It’s worth asking the question. St Olaf and Lafayette are really good for Math (&premed) and can offer one on one research mentoring/support, they’re safe&supportive, they offer merit aid, so these might be an alternative in-between the most competitive universities that OP can target and CSUs.
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Just curious, what makes them really good for math, specifically?
CWRU might be another option - the BSMD is an extremely high reach, and CWRU routinely gives large merit scholarships for regular undergrad.
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St Olaf has a history of excellent math teaching at the undergraduate level. About 40 years ago the Math Dept looked at ways to combine access with excellence - how to communicate how beautiful or fun math was when most students thought it drab - it was well before math was considered as relevant as it is today and the decision was ground-breaking (obviously they weren’t alone in that endeavor but the history shows their deep commitment). Their approach led them to be included in Tucker’s Models That Work, which was about exemplary undergraduate mathematics programs. They’ve been included in the NSF list of top math PHD producers per capita, though they weren’t top 10 in 2023. They offer a broader selection of senior seminars than most LACs, have a large number of majors for a LAC, and have study abroad dedicated to their math majors. Although OP is relatively advanced, she wouldn’t be alone and the faculty encourage developing individual paths.
Tldr: St Olaf has been well-known as a top notch choice for math at the undergraduate level among LACs that aren’t highly rejective.
Lafayette is a LAC with Engineering and strength in STEM. Lots of opportunities in applied math, individual research with professors is expected.
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This thread may be of interest, though it definitely has some meandering:
In addition to Case Western which has already been mentioned, Brandeis, U. of Rochester, and Rensselaer Polytechnic are medium to smaller colleges that were noted for strong preparation for med school and that I think would have ample depth in mathematics available (as I believe all three offer through a doctorate in math). I don’t know much about it, but RPI does offer an accelerated BS/MD option.
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The higher average GPA and MCAT scores aren’t due to being a math major; it’s selection bias.
Also consider that the number of math majors applying to med school is quite low compared to other majors. Only 344 vs. over 30,000 bio majors. (So you have another sampling error right there.)
The acceptance rate for math majors (52%) is only marginally higher than the acceptance rate for humanities majors (51.8%).
IOW, don’t take the data too seriously…
(Said as parent who had TWO math majors go to med school.)
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UR has the REMS BA/MD program, but UR undergrads are not eligible to apply for the UR SOM’s early assurance program.
UR does offer a PhD in mathematics and statistics
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The only issue is cost of attendance. UR gives merit aid, but I don’t know if it has the same reputation for generosity as CWRU. That being said I would prefer Rochester to CWRU for math if it was affordable.
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344 seems large enough for me (generally ~30 samples is what statisticians say is required for the CLT to kick in). And I agree the acceptance rate isn’t significantly different, which is why I didn’t mention it. I am interested in the selection bias idea - are you suggesting the math majors with lower GPAs and MCAT scores go “oh well, I guess I’ll become an actuary or SWE” while the biology majors will still apply due to a lack of similarly lucrative exit opportunities?
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Isn’t RPI infamous for grade deflation? The average GPA is around 3.2. I’m not sure if the math major might have a higher average due not being an engineering major.
Fun fact: I talked to a former T5 med school adcom who said they gave a boost to students from top schools due to their rigor. I asked about Brown and RPI and he said Brown students got the boost but RPI wasn’t on the list.
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