<p>Mihcal, I have to admit that we told the school that she was “sick”'when we went out of town for a college visit.</p>
<p>For local schools, check the college calendar (most are online). Chances are, the high school has a holiday or two that the college will be in session (teacher work days, different Spring Break schedules). That has worked well for us.</p>
<p>Can definitely relate to all the “smart boys who do what they want” thing! I have decided that I am going to try to let my fiercely independant DS12 do things as he wishes without too much proding from me. Although his choice of path isn’t always the one I would have chosen for him, he seems to land on his feet most of the time! </p>
<p>He was selected to apply for a research position at our local university for the summer. With a few choice discussions on who to ask for recomendations and how to best talk to a professor there who he met through a totally unrelated EC, he submitted the application without our input at all. Six small essays, and we didn’t read even one. Ugh. However, I know he is going to be ok in life. Last night he was at a “practice” competition with a local team for another EC, and somehow was offered a summer job to teach sailing. So if he doesn’t get the summer science intern (unlikely b/c there is a lot of competition) he will spend the summer sailing and being paid for it! This kid has just got that golded touch. Somehow he is going to be ok, even if he doesn’t pull up his math grade. Trying to not focus on the math grade…don’t focus on the math grade…I’m a work in progress, what can I say?</p>
<p>Michal1- We started visiting schools to het a feel sophomore year on breaks, and DS went to a few programs to igure out large and small, public or private. From there, we worked on a list of what he wants in a school. We have visited a few on the list to refine, and really liked the College That Change Lives College fair. Junior year has been about visiting during fall break, school record days, and plans for a big spring break trip to Ohio and Kentucky. I have no problem pulling him outof school if it is a day trip, and our school doesn’t count against students if testing or interviews are involved (within reason). Luckily, most of the schools that he likes are within a day’s drive, so we don’t fly. DH and I have been saving up vacation days for this very reason. We will also set up interviews in the summer when school is not in session. Hopefully by fall, he will have a good grasp on his top 5 and we will visit most of them again.This strategy wouldn’t work if we were looking a East of West Coast schools.</p>
<p>Mihcal - with my older son, we took a couple days off of school once and did the other visits during fall break, spring break, and summer time. I know people said you really need to go while school is in session, but that’s just really not feasible. S still felt like he got a good impression of the school when he visited in the summer. </p>
<p>With 2012S we’re planning on doing a trip during spring break and then probably some during the summer and over fall break (which is only a long weekend really). I consider the college visits a vacation just me and one kid at a time - 10 hours in a car spurs on some great conversations! There’s one reachy school out west that he may apply to, and I suppose we’ll have to fly there, but we can drive to the rest from here in the Midwest.</p>
<p>With both our boys we went on far away college visits during the summer and on hs breaks. We have visited some of our more local colleges during the school week. At our school college visits can be an excused absence if you return with a letter from the college saying you were there. When we have gone during the school day, my son (of course) is responsible for getting in touch with all of his teachers and completing all the missed assignments and tests.</p>
<p>Mizzbee - which schools are you visiting in OH and KY?</p>
<p>Those of you who visited in summer-- were you able to get a feel for the places? I’ve found that most of what we get comes from chance interactions with students, though I guess if there are summer info sessions and tours it could work.</p>
<p>We are looking at Denison, Ohio Wesleyan, College of Wooster in Ohio and Centre in Kentucky. We will throw in Hanover during that trip as well. DS is looking at those schools plus Wabash, DePauw, Lawrence, Lake Forest, Illinois Weleyan as well as IU and IUPUI. With the exception of the state publics, he really likes the small Midwestern LACs. He needs to have good financial aid and so we hav concentrated on schools wher he is in the top 25% stat wise, with the exception of Centre. Would love additional suggestions. One requirement: no “hippies”. Beloit was too quirky for him.</p>
<p>MizzBee -have you looked into Kenyon? Hiram or Xavier? If you qualify for need based aid, Grinnell is supposed to be pretty generous. S would like a small school (and I really like the idea of small schools) but wants to be a math major, and the more we look into it, it seems there are a limited number of small schools that have really good math programs that include enough upper level courses. sigh.</p>
<p>Grinnell came off the list as soon as he saw a brochure (hippy chick). I was under the impression that Hiram doesn’t give great aid. Kenyon and Xavier have been floated around, so maybe we will swing by during our Ohio tour.</p>
<p>PN, D is in the same position as your S. Even some of the very best small schools look like there just won’t be enough upper level math courses. I see no reason to pay Amherst tuition for U. Mass Amherst math courses, even though Amherst is a very lovely place (and there are many good things about U Mass Amherst). Some place more isolated could be a bigger issue.</p>
<p>What/Which courses designate “upper level courses” that would eliminate a smaller school for a math major? Is the math programs you are looking into more science based (chem-math) or business based (finance-math)?</p>
<p>Mizbee,</p>
<p>We took our kids to see Denison, Kenyon and Oberlin a few years ago over fall break. They especially loved the looks of Kenyon - remote, small campus but outstanding athletic facilities. I thought Denison looked nice - well kept campus, wired classrooms, great internship programs and great merit aid - but my kids thought the students didn’t seem serious enough since it was noon on a Thursday and they saw students acting like it was the weekend already. My teens were also unimpressed with Oberlin. I think they didn’t like the integration of the (small) city to the campus. They didn’t want to cross streets with traffic lights to go across campus. The campus housing sounded very interesting with different kinds of interest houses and cooperative opportunities. I hope your kids see something they like.</p>
<p>CherryHillMomTo2 –</p>
<p>As an example, just look at Amherst. Here are the courses they’re offering in math this spring:
<a href=“https://www.amherst.edu/academiclife/departments/mathematics/courses[/url]”>Courses | Mathematics & Statistics | Amherst College;
<p>If your child is sufficiently advanced in math (mine will have completed multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations by the end of her junior year of high school), then the only spring 2011 classes appropriate would be </p>
<p>MATH-25 Time Series Analysis and Applications
MATH-26 Groups, Rings and Fields
MATH-28 Introduction to Analysis
MATH-30 Mathematical Statistics
MATH-44 Topology </p>
<p>From Fall 2010, the only appropriate courses would have been:
MATH-24-01 Theory of Numbers
MATH-29-01 Probability
MATH-31-01 Functions of a Complex Variable
MATH-34-01 Mathematical Logic
MATH-77-00 Senior Departmental Honors </p>
<p>From Spring 2010, the only appropriate courses would have been:
MATH-26-01 Groups, Rings and Fields
MATH-28-01 Introduction to Analysis
MATH-42-01 Functions of a Real Variable<br>
MATH-78-04 Senior Departmental Honors
MATH-98-00 Special Topics </p>
<p>From Fall 2009, the only courses would have been:
MATH-19-01 Wavelet and Fourier Analysis
MATH-23-01 Multivariate Data Analysis
MATH-27-01 Set Theory
MATH-31-01 Functions of a Complex Variable
MATH-77-00 Senior Departmental Honors</p>
<p>Assuming that every class is offered at least 2 years, this gives you a full list of what to expect from the Math department.</p>
<p>When you bring those lists together, you get the following
MATH-19 Wavelet and Fourier Analysis
MATH-23 Multivariate Data Analysis
MATH-24 Theory of Numbers
MATH-25 Time Series Analysis and Applications
MATH-26 Groups, Rings and Fields
MATH-28 Introduction to Analysis
MATH-29 Probability
MATH-30 Mathematical Statistics
MATH-31 Functions of a Complex Variable
MATH-34 Mathematical Logic
MATH-42 Functions of a Real Variable<br>
MATH-44 Topology
MATH-77 Senior Departmental Honors
MATH-98 Special Topics </p>
<p>That’s 15 possible courses, but some of those might be courses not particularly aimed at math majors (maybe service courses for computer science or engineering or other science departments), which might make the courses inappropriate for a math major. The description of Theory of Numbers (course 24) looks basic enough that anyone doing well in high school math competitions (like the AMC) should find it redundant. There might be some overlap in certain courses, so taking one might preclude the others. Some might not be in your area of interest. Some might be topics where you already have a lot of knowledge (for example, IJustDrive’s daughter has had a lot of background in mathematical logic, so course 34 might be inappropriate). Prerequisites might mean that you can’t take a course the semester it’s offered and it’s offered only once every 2 years.</p>
<p>Of those, my daughter would basically need 5-7 other courses, in addition to getting credit for the coursework she’s already done. If she didn’t get credit, but just placement, she would need 9-11 courses. If she had to choose 11, then 15 isn’t a large number of courses to choose from – it means she would basically need to take everything the department offers.</p>
<p>MathinOKC - Interesting. Thank you for posting. I am not sure I completely understand, but I have learned again (Rockville points out the same) it is very very important to look at course of study the entire four years.</p>
<p>When you say she would have to take everything the department offers - is that a bad thing? and to catch me up to speed which math programs are you looking at? are you looking for minor’s as well or strictly math?</p>
<p>I find it interesting that there are so many possible future math majors on thIs discussion. S is another one who has been taking college-level math throughout high school. I’d be very interested in hearing about which smaller colleges you have identified with math programs that have enough depth for your children. </p>
<p>S is not sure he wants a smaller school but I like the liberal arts focus for undergrads.</p>
<p>CherryHillMomTo2 –</p>
<p>The disadvantage in having to take everything a department offers is that essentially you have no choices. And, if someone’s on sabbatical and they don’t offer a particular course when they normally do, you could literally run out. That might not be a problem for most math majors, but if you’ve taken a significant amount of college math in high school, then what do you do?</p>
<p>I realize most colleges will allow independent study, but you certainly don’t want your degree to be all (or mostly) independent study classes.</p>
<p>BTW, I just used my daughter as an example. She’s not looking at math majors at all — she is looking at mechanical engineering. :-)</p>
<p>Regarding Kenyon, Dennison, and Hiram; for my daughter, not a math kid at all, we’re only looking at Dennison. I think Kenyon is too much of a reach and has a language requirement (she refuses to even look at any school with a language requirement) and Hiram seems a little too much of a safety and we have better choices for safeties. That’s the “order” in which I see those three for my daughter and her interest in creative writing, pottery, history, and theatrical costumes/make up.</p>
<p>In April we’re going to look at Dennison, Beloit, Knox, and Grinnell. Kind of a lot in 5 days but we’ll fly into Iowa, drive to Knox and Beloit, fly to Dennison, and then back home to NY. She’s also very interested in College of Santa Fe (which has changed it’s name but I forget to what) but that will be another trip. My husband is hoping that by visiting there daughter will no longer be interested but we’ll see. </p>
<p>More locally we’re looking at Hampshire, Skidmore, Marlboro, Hamilton, Wheaton (MA), and Bennington (although I don’t like the M/F ratio). Time to put some mileage on the car!</p>
<p>Another consideration is that if a student wants to take graduate level courses as an undergrad, there needs to be a masters or PhD offered at the school. </p>
<p>In the meantime, we are looking at course selections for senior year right now, and my son is having trouble deciding what to take.After his 5 core classes, he’s left with 2 open slots and it’s actually been hard to find something he wants to take. The science department head suggested he do an individual research project in math, but I’m not so sure I know exactly what that would look like. I’m picturing a year of slacking off with no real direction followed by a month of panic at the end of the school year. Doesn’t sound fun. I’d kind of like him to do one academic/interesting class and one fun class like running or physical conditioning or something. </p>
<p>Has anyone had experience with a kid doing an individual project in math?</p>