<p>My S debated between UChi and Harvard–he loved Professor Salley when he visited as a “prospie” during pre-frosh week. But in the end he chose Harvard because he just didn’t want to be told he had to take a core of classes in the Hmanities …When he wrote Professor Salley to explain his decision he got an email back that said that the ony college that Salley had any respect for mathematically was Harvard and that as my S said he wanted to take 55 that just proved that he was “insaine.” But he wrote it in the nicest way. As far as my son can tell 55 covers 207 in the first semester and the second semester is more topics of interst to the particular professor.</p>
<p>Also he would absolutely agree that a prospie had better have a FIRM grip on proof based thinking–which is a completely different animal than non proof based math-- and an ability to think in the abstract realm completely. Also the answers that are prized are not merely those with the corect answer proved–but that it be proved in the most elegant way. He was told on one homework that there were two redundant lines in the three page proof aand he should find them and eliminate them. It took him 10 hours but he found them and resubmitted the answer. </p>
<p>That said 55 marks one for life within the Math community. One doesn’t have to say math 55 or harvard’s 55-- just 55 will suffice. The response to the course is binary-- those who LOVE it and those who just cant wait for the pain to end.</p>
<p>Also if youare going to take it-- get a firm understanding in LaTex or MacTex-- if you have to learn that on top of the substantive work it will be a killer.</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>