Two Harvard Crimson articles, one from 2006 and the other from 2023, describing the legendary Math 55 class showcase how much college has changed in less than a generation.
’06: “This is probably the most difficult undergraduate math class in the country,” reads a page on the Mathematics Department Web site.
’23: “Our slogan is, if you’re reasonably good at math, you love it, and you have lots of time to devote to it, then Math 55 is completely fine for you.” — article published by the math dept titled, “Demystifying Math 55.”
’06: Regardless of the course’s name brand value, Math 55 students face a single fact: It’s hard. Really hard.
’23: Zoe Shleifer ’26, another current Math 55 student, also doesn’t get the hype. “It’s fun,” she says. “It’s just like any other class. You know, we go to lecture, and then we leave lecture, and then we do the problem set.”