Math/Science Programs

[A.E]

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Well, since Cal Tech is an institute of technology, I can imagine that it’s good for studying math and science. But I didn’t apply to schools like that; I applied to liberal arts schools, mostly. So, when you say that “Swarthmore is probably on par with other top LACs,” do you mean that it has wide course offerings and a good peer group and smart professors that makes the program strong?

Its course offerings aren’t as wide as the course offerings at larger schools. I mean that the caliber of professor and the degree of funding you see at the top LACs are probably all very similar. So, too, with the type of peers you’d have. Of course, I haven’t been a student at every top LAC, just Swarthmore, so I don’t know this beyond what I’ve read and what my intuition says about the matter. My personal opinion, however, is that the math department at Swarthmore isn’t that strong. Some of the science departments are, though.</p>

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Dad2: It’s great that Swarthmore is strong in science because I’m actually quite interested in physics after I’ve learned more about it in my physics class senior year. It’s great also that it’s all undergrad. This reminds me. When I was having my interview for the University of Chicago, I mentioned that I was applying mainly to liberal arts colleges. The interviewer promptly responded with a smile that I shouldn’t apply to any school that doesn’t have a graduate school. I was a little taken aback; it contradicted what I’ve heard for so long–all undergrad rules, professors are dedicated to teaching more, etc. I asked him why he said that and he said that if you go to a school with a graduate school you can actually do graduate-level work! He mentioned that at UChicago you can do that. But how can you do that at Swarthmore, which doesn’t have a grad school? Isn’t it like learning for four years how to cook an egg but never going out to do it yourself?

You could use a different analogy and say that doing graduate work before you’re prepared for it is like trying to make an omelette without knowing how to cook an egg. That said, you will learn some graduate level things during your senior year. One of my textbooks senior year was actually a graduate textbook (maybe more than one… I don’t know for sure). Even though there’s no graduate school at Swarthmore, it doesn’t mean the professors there are incapable of teaching graduate level math or science. I think that UChicago interviewer engaged in a bit of argument fallacy with you on that one.</p>

<p>If you are really interested in physics, Swarthmore is OK. I’m not saying it’s the best place to go major in physics, but if you do well there, you’ll have no trouble getting into a good graduate school. You may think you’re making a very important decision and that basing it on department strength is the way to go, but you’re not, and it isn’t. Any top LAC or university will give you the opportunity to learn what you need to as an undergraduate and then get into a good grad school, if that’s what you decide to do. The real question you should be asking yourself is how you want your life to be for the next four years. Where do you want to live, what do you want your social and academic life to be like, etc. Which atmosphere would you really prefer between university and liberal arts? Choose a school and a location based on all of that. Any top tier school will give you the tools to learn and get into grad school. Swarthmore, UChicago… whatever.</p>