks among the top 5 liberal arts schools for students who go on the obtain graduate degrees in math. Though you would spend years elbow to elbow with those music kids, as well as across town from a bunch of ugly women.

Page 2 of 2

1 2

Next Last

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

NRR - Best Liberal Arts School for Math

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

NRR - Best Liberal Arts School for Math

Follow get ugly

Block get ugly

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.