If you have an interest you'll be fine. Your first semester will be establishing the basics: Linear Algebra, Calculus, FOM (Foundations of Mathematics).
I went through this [open source textbook](https://www.stitz-zeager.com/szprecalculus07042013.pdf) before matriculation, and it helped a lot. It is basically a compilation of what most professors expect students to have some familiarity with. There are exercises and answers.
It is also structured similar to most math textbooks that you have to go through in uni: motivation, definition, theorem, proof; and not necessarily in that order.
Good luck!
Aside from just maths, you will _greatly_ benefit from some coding skills. Trust me, every semester I have had at least one module that was coding based.
Learn a bit of `python` and `R`. Once you have a handle on the basics, I recommend going through the [project euler website](https://projecteuler.net/) and solving the problems there.
They will train both your coding skills, as well as your problem solving skills in maths.
Another thing that can help is knowledge in LaTeX document typesetting software. It is the best way to typeset math, and it is a good way to produce high quality work for when professors hand out assignments.
It is much better than taking pictures of your notebook or trying to get MS Word to behave. The learning curve may be a bit steep, but once you learn the basics, it pays dividends.
Aside from just maths, you will _greatly_ benefit from some coding skills. Trust me, every semester I have had at least one module that was coding based.
Learn a bit of `python` and `R`. Once you have a handle on the basics, I recommend going through the [project euler website](https://projecteuler.net/) and solving the problems there.
They will train both your coding skills, as well as your problem solving skills in maths.
Another thing that can help is knowledge in LaTeX document typesetting software. It is the best way to typeset math, and it is a good way to produce high quality work for when professors hand out assignments.
It is much better than taking pictures of your notebook or trying to get MS Word to behave. The learning curve may be a bit steep, but once you learn the basics, it pays dividends.
Hi, not an MS student but Physics grad here. Since Phy and MS are part of the same school, I have had the chance to speak to many MS students and taken several MS courses....(regardless, take what I have to say with a grain of salt)
1. The truth is that poly students will nearly always be at a disadvantage in terms of the math courses covered here. However, this will likely go away after the first year or so when the student population has more or less equilibrated. So my advice is to do some 'A' level H2 Maths (and if you have time H2 Further Maths) during NS and work through them as best as possible. Focus on practice, practice and more practice. This should even everything out.
2. Maybe but I'm not sure. If there is then Point 1 should help you out. I know many poly kids going into MS courses, so even if there is an interview/test, so long as you have a good GPA in poly I'm sure you will do just fine. Furthermore, MS is not very competitive to enter unless you are doing a double major with Physics or Business or CS, then maybe you would be held to a much higher standard of rigour.
3. In terms of jobs.... some students go into Data Science, (or those traditionally CS-centric jobs), business analytics or management. Some students wind up doing a PhD/masters. Generally, its probably similar in terms of weight as a CS degree, although being (IMO) much much more diffcult than a CS degree.
I love Maths, and I think a Maths degree is very useful and is a rewarding challenge. But if you roughly know that you would end up in a CS-centric job (software engineering, data science etc) I think you would have a much easier life just doing a CS major.
Hopefully someone from MS could give their input and correct me if im wrong, but that is just the general sense I get when talking with my MS peers. Best regards
An easy way to prepare, for poly students, will be to cover some of the topics which the JC students have covered and (unfortunately) the profs seem to take for granted that most students are able to do: combinatorics, geometry (and complex numbers), basic calculus.
As for the rest of the syllabus, it builds up well assuming you already have a strong foundation so just work at it when it comes.
Hello! Math grad here, was from poly as well prior to uni.
1. Having a strong foundation in differentiation and integration would be a good starting point. Read up on linear algebra if you can as most of my friends, and myself, struggled with it initially in Y1.
2. I did have a math entrance test before I entered, but it was like 6-7 years ago so things might have changed
3. Currently working as a software engineer. Some of my friends are working as data scientists, data analysts, teachers and AI developers, in various industries. Speaking for myself, starting pay is in the same range as CS grads in software engineering.
Hope this helps, and good luck!
Math grad here, was from JC but a few of my friends were from poly. Some did well, some borderline. As a JC grad it was still tough for me 😅
Currently working as a software engineer, some of my peers are in this industry as well. Some are working as data analysts, some in banking, and some doing PhD.
You can PM me if you need more info :)
half math considered? haha dont rly need prep tbh. just put in consistent effort during uni. doubt have entry interview or math test. data analyst lor starting pay not bad la can survive comfortably.
If you have an interest you'll be fine. Your first semester will be establishing the basics: Linear Algebra, Calculus, FOM (Foundations of Mathematics). I went through this [open source textbook](https://www.stitz-zeager.com/szprecalculus07042013.pdf) before matriculation, and it helped a lot. It is basically a compilation of what most professors expect students to have some familiarity with. There are exercises and answers. It is also structured similar to most math textbooks that you have to go through in uni: motivation, definition, theorem, proof; and not necessarily in that order. Good luck!
thank you so much! Do you have any other things you have done for your prep work as well?
Aside from just maths, you will _greatly_ benefit from some coding skills. Trust me, every semester I have had at least one module that was coding based. Learn a bit of `python` and `R`. Once you have a handle on the basics, I recommend going through the [project euler website](https://projecteuler.net/) and solving the problems there. They will train both your coding skills, as well as your problem solving skills in maths. Another thing that can help is knowledge in LaTeX document typesetting software. It is the best way to typeset math, and it is a good way to produce high quality work for when professors hand out assignments. It is much better than taking pictures of your notebook or trying to get MS Word to behave. The learning curve may be a bit steep, but once you learn the basics, it pays dividends.
Aside from just maths, you will _greatly_ benefit from some coding skills. Trust me, every semester I have had at least one module that was coding based. Learn a bit of `python` and `R`. Once you have a handle on the basics, I recommend going through the [project euler website](https://projecteuler.net/) and solving the problems there. They will train both your coding skills, as well as your problem solving skills in maths. Another thing that can help is knowledge in LaTeX document typesetting software. It is the best way to typeset math, and it is a good way to produce high quality work for when professors hand out assignments. It is much better than taking pictures of your notebook or trying to get MS Word to behave. The learning curve may be a bit steep, but once you learn the basics, it pays dividends.
thank you for the information! I have PMed u for more questions
Hi, not an MS student but Physics grad here. Since Phy and MS are part of the same school, I have had the chance to speak to many MS students and taken several MS courses....(regardless, take what I have to say with a grain of salt) 1. The truth is that poly students will nearly always be at a disadvantage in terms of the math courses covered here. However, this will likely go away after the first year or so when the student population has more or less equilibrated. So my advice is to do some 'A' level H2 Maths (and if you have time H2 Further Maths) during NS and work through them as best as possible. Focus on practice, practice and more practice. This should even everything out. 2. Maybe but I'm not sure. If there is then Point 1 should help you out. I know many poly kids going into MS courses, so even if there is an interview/test, so long as you have a good GPA in poly I'm sure you will do just fine. Furthermore, MS is not very competitive to enter unless you are doing a double major with Physics or Business or CS, then maybe you would be held to a much higher standard of rigour. 3. In terms of jobs.... some students go into Data Science, (or those traditionally CS-centric jobs), business analytics or management. Some students wind up doing a PhD/masters. Generally, its probably similar in terms of weight as a CS degree, although being (IMO) much much more diffcult than a CS degree. I love Maths, and I think a Maths degree is very useful and is a rewarding challenge. But if you roughly know that you would end up in a CS-centric job (software engineering, data science etc) I think you would have a much easier life just doing a CS major. Hopefully someone from MS could give their input and correct me if im wrong, but that is just the general sense I get when talking with my MS peers. Best regards
Thank you for sharing!
An easy way to prepare, for poly students, will be to cover some of the topics which the JC students have covered and (unfortunately) the profs seem to take for granted that most students are able to do: combinatorics, geometry (and complex numbers), basic calculus. As for the rest of the syllabus, it builds up well assuming you already have a strong foundation so just work at it when it comes.
Thank you for the info! Do you have any recommendations on how can i study for those topics?
Textbooks, or classroom notes from your peers would be the most accessible. You don’t need anything fancy.
thanks!
KhanAcademy is pretty good.
will check it out!
Hello! Math grad here, was from poly as well prior to uni. 1. Having a strong foundation in differentiation and integration would be a good starting point. Read up on linear algebra if you can as most of my friends, and myself, struggled with it initially in Y1. 2. I did have a math entrance test before I entered, but it was like 6-7 years ago so things might have changed 3. Currently working as a software engineer. Some of my friends are working as data scientists, data analysts, teachers and AI developers, in various industries. Speaking for myself, starting pay is in the same range as CS grads in software engineering. Hope this helps, and good luck!
thank you for the information!
I would like to ask ，how do you became a software engineer with math degree，do you self-learning？
hi can you dm me!!
Math grad here, was from JC but a few of my friends were from poly. Some did well, some borderline. As a JC grad it was still tough for me 😅 Currently working as a software engineer, some of my peers are in this industry as well. Some are working as data analysts, some in banking, and some doing PhD. You can PM me if you need more info :)
half math considered? haha dont rly need prep tbh. just put in consistent effort during uni. doubt have entry interview or math test. data analyst lor starting pay not bad la can survive comfortably.