What’s it Like to Study Mathematics at Cornell University?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences and insights related to studying mathematics at Cornell University, focusing on undergraduate perspectives, program structure, research opportunities, and preparation for graduate studies. Participants share personal experiences and inquire about specific aspects of the mathematics program.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express interest in Cornell for mathematics and seek information about the program from current or former students.
  • One participant, a double major in Math and Engineering Physics, shares a positive experience with the math program, noting the flexibility of the department and the competitiveness of the program.
  • Another participant mentions a friend studying physics at Cornell who has had a favorable experience with math courses and research opportunities, despite disliking the cold weather.
  • A participant considering Cornell for graduate studies discusses their background in algebra and asks about the accessibility of algebra research and preparation for the Putnam competition.
  • Some participants confirm the existence of Putnam preparation meetings at Cornell, providing a link for further information.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share positive sentiments about the mathematics program at Cornell, but there are varying degrees of personal experiences and expectations regarding research opportunities and course offerings. No consensus is reached on specific aspects such as the accessibility of research or the effectiveness of preparation for graduate admissions.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions are based on personal anecdotes and may not reflect the overall experience of all students. There is also a reliance on individual definitions of "competitive" and "interesting," which may vary among participants.

Who May Find This Useful

Prospective students considering undergraduate mathematics programs, particularly at Cornell University, as well as those interested in research opportunities and graduate school preparation in mathematics.

hsetennis
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I'm seriously considering Cornell for an undergraduate in mathematics. Can anyone share their experience (grad or undergrad)? Really any and all information would be useful.
 
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I'm a double major at Cornell, Math and Engineering Physics, though my main focus is really the math. I've really enjoyed the math program here. Of course, every once in a while you get a boring prof. teaching a class, but overall I found the material to be really interesting, and the department itself is rather flexible with math majors. I'm a senior now and am going to a top grad school in applied math, so the program is definitely competitive. It would help to know more about yourself; are you considering grad school? What other programs have you gotten into? Also any other specific questions would be good.
 
I myself have been considering Cornell (for math). I have a friend who goes to Cornell (for physics) and has loved the math courses that he has taken. Actually, I heard nothing but positive things about his experience at Cornell in general. He said that he has had a lot of opportunities to get involved with research and work with professors outside of the classroom. He doesn't like the cold, though :-)
 
thepolishteer said:
I'm a double major at Cornell, Math and Engineering Physics, though my main focus is really the math. I've really enjoyed the math program here. Of course, every once in a while you get a boring prof. teaching a class, but overall I found the material to be really interesting, and the department itself is rather flexible with math majors. I'm a senior now and am going to a top grad school in applied math, so the program is definitely competitive. It would help to know more about yourself; are you considering grad school? What other programs have you gotten into? Also any other specific questions would be good.

I'm definitely considering grad school, and my goal is to do a PhD in math/applied math. I've gotten into Hopkins, IU, Purdue, and NYU. So Cornell seems like the highest ranked (maybe NYU for Courant), so I'm almost surely going there.

This is kinda general: How did Cornell prepare you for graduate admissions?

My background and interests are mostly in algebra. Is involvement in algebra research accessible?

Is there a class/group/seminar for Putnam preparation? I didn't find it on the website and I forgot to ask when I was visiting yesterday.
 
dustbin said:
I myself have been considering Cornell (for math). I have a friend who goes to Cornell (for physics) and has loved the math courses that he has taken. Actually, I heard nothing but positive things about his experience at Cornell in general. He said that he has had a lot of opportunities to get involved with research and work with professors outside of the classroom. He doesn't like the cold, though :-)

Great to hear that, thanks!
 
dustbin said:
It appears that there are Putnam preparation meetings at Cornell:
http://www.math.cornell.edu/~putnam/

Now I just feel silly for not knowing how to use google :(
 

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