You are not alone, btw, in considering the relationship between your particular college environment and your general satisfaction. In this Boston Globe interview, for example, a prominent respondent to the Proust Questionnaire associated his college choice with his “greatest regret”:
My son interviewed with the head of the math department which I suggest you reach out today to with questions… He told him a math degree from Uchicago will open up just about any field you want to go into. He’s actually a very nice dude also…
@merc81 Thank you. Yes, I have already noticed much overlap. Complex analysis and group theory have immediate and very apparent applications in physics, while the general thinking process for the two is not all that different. Many of the more theoretical aspects of physics are remarkably rigorous. Even Cambridge’s world-class mathematical tripos offers a course in theoretical physics and mathematics.
I am currently in the engineering school–a mistake when I left the business school, but it seemed like a good choice at the time. I plan to move to arts and sciences where I will be attempting to do just that; in fact, I used almost exactly the same words, telling my friend I was planning to “create my own core.” We offer the courses at WashU where it is possible to create a core, but I think one of the distinguishing aspects of the core is that when you walk on campus you know that hundreds and hundreds of students around you have read the exact same books rather than sharing that experience with 20 or so other students.
I, unfortunately, can’t read the article without a subscription but knowing that there are others that express the same concerns makes me feel better. He is not the first one from Harvard who I have heard express regrets about their college choice–I knew someone who said that they would have developed and enjoyed Reed significantly more than Harvard.
@Knowsstuff Thank you! He sounds like a great resource. Their math department is absolutely phenomenal, so I have a feeling that he is not exaggerating. I will definitely do that. UChicago is such a fantastic university, and it would be an absolute privilege of mine to spend my final two years of undergraduate at that institution. I appreciate the advice, and it is good to know that the math department is very helpful and kind.
As a note, his son entered as a freshman in Calculus… I guess that’s normal when your dad is head of the department… Lol. Sorry… That’s High school…
@chocolateeater99 Since you’re considering SLACs, you should sign up for Williams’ upcoming virtual open house for transfers. https://www.williams.edu/admission-aid/transferveteran-open-house/ Good luck!
@gotham_mom Thank you for sharing! I managed to gloss over that when I was perusing their website. I will definitely go check it out. I think I need to have a couple of conversations with administrators at universities to help me understand the trade-offs.
You may want to look through each college’s course catalog to see what upper level math and physics courses are offered. The on-line schedules may help you determine their frequency of offering.
Math departments can have considerable variation in the breadth and depth of math courses at the upper level. If you are very advanced in math, you may want to check on the availability of graduate level math courses.
In physics, there is an expected upper level core of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism and optics, intermediate/advanced mechanics, statistical and thermal physics, and intermediate/advanced lab, but some departments offer the courses more frequently than others, allowing greater schedule flexibility. There can be additional upper level physics electives.
Basically, be sure that wherever you transfer to will not leave you envious that your twin brother is getting more choices and greater depth at UCB than you will be getting at whatever school you attend, since that seems to be a big reason you are regretting attending WUStL.
If you are not admitted to the super-selective colleges on your list (and others which have been suggested by other posters), would you rather stay at WUStL or transfer to a less competitive-admission college like UCSB or UCSC? If the latter, be sure to apply to some such colleges.
You had a “mediocre” gpa your freshman year and you think WashU is beneath you? How does that work?
You don’t like the preprofessional vibe at Wash U and you “want to be at a university where I have peers who would sit there and talk about linear algebra or quantum computing (I could talk about the double-slit experiment for hours), as well as discuss great philosophical or classic works.”
I wouldn’t apply to Penn. it’s pretty preprofessional. I also would cross off Cal Tech and MIT, as I don’t think the science nerd vibe is quite what you seem to want. I’m not sure Duke is right either.
Absolutely Cornell. Reed comes to mind. Carleton. U Chicago. Swarthmore. Lots of LACs actually. Math departments will be good at all these schools.
You want to do research, maybe get a PhD. MANY LAC students are on that track. Profs at LACs are focused on undergrad education, which means no competition from grad students to get research opportunities.
At the best LACs, the quality of education is easily on par with the most elite universities. This is often because LACs have small discussion-based classes from the start. Of course, a student can find the same opportunities at universities, but don’t dismiss the idea of an LAC.
Also, who knows what will happen with COVID, but quite a few LACs are actually doing in person classes. It is harder for bigger schools to do that right now, though of course some are.
You know already that you need high grades. Make sure you have good professor recs for any of these colleges. They will be quite important to your application. Good luck.