When Visiting Professor of Mathematics Stavros Garoufalidis returned from intersession to teach the second half of Mathematics 22, "Honors Linear Algebra and Calculus," he saw nearly two-thirds fewer faces in his introductory level course.

Math 22--whose enrollment dropped from 52 to 18 students--is just a part of the annual exodus of students from introductory math and science courses.

Robert L. Chan '02, who took Math 22a, is not taking a math course at all this spring because of his dissatisfaction with the class.

"I feel that the math department is not strong in fostering the needs of those who are interested in math but don't love it," says Chan.

Every year, dozens of students--mostly first-years--shelve dreams of medical school and scientific careers after their first semester in Harvard's demanding math and science courses.

Some of the attrition rate is due to nothing more than natural change in academic interests, but some blame bad teaching and an unwritten agenda to "weed out" the less talented students.

Taking the Fun out of Calculus

When Sarah I. Meyers '02 arrived at Harvard this fall, she planned to concentrate in philosophy or music. But she was also wanted to study math, so first semester she enrolled in Mathematics 21a, "Multivariable Calculus."

"I began taking it as an elective, because I remembered how much I enjoyed [math] in high school," she says. "I just wanted to check it out."

But Meyers says she was sorely disappointed in her choice.

"Lower levels [in the Math Department] are not taught for pleasure or fun, but as a function to get from point A to point B," she says. "I felt like everyone teaching the course and everyone taking it used it to get to the next math course or physics course or to fulfill the next requirement, not because math was fun or interesting."

Students considering a concentration in math or science, or those just interested in taking a few classes within those departments, often perceive intro-level classes as frustrating, intimidating or disorganized.

"The class made me feel there was no way I could do math at Harvard unless I threw myself into it," Meyers says. "I'm definitely going to miss it, but I don't see doing it as possible. It just wasn't fun."

The Science of Diminishing Returns

Complaints about math and science entry-level courses seem to be widespread regardless of concentration.