My kid is in AP Calc BC this year and would agree with you.
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The NYT published a piece on the new/digital SAT today and included 5 sample questions. Fun 
Anyone have a gift link? 
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I haven’t read it, but I feel like it’s a dumbed down version of the last test. I think there was some value in have to work through a full passage.
D25 wrapped it up in Dec and other than the PSAT did not need to deal with the DSAT.
I agree wholeheartedly.
Thanks!!
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My D25 just got her first college acceptance. She applied last month so she could get a free beanie. They’re already suggesting she put down a housing deposit. lol I don’t think she’ll go to this college but if she gets a lot of money you never know.
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Wow! I have never heard of applying junior year! But congrats!!! Way to get a jump on it!
Wait, what?! Acceptance for your junior?! Which school?
Olivet Nazarene University. They opened applications in February, and it was free. Took less than 30 minutes to fill out the application. We heard back in about 3 weeks I think.
The email said she’ll be getting an acceptance letter in the mail that hopefully comes with her free beanie.
So if anyone is looking for a safety school and a little application practice go for it.
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Yeah, we didn’t expect that either, but they posted about it back in February and if you applied that month you got a free beanie. It certainly is nice to have an acceptance before junior year is even over. Hoping for some big merit at this school.
Just returned from our spring break college tour/vacation and had a great time. S25 is still unsure of what type of school he wants to attend, so we tried to pick a few different options:
UChicago: So impressive but a reachy, reach, reach. Honestly, even if it wasn’t a reach I can’t imagine S25 thriving there. It’s an incredible campus and very impressive school, but I think it would be a pressure cooker for S25. Husband wants him to apply, but I know it’s beyond impossible that he could get in. I feel like it’s a waste of time to even submit an application, but I will let S25 decide if he’s interested in pursuing it or not. If so, he can drive the process for this one, as I’m not going to hound him about the many essays he would have to write!
Loyola University Chicago: I worked at Loyola for a number of years and husband got his MBA there. I love the Jesuit values and the beautiful campus, but S25 was not thrilled. It’s not the best fit for his interest (math) and he thought the school was too big. (???) As much as I love the school, it’s off the list.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: S25 loved the school. It was honestly the first college tour we’ve done where I saw him really light up. He was so engaged and excited. I thought the campus was a great size, and the students there looked happy and engaged with one another. My son said, “I could see myself here.” And I could too. It was a campus of kids so much like my son. He’s doing a summer camp there this summer (Operation Catapult), and I can see that sealing the deal. Husband is concerned that it’s a better fit for someone wanting to pursue engineering rather than pure math, but I like the idea that S25 can explore a number of STEM options.
So I feel like the trip was a success. I think it helped narrow down what S25 is looking for: Small school. Strong math program with opportunities for research. Quirky students. I would welcome any suggestions for other schools to explore. (GPA is 3.8 UW/ 4.8 W. PSAT was 1480 and hoping for over a 1500 on the March 9th SAT. Decent ECs but nothing spectacular.) Friends that we visited in Chicago mentioned Carleton (another reachy reach) and St. Olaf (which looks intriguing).
Now to unpack and wash laundry before we get back to reality next week!
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He might like some of the NESCACs (Bates, Hamilton and Wesleyan come to mind, maybe Tufts). Grinnell is worth a look. Swarthmore (a little more intense but very collaborative) and Haverford.
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If you’re looking in the Midwest, maybe Macalester, plus Michigan Tech as a safety?
And I don’t know what the geographic preferences are, but it might also be worth looking at Emory in the South, and both the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology in the Northeast.
But most math programs are going to be fine, honestly. The differentiation really comes with grad school, not undergrad.
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Thanks for the recs! Right now he’s saying he wants to be in the Midwest, but we can certainly look outside of that area. I don’t think our southern kid can even imagine what weather will be like in January in Minnesota, but he says he’s open to it!
This site may serve as a source for further ideas:
Within the Midwest, consider Grinnell and Macalester. If your son decides to explore geographically, look into Hamilton, Haverford and Reed, to offer a few particular suggestions.
Undergraduate students with a strong interest in mathematics and mathematical research may want to enhance their variety and depth through a semester in Budapest, an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates), or both.
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Some of these schools have already been mentioned, but these are small midwestern schools that happened to produce some of alums who went on to earn a PhD in math. There are reaches here (like Grinnell and Carleton) and sure things (like Truman State or UM-Morris). Note that Wheaton and Calvin are both more closely tied to their religious heritage than many schools whose religious affiliation is often more nominal.
| School | # of Math PhDs earned between 2000-2018 |
|---|---|
| St. Olaf (MN) | 65 |
| Carleton (MN) | 59 |
| Oberlin (OH) | 48 |
| Truman State (MO) | 36 |
| Grinnell (IA) | 33 |
| Wheaton (IL) | 30 |
| Macalester (MN) | 19 |
| Luther (IA) | 18 |
| Concordia College at Moorhead (MN) | 18 |
| Calvin (MI) | 18 |
| U. of Minnesota - Morris | 17 |
| Kenyon (OH) | 17 |
| Gustavus Adolphus (MN) | 16 |
| Kalamazoo (MI) | 16 |
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Sounds like a fun trip you had! Some decent options would be Wheaton (but they have mandatory chapel and pretty strict dorm rules) and Calvin for smaller LAC’s.
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