Comments on Math/Stat Department Education
Graduation Date:
Graduation Date:
I received a superb training from the Dept. of
Mathmatics and statistics necessary to perform well in my graduate studies.
Each class in
mathmatics that I took at TCNJ was rigourous and
through enough that I feel I graduated for TCNJ with confident knowledge about
pure
mathmatics. i took three classes: Advanced
Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Geometry. Geometry was an elective and the other
two were
requirements.
The content I learned among the various calculus classes enabled me to
perform well in Advanced Calculus on the graduate level. I
was also
fortunate to hae taken Linear Algebra 2 at TCNJ. This was an excellent
reinforcement of the concepts of LInear Algebra, which without a
doubt helped me in graduate school. Although the Geometry course I took on the
graduate level was quite different fromthe Geomety i took at
TCNJ, it still prepared me well for graduate
school.
Graduation Date:
I was very prepared with an overall mathematics
background. However, it would have been helpful if the department focused a bit
more on the non-
theoretical side. Whether or not the department
is happy with the fact, it remains that nearly all pure math majors do not
continue on to theoretical
graduate studies. As an actuary, a more
practical program of study (and even possibly a minor in actuarial science)
would have been immensely
beneficial. I have entered my profession at the
position of having to 'catch up' to other actuarial students whose colleges
better prepared them for
the 'actuarial real world.'
Graduation Date:
The Math Department has the best teachers I had
in college. They seemed like they were
the most prepared out of profesors from other
departments, and they loved what they did. The
math profesors demanded the students to work hard
and learn the beauty of mathematics. In math classes the teachers made it
impossible to just memorize the hard problems, instead I feel I have
ingrained in my head the major thms and concepts
of the courses (which will probably be with me forever).The only thing I feel
this department
needs is more hands on work. I feel the students should be required to
take more courses in applied mathematics.
And be familiar with Maple,
Mathmatica, and Matlab. Anyone going into research today is going to
have to face computers. The Math
department needs to train their students
better in
technology (ie maybe in require courses in CompSci). In my own personal experience, through an
internship I felt my Math background
gave me the intuition to solve a variety of
problems, just by the way I analysis them.
This was probably the result of writing proofs and doing math
problems.
When most people were hung up on the Math part, I understood. Although, when it came to computer stuff I
was definetly at a
disadvantage.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2005 Major Code: MATA
I have greatly enojoyed the majority of my math
classes and feel like I have learned a lot from them. I only wish that more content from the
earlier
courses could be reinforced later so that I
would remember it better.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2005 Major Code: MATA
I am hesitant to give a 4 because there were
things that could have been done better.
I feel like some teachers curve the bottom end of the class to
better non failing grades, but a student with a
B will not get curved to a B+ or A-.
However I do feel that the Mathematics Professors I have had
worked very hard to prepare coherent lectures
for students. I feel like the time I
spent in class was well worth each moment.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2005 Major Code: MATA
I enjoyed most of the teachers and the workload
was bearable, but I had some complications with obtaining my stat minor.
Monday, November 20, 2006 Page 1 of 3
Graduation Date: 5/1/2005 Major Code: MATA
Many of the mathematics courses were difficult
for me, overall the mostdifficult courses I took at TCNJ. However, I feel that I learned the mostfrom
them as well.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2005 Major Code: MATA
Overall, I was very pleased with the mathematics
department at TCNJ. Almost all the
teachers seemed highly motivated to help students succeed
and commanded respect for the knowledge each
clearly held in mathematics. Very few of
the classes lacked the drive and focus I desired.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
I really enjoyed most of my math classes, and
with topics classes and independent studies, I felt that I was able to tailor
my education to what I was
most interested in, which was nice.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Very challenging courses. Professors able to teach well. I feel like I learned valuable information
and ways of thinking in each class.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Had lots of great teachers and learned plenty
and thought the department was for the ost part great. Loved the challenge of being a Math major.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Presence of Math Ed. majors tend to change the
scope and depth of classes. Often, their
discontent does not reflect the opinions of the rest of us.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
I have some radical education ideas, so that is
primarily the reason for a 3 instead of a 4. I dislike going to class two times
a week for an entire
semester, especially while taking 3 or 4 other
classes. If I had the choice, I would want to have a high concentration of
studying for a subject over 2
weeks (an only one subject), and then one or two
practice quesitons a week for the remainder of the semester. Basically, I wish
all of my math
courses were independent studies. I learned the
most from my independent studies, and established the best relationship with my
professors while
doing so.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
small class size, and I found the some
prof.are approachable to helping
students.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
The math department in particular was excellent,
in 4 years I did not haveone professor that I would have considered below
average, and most of
themwere well above average. Also, the faculty is generally available for
anycomments or concerns I have, and they keep the students' priorities
abovetheir own in almost all occasions. I learned A TON of helpful informationover
the years, not just specifically math related, but real world
adviceas well.
I can only hope that the next department I encounter can comeclose to
this one.
Monday, November 20, 2006 Page 2 of 3
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
I am so glad to have had the experience of being
a student in this math department. My math professors challenged me to work
hard and spent
many hours helping me to be successful. I
enjoyed studying with other students, working with them on projects and having
the opportunity to present
our work.
The goals and requirements of the math program were clear, and the professors
and secretaries were always there to help with any
problems along the way. The support and high
quality of the math department have made it a wonderful place to learn.
Graduation Date: 5/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
I have no problems with the department, the
professors are all very knowledgeable and good at what they do
Graduation Date: 8/1/2006 Major Code: MATA
Overall, it wasn't a good experience. The
students are all over the map because so many of them are teaching majors which
makes it difficult for the
classes
to move at the appropriate speed. The classes are all different difficulties,
and not in such a way that it gets harder as you go and so you
are ready to tackle the one or two hardest at
the end. Some classes are just difficult because of teachers and not the
material. Some of the most
difficult material I faced was well taught and
well structured so that it was manageable and I still had a chance to succeed.
Some teachers focus on
memorization of proofs which is time consuming
and doesn't feel worthwhile. But teachers like xxxx and yyyy make this
program worthwhile. Not that I don't like the
others (there are only two teachers that I don't like), I just feel xxxx and
yyyy are truly
exceptional.
Monday, November 20, 2006 Page 3 of 3