<p>I’m not a math major but if you are asking if Harvard’s math department is any good, the answer is OF COURSE!!! </p>
<p>Harvard has been home to some of the most distinguished mathematicians in this country and has led in Fields medalists. The only departments in the country that could be considered Harvard’s peers in math research are Princeton, Berkeley, and MIT. </p>
<p>If you are talking about undergraduate math, Harvard attracts the very best student mathematicians in the country, including many of those who placed high in U.S. Math Olympiad and International Math Olympiad. Although only about 20 student per class major in math (1/5 that of MIT), Harvard undergraduates have won the Putnam Mathematical Competition 25 out of 66 times (the second is Caltech with 9 times), and placed in the top five 51 out of 66 times (the second is MIT with 36 times). Harvard math majors often write senior theses that are publishable. Many Harvard math majors have gone on to become math professors themselves.</p>
<p>If you are not setting your sights so high, there’s still something for everyone. The quality of teaching at lower levels (nonmajors) is excellent. These are usually taught by teaching faculty who do not do research. There are 5 different Multivariable Calculus courses you can choose from based on your ability (Math 20, Math 21, Math 23, Math 25, and Math 55). Most math majors go for Math 55 or Math 25. Math 55 is a very demanding course and was probably the hardest course I took in my college career. I took more advanced math and physics classes after Math 55 but somehow I did not find them more difficult or time-consuming. I also derive some satisfaction from the fact that I got a better grade than Bill Gates in Math 55, although it’s possible that they graded more harshly 30 years ago when Gates took it.</p>
<p>If you are not so interested in pure math as in mathematical techniques used in physics or engineering or economics and such, Harvard also has a separate department of applied math and computer science so you can major in applied math instead of math. I believe Bill Gates majored in applied math.</p>