Notre Dame VS. Indiana University, which is better?

[gdjm]

Hi,

I have applied the pure Math Ph.D in these two universities, and I want to learn algebraic geometry and number theory. Does anyone know which university has a strong program --- in pure math as a whole, and in algebraic geomtery/number theory?

Personally, I prefer Notre Dame more, but from the Math Rank of USnews, Notre Dame(3.3/5) ranks far below Indiana University(3.7/5). I always wonder why Notre Dame ranks so low with a seemingly good faculty.

Besides, working load and reputation are also my considerations. I want to hear the suggestions from all of you :roll:

[frankdux]

although i'm not a pro, i did do my undergrad in math from indiana and i am applying to notre dame as well.

i will say this about indiana, i was impressed by their math department as well as their physical science departments. although i can't say much for prestige, since i truthfully wasnt paying much attention to what sort of research they were doing while i was an undergrad, i can certainly say that there are tons of really friendly professors who care a lot about their students. many of them have plenty of office hours as well. also, the buildings with the math departments and physical science departments are really nice too. in fact, the whole IU campus is pretty amazing to walk through and the atmosphere is really friendly. also, bloomington is a very safe and friendly place to live. the people are really nice. although my one warning would be that it is at the beginning edge of the bible belt so there are lots of churches and religious imagery and religious billboards, especially on the outskirts of town. (then again, notre dame is probably full of religious stuff as well)

i should also tell you that i decided not to apply to IU for my phd, but certainly not for academic reasons. i'm sure i'd be happy to go there if i did not go there during my undergrad, but i feel like if i returned there i'd end up feeling incredibly sad. i graduated from there in 2002 and it would be sort of depressing to move back there knowing all the friends i had made there are now long gone. like the expression that goes, "you can never go home again".

[gdjm]

Thank you for your long and poetic reply!

Do you know in which subject Indiana university is strong? Besides, I am quite interested in your reasons for choosing Notre Dame, I heared that Notre Dame has a slight workload as a TA, and it will take less time to graduate than Indiana. Do you also apply pure math? :roll:

[frankdux]

i'm interested in the interdisciplinary option that notre dame's math program offers. i'd be very interested in doing an overlapping PhD with a secondary interest in physics or astronomy. but truthfully, i did a bit poorer than i thought i would on the GRE subject test, so i think i shot down my own chances. (although i did get an 800 on the Q part of the general. that's gotta be worth something.)

as far as IU's strengths go, i honestly don't know which math subfields they excel in. but i do remember enjoying my calculus, diff eq, linear algebra, analysis, and probability classes. i guess that was pretty much all my math classes. one of my professor's in particular was really awesome and he even wrote me 11 LORs this year even though i hadn't seen him in about 6 years!

IU also excels in the physical sciences. they have a really good physics program and an awesome astrophysics program. so if you're interested in any sort of interdisciplinary studies in the physical sciences, IU is definitely awesome. if you like astronomy IU also has a functional observatory on campus, as well as two mini observatories on the roofs of the science buildings.

also, IU has literally one of THE BEST music programs in the world. if you go, definitely take a music class on the side. take up an instrument. it'll probably help you stay sane too. IU has 2 huge practice buildings full of dozens and dozens of soundproof rooms and pianos and other instruments. when i was there i took 3 semesters of piano and 3 semesters of guitar. i seriously wish i had taken more.

now i'm wishing i did apply after all.

[gdjm]

Yes, I knew that the Indiana University had many concerts from P. Halmos's autobiography "I what to be a mathematician", and he said in the book that" Indiana is at the bottom of great university". :oops: