But professors fear that the personal quality that has attracted so many might disappear if students continue to flock to the concentration at the current rate.
The number of students in Statistics 110, one of two required classes for the concentration, has tripled in the last five years—despite Blitzstein’s assurance that he has not made the class any easier.
The department plans to hire at least one new faculty member by next fall to accommodate growth.
“Big is not bad,” said Harrington, “but past concentrators have really stressed the fact that they liked working in smaller groups where you actually got to meet and work with the faculty.”
—Staff writer Akua F. Abu can be reached at aabu@college.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Radhika Jain can be reached at radhikajain@college.harvard.edu.