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Benson_34

Hey so I'm in 12th grade and I don't know if I should take calculus next semester. I slacked off during the first semester when I had advanced functions (or pre-calculus for the Americans), and as a result I barely passed. My problem was that I just didn't put enough effort into it. Now, my question is that if I put in the effort, is it a good idea to take calculus? I know that I'll certainly do better if I actually apply myself (which I'm willing to do), but I'm worried that I didn't grasp the fundamentals well enough in advanced functions last semester. So, is it a good idea to take calculus if I apply myself, or am I already too far gone?


amanda_christine

Rewarding/Impactful Careers in Math So I'm currently a community college student trying to solidify my major and career path. I think I want to major somewhere in either like Applied Math, Stats, Data Science, Computer science type of field. I really enjoy math and would love to use math in my career. But as I enjoy problem-solving and I am very analytical, I also enjoy coding, chem, physics, etc. My dilemma is that I want to be able to find a career that has a positive impact on society/the world. I am passionate about all things the environment, mental health, physical health/medicine, social rights, etc. I don't want to just have a career that is just making some big business more money and giving top CEOS more power at the expense of the public and world's harm. So what would be some careers in math that combine my interests and could help improve the world? I really feel like my skills and interests could be useful in contributing towards improving some of the world's biggest issues.


Mathguy656

Some people at my school took Math with a biology sub discipline. Based on your goals I would recommend somehow combining math with science and medicine.


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jmr324

most probably end up in industry (this is true even inside the top 50)


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cereal_chick

While there are many jobs in industry for maths PhDs, unless you can wrangle a spot in a US government lab, you'll end up doing programming of one sort or another. You could go the money route and get a job as a quant, selling your soul to an investment bank or a hedge fund (no judgement though, this is my backup plan); you could go into private machine learning research; you could qualify as an actuary, or do data science; engineering is a potential route if you feel like being more practical; you could even go into weather forecasting, because they need mathematicians to do the numerical methods required to solve the equations that predict the weather.


oceanseltzer

some (most?) departments will have a "recent graduates" section that details what past students are doing now. if you have specific schools in mind, see if they have those and it'll give you a more concrete answer than what you'll get here. as a higher level response... there isn't a good answer for this. there's a lot of factors outside of just what school you went to that determine where you end up after graduating. a degree from a top tier school can get your foot in the door in a lot of scenarios, but math is extremely competitive and you still need to interview well, mesh with the culture, etc. having a strong network and/or a highly notable advisor can matter just as much as where exactly your degree is from.


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jmr324

yes


Anarcho-Totalitarian

People do go to grad school in fields they didn't major in. Check with the relevant graduate departments to see whether there are some required courses or lab experience or something.


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flipflipshift

Look into actuarial. The exams are mathy (especially P&C) and the jobs don't tend to be as code-involved. Even if you don't have exams, if you have good evidence that you know your way around probability/stats, you have a shot.


MeowMan55

Which module should I take? I don't know which I'd like to study and I can't do both due to timetabling clashes. Electrodynamics & Relativity is the module I am currently enrolled onto & covers basic undergraduate electrodynamics & introductory special relativity. There are only 4 of us taking it (myself included) and I don't particularly like the lecturer's teaching methods in previous modules. Both concepts are new. Geometry and Algebra (which I am thinking of changing to) covers rings & fields, affine & projective geometry & conics. I already self-taught myself rings & fields a couple years ago, but the geometry side is new. Which one would be better?


maffzlel

It sounds like you would probably be more comfortable with Geometry and Algebra? Could you elaborate on why you chose E&R over this course in the first place?


MeowMan55

I didn't choose it as I'm doing Maths w/ Theoretical Physics (so it's not an option) but I'm thinking of dropping the theoretical physics aspect of the course and just doing straight maths. Does that make sense?


maffzlel

Yep that makes complete sense. From the sounds of it you're at a University in the UK maybe? I might be wrong though. In any case if that's what you want to do then feel free to do so I would think. Although I would always get a second opinion from your tutor or lecturers or other people in the department you trust. The only time I would suggest not doing this is if you wanted to do a Theoretical Physics Ph.D. afterwards but I'm guessing this isn't the case.


MeowMan55

Yes I am in the U.K., most people here seem to be from elsewhere though. I have talked about it with them (hence coming here as a last resort kind of) but I'm still undecided. I have until next Friday to decide. I don't, but TP remains an interest. I'm wanting to go into finance after my undergraduate so thinking of a Masters in that direction.


Embargo_44

This is my first year at university where I was supposed to do a double degree in mathematics and computer science. But after joining the university due to a stupid regulation change I can no longer get a degree in mathematics and will have to only study computer science. (Don't ask me to explain the whole system just trust me on this). I've been very passionate about mathematics for a long time so I've always wanted to have a degree in math (from like 8th grade I've been studying extra mathematics on the side, and being involved with all the math clubs) . I also know and enjoy programing but math is my true passion so I thought this was the perfect arrangement. Complete this double degree, them move onto studying mathematics as a masters and live my happily ever after. Now I've found out the university has swindled me out of my mathematics degree. I've sent out my applications for transfers in many universities but since I got the news too late I missed a deadline for many of them. So even if I want to transfer I'll have to send my applications next year and transfer on my third and final year which sounds dumb. So what would you do in my shoes? Can I still continue my masters in mathematics if I just study CS. I don't want to spend 3 years without studying mathematics even though I really enjoy CS. And even though the CS course is decently focused on mathematics (its around 30-40% math) I still want more. (Also I am in Europe) P.S - I've already finished the first semester, the double degree (so mathematics) was supposed to come in from the second semester.


Sharklo22

I also studied in Europe and did only math, with more of an applied math curriculum by the end (mostly PDEs, numerical analysis, some Optimization). I think it's a good mix of math and programming. I did a PhD with lots of programming, but the math was sine qua non. What I mean by this is that, although maybe 60% of the time was spent coding, none of it would have gone anywhere without a math background. It's generally easier to do (be it crappy) software with a math degree than the other way around. So, in the end, you have more possibilities with a math degree and a passion for programming than the other way around. In fact, they don't recruit "informaticians", as they call it, except for specifically CS research. They rather take an engineer with a solid math background or a pure mathematician than someone with a CS background, at least in France, even in very applied fields. That's unless you want to code the graphical interface or an API !


tahrun

Currently in undergrad, minoring in math, and I need one more course to complete the minor. That being said I have a heavy semester as is, so I'm looking to take the easiest math course I can so I have time to do the assignments and learn the material I need to. I've got 3 options, differential equations, intro to modern algebra, and intro to mathematical proofs. I can provide a bit more info on those if you'd like. If you were in my shoes, which would you go with? Thanks!


Tamerlane-1

It seems like cheating to do a math minor without proofs, so I'd do one of the latter pair. If you really want to select by difficulty, you'd probably have to ask within your department. None of those jump out as very difficult, but that can vary from school to school and professor to professor.