Weasel8488

Can current students or anyone else "in the know" shed light on how strong Vandy's math program is in relation to its other majors? I want to major in math, but if Vandy has a significantly stronger program in say chemistry then I might do that. Thoughts?

Weasel8488

bump bump bump

zmoose27

Three years later, I actually have the same question. Anyone now have some info on this? Whats the overall quality of Vandy's math department?

mom22girls

Three posts on this over a few years and no one's replied -- Anyone with info! How is math at Vandy? How does it compare with say, Carnegie Melon or that tier school?

2VU0609

S did a double major with economics and mathematics. He found the math curriculum quite challenging and has commented that his law school applications would have fared better if he hadn't done the double major since his gpa would have been higher. He was a NMS and graduated magna from Vandy, so his comments don't come from a lack of academic competence. I don't know if the professor is still there, but while S was there they snagged a Fields Medal winner for the mathematics dept.; however, he only taught grad students.

dsr7291

the math department has a reputation for killing GPAs. it's really hard. so if hard=good, then yes. But I've talked to a lot of people in my class (155A) about this and most agree that we thought we liked math but after these first few months of calculus at Vandy we're not so sure.

GCN2

I don't know how our math department compares to departments at other universities, but it is probably one of our worst taught sciences. It may be up to par with departments around the country, however our Neuro, Chem and Bio department all blow math away. Physics is in a similar situation as Math.

dshinka

Are the upper-level classes like that or is that just the Calculus courses that are weed-outs for pre-med?

gadad

2VU0609 - Since your son was a NMS, do you know if the $5,000 / year Vandy scholarship for NMSs is added to need-based financial aid, or whether it only serves to reduce a NMS's financial need by $5,000?

2VU0609

gadad,
Financial aid has been overhauled in the last year or so, but our experience was the NMS award was in addition to need based aid.

GCN2

Calculus can be easy for those are gifted at math. DiffyQ and Linear get very difficult (especially the proof based classes). The upper level stuff is difficult in principle, but not as hard grade wise.

If you are looking to do math for the love of math, go for it. If you want to do math because you are premed, and good at math, pick something else. (just my opinion).

runtime

Math is a tough major, especially at a top school like Vandy.

2VU0609

GCN2 is correct on the differential equations class. It is still a frequently discussed class with S - no feedback throughout the semester had him wondering where he stood all the way until his grade was posted on Oak.

gadad

That would be a great deal!