USAMO and College Admissions

etondad
Fri, 01 Jun 2012 17:40:02 +0000

The former Dean of the College, Benedict Gross, is a professor of mathematics. He has stated that he was concerned that some students would try to take 55 because it was iconic not because that was the best course for them. However, as the professor and the CA (a sophomore who took it the year prior) decide prior to add/drop if students are right for the course (and they can go to 25 w/o missing a beat as the two course track somewhat until that point), those students who are believed not right for the course in terms of comfort with proofs, the level of abstraction or preparation to handle the speed and are advised to take 25 instead . Also the amount of work is so so enormous and requires so much prior knowledge that it would be the rare odd duck indeed, who wanted to take it merely for the “bragging rights” (and I highly doubt that it is a social “boon” to say that one is in 55, even in nerd heaven).
The math department makes it very clear in all of their materials that 55 is NOT necessary to be a top concentrator – that 25 is very very good preparation for upper level courses.

Now, of course, there will always be a student now and again who is taking it and gets over his or her (almost always his in 55) head because it is the wrong class and somehow escapes the notice of the CA or the professor until after add/drop. But the student doesn’t stay for 55b (there was one who had the “chops” but not the preparation recently and thought he could backfill-- he made it through to December but was known to the rest of the class as the “Gray Man” because he hadn’t slept in weeks. The others strongly suggested that he try 25b, that it was no reflection on his mathematical abilities-- he did and has done great. He will be doing upper level math next year). So I think if anything peer pressure is just the opposite than keeping someone in, but being supportive for those who feel they should leave.