<p>I think it’s fair to say that there is a substantial set of math majors who simply don’t care about the Putnam. S1 didn’t take it last year. </p>
<p>S would also vouch for the collegiality of math folks – students, profs and department advisors. S is a rising second year and spent a lot of time hanging out in the math lounge with fourth years. Sounds like it was just as valuable an experience as his coursework.</p>
<p>Note: for those who like the Chicago math vibe but also like the applied/discrete side of life, there is the Budapest Semester in Mathematics.</p>