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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

The best course/University for a Maths degree.

302 replies

Mel2Mel · 21/04/2015 19:41

My DS will be starting his As levels next year. He is a capable mathematician and highly motivated.
I would really appreciate your advice on the best University for him to study Maths and what are the differences between the courses from one University to another.
Thank you very much in advance Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 15:22

BTW is it normal to on the one hand claim that she would never employ a tutor and then on the other hand email tutors, asking why they are tutoring? Why on earth would anyone waste their time and the tutors' time doing this? Very simple: RESEARCH

OP posts:
Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 15:32

OP clearly doesn't want to hear from people who don't agree with her. I find it amusing that she is rejecting advice from people who are actually professors at the places her "son" wants to go to. The original question does not have a black and white answer: there is no single best place and a number of posters have pointed out very good institutions with expertise in specific directions (LSE for financial maths, for example)

How did you manage to reach this conclusion, when I have posted this JUST for you:

*Great to hear from a Trinity alumnus! I have noted every bit of info you gave and I will share it with my ds to bear in mind.

Would you still consider Cambridge is better than Oxford in Maths?

Regarding the STEP exam: If they think that tutoring doesn't affect results then why they tutor some of the students through the outreach program?
He is looking at it independently because it is too early, he is only supposed to tackle them in year 13 when I guess his school will offer some help (He is self teaching some of the A level modules as well)*

That's when all went pear shaped! A challenging question Blush

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Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 15:45

spinoa
AS YOU PREFER TO BE PEDANTIC, let's see:

there is no single best place and a number of posters have pointed out very good institutions with expertise in specific directions (LSE for financial maths, for example)

AND TO THIS I HAVE ANSWERED THIS:

At the moment, he just loves Maths in general. However from what I have noticed, he is more interested in the Theory and the Mechanics but not much the statistics side of it

AND TO MY FOLLOWING COMMENT:

they might have the best mathematicians but if they are too busy for the undergrads then that is a different matter....Those are important factors as well

YOU HAVE ANSWERED THIS:

it really doesn't make sense to talk about THE best institution. Nor does it make sense to claim that Trinity get the very best maths students - lots of very good students don't apply to Trinity but apply to other colleges or elsewhere .....yet you were happy to claim that trophy for Princeton later on!!

OP posts:
SecretSquirrels · 04/05/2015 15:52
Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 16:09

mel what makes you say the Westminster pupils are tutored? My DS attends and he isn't. My DD will attend in September and isn't. None of their mates are tutored. Frankly there isn't time!!!!

AND

Well my scholarship boy didn't have a tutor to get it in the first place

AND

Ah now I see. mel is one of those experts on schools she has no direct experience of, jobs she's never done etc etc grin. If I had a pound for every person who thinks they have the inside track on Westminster (far more current than, you know, actual parents, with, you know, real live kids there wink

A bit too defensive, don't you think? Be careful with ''PROTEST TOO MUCH''

THEN YOU COME UP WITH THIS:

Funnily enough I was supervising a post grad student recently ( not maths BTW) and she asked me where she could get a tutor. I was surprised as she is very able, very commited and already gets one to one sessions as part of her studies. But in the country she's from it's very common. Who knew?

Really? There not here....them not us Confused

How can you be an academic and make such statements??

PS: Don't jump to any conclusions, I am English Wink

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Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 16:14

Sorry the last post was for TheWordFactory btw

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LizzieMizz · 04/05/2015 16:35

word factory spinoa the doors open, your more than welcome to join me and margrat in the laundry dept! Seems like we all pretty useless Confused anyone else want to join?? Free Brew &Cake Grin. mel is on self destruct mode!

TheWordFactory · 04/05/2015 16:43

It's like car crash telly Grin.

Ps am wondering why mel junior will never use the laundry department. Do his clothes self clean or is he just used to the smell of bullshit?

OhYouBadBadKitten · 04/05/2015 16:44

What a strange thread!

Id love some cake if there is any going?

TheWordFactory · 04/05/2015 16:47

DS made some brownies earlier ( anything to get out of revision for GCSE Eng Lang). Will they do?

SecretSquirrels · 04/05/2015 16:49

and passes round Brew

Needmoresleep · 04/05/2015 16:53

Sorry Mel2Mel, but I think you have overstepped the mark with your rudeness.

You don't know who any of us are. My understanding, having hung around these boards for a while is that Spinoa, Word and Chimney are all senior academics whose advice is worth considering. Spinoa particularly as she is a mathematician (and has a generous track record of offering wise advice.)

(I use the word 'considering' carefully. No one here is going to be right all the time, but they clearly have useful and relevant experience to offer. )

Magrat has posted useful views on maths for a while, and Lizzie is an experienced tutor. Squirrels' son went through the Cambridge maths application procedure last year.

What are you looking for? Most people able to use the Internet can work out which maths courses are considered the most prestigious or the most difficult to get into, and it appears you are already pretty settled on Cambridge.

So why are you trying to pick a fight with just about everyone. The way MN works is you ask a question and people give advice. Some will be informed and useful, some pretty obvious and some straight silly. You then decide what to take on board. Having input from people with different backgrounds and experience can be valuable.

In short do you have something you want advice on. Or don't you have anything better to do on a Bank Holiday Monday than quarrel with Internet strangers.

Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 16:56

It a low blow to go my DS but it is expected from your type.

No I am used to giving them away to charity (then probably bought by you Grin ) and I always get him new ones.

PS: I leave your DC out of it for now but anymore then they will be fair game Wink

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Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 16:57

my last post is for TheBigMountFactory btw

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TheWordFactory · 04/05/2015 17:02

Sniffs air ... That's definitely the sweet smell of bullshit.

Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 17:05

Needmoresleep While reading your post I was going to answer you with honesty and tell you what I have changed my tone on this thread but.....then...I read your final paragraph!

Don't you think that your question should go to all?! If they don't like my response then....... MOVE ON....don't they have anything else to do? I am a stranger to them as well....or MN belongs to them by seniority?

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SecretSquirrels · 04/05/2015 17:05

What Needmoresleep says is true. Many of the posters on this thread are regulars on this board. Some have DC at top private schools and others at their local comp. The UCAS process is a challenge to all Grin.

I for one recognise the posters who are senior academics and who are incredibly helpful to those of us parents with DC going through the HE process. I am immensely grateful to many of them for support when DS1 was going through the process of application and STEP.

You began by implying that you knew nothing when in fact you seemed to have your sights set on Cambridge to begin with. Nothing wrong with that but you appear to dismiss everything these people (who really do know their stuff) say. This is one reason you have not had the response you wished for.

TheWordFactory · 04/05/2015 17:09

I think it would be a push to call me senior but I do teach at Oxbridge and I am involved in the admissions process.

Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 17:17

SecretSquirrels I am sure you are right and I have thanked few of them.

My heart is not set on Cambridge! It is the only one we have visited so far and only the previous Saturday. I have said this repeatedly.

When I visit Warwick, I will probably ask about it. When I visit Imperial, Bath...I will probably talk about them as well.....emmm ....or maybe not Grin

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Needmoresleep · 04/05/2015 17:20

You are senior if the comparison is with a 'failed economist'

That rankled a bit till I tried to think how you would define a successful economist. Ed Balls perhaps? Senior economists employed by major banks pre-crisis, etc.

Perhaps I should have considered tutoring.

Oddly I have been successful at investment at a personal level. Does that redeem my considered failure?!

Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 17:22

I can see that you have developed a sort of a virtual friendship but be careful with the herd/bullying culture! I have noticed what has happened on another thread and some of it has spilled over here Wink

I am NEW and I don't know anyone of you so if you don't like what I am saying then IGNORE ME, ANSWER OTHER THREADS, START A NEW ONE....but YOU CAN'T because you feel you have the say over what happens on the Education front (who know maybe even in the other sections as well)

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Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 17:25

Needmoresleep I ask you the same thing don't you have anything better to do on a Bank Holiday Monday than quarrel with Internet strangers

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TheWordFactory · 04/05/2015 17:30

I'm not a economist failed or otherwise Grin.

Original poster
Mel2Mel · 04/05/2015 17:34

Oddly I have been successful at investment at a personal level...yet you still look at others with envy?

At times it has felt as if the parents have judged us on our ordinary public sector jobs...so you are an investor as well?

Make up your mind!

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TheWordFactory · 04/05/2015 17:35

Ooh what investments needsmore?

I have always invested in property but feel that I might be more adventurous going forward.

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