I'm planning on getting a mathematics degree. What can I expect? (PhDs please check in)

[Chaotic42]

After reviewing all of my options, I've made up my mind that I want a mathematics degree.

I want to go all the way. I have no idea what to expect, and it'll be a few days before I can go talk to the school.

What is the trip from nothing to doctorate like?

 

[RaynorWolfcastle]

I've yet to meet a math prof that's a well adjusted, sociable individual that doesn't live in his office. Make of that what you will, this has been my experience so far

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Do you currently have and undergrad degree, and if so, what in?

 

[CanOWorms]

I would just concentrate on the BS for right now... most people believe that they're PhD material, but can't really last. Life has a lot of surprises in it.

 

[ArmenK]

You would probably be better off (careerwise) picking an application, wheather its engineering, physics, econ, etc. Another good option is to get a bachelors in math and then apply it to one of the mentioned areas in grad school.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Do you currently have and undergrad degree, and if so, what in?

No.

I have 1 semester of credit. I'm going to go for a physics degree as well.

I'm kind of hoping for some positive light to be cast. I'm tried of hearing that I won't have a cushy desk job with a math/physics degree.

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Do you currently have and undergrad degree, and if so, what in?

No.

I have 1 semester of credit. I'm going to go for a physics degree as well.

I'm kind of hoping for some positive light to be cast. I'm tried of hearing that I won't have a cushy desk job with a math/physics degree.

Lots of physics people work in engineering. I've had tons of physics people in my Electrical Engineering graduate courses. People really tell you that you won't find a job with a physics degree?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Lots of physics people work in engineering. I've had tons of physics people in my Electrical Engineering graduate courses.

Well, I'm interested in theory.

Now, I know what you're thinking, but I want to aim for what I *really* want to do. If I fall short, even with a BS, I'm in a better position than I am now with a high school diploma.

I really want to go to school just to learn. As long as I can get by in life, if I can continue getting my education, I'll be happy.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Do you currently have and undergrad degree, and if so, what in?

No.

I have 1 semester of credit. I'm going to go for a physics degree as well.

I'm kind of hoping for some positive light to be cast. I'm tried of hearing that I won't have a cushy desk job with a math/physics degree.

My brother has dual degrees in math and physics. What he decided to do was to become an actuary instead of pursuing the doctorate, since the field of physics pretty much died after they dropped funding if the Superconducting Supercollider.

I think the best thing you can do is to see the academic advisor for math if you have not done so, and check out the current grad programs, and what you need to do to get from here to there. Frankly, getting through undergrad and doing well is your first priority. If you do well, then getting into a grad program will not be difficult if you are prepared. I cannot say what a math program is like, since that is outside my field of expertise, however in the sciences, putting in a 60 or 70 hour week is the norm. That is not meant to discourage you, or even say its that way in mathematics, however would think they want quite a bit for their stipend dollar. Grad schools always do.

Go see an academic advisor, and I bet you will get far better answers than anyone here can give.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
My brother has dual degrees in math and physics. What he decided to do was to become an actuary instead of pursuing the doctorate, since the field of physics pretty much died after they dropped funding if the Superconducting Supercollider.

I think the best thing you can do is to see the academic advisor for math if you have not done so, and check out the current grad programs, and what you need to do to get from here to there. Frankly, getting through undergrad and doing well is your first priority. If you do well, then getting into a grad program will not be difficult if you are prepared. I cannot say what a math program is like, since that is outside my field of expertise, however in the sciences, putting in a 60 or 70 hour week is the norm. That is not meant to discourage you, or even say its that way in mathematics, however would think they want quite a bit for their stipend dollar. Grad schools always do.

Go see an academic advisor, and I bet you will get far better answers than anyone here can give.

Sure, I'm not trying to write my thesis now or anything. I've just set goals for myself, and I'd like a map, even if it's rough.

I've done 70-90 hour shifts ever since I started working. I'm not scared of hard work.

 

[cchen]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Do you currently have and undergrad degree, and if so, what in?

No.

I have 1 semester of credit. I'm going to go for a physics degree as well.

I'm kind of hoping for some positive light to be cast. I'm tried of hearing that I won't have a cushy desk job with a math/physics degree.

I think a better plan of action would be to start thinking about this in 1.5 years and get your grades good enough to enter a top grad program

 

[apac]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
Do you currently have and undergrad degree, and if so, what in?

No.

I have 1 semester of credit. I'm going to go for a physics degree as well.

I'm kind of hoping for some positive light to be cast. I'm tried of hearing that I won't have a cushy desk job with a math/physics degree.

Jeez think you're tired of hearing that, try a CS major. This is how the majority of my conversations go:

Hey, so what major are you?
Compsci.
Oh...yeah well, thats good...maybe you should minor in economics/business so you can...uh...have a shot at a corporate job if CS...uh...doesn't work out.

Piece of advice, start looking early. Get internships/job experience in your field any way you can. Regardless of your major, there's always a demand for everything, no matter how small that may be. Put yourself out there and you'll find your place. Hell, I'm interning this summer at a CS research department that has all of 3 undergrads, all of whom are seniors, and ~15 grad students, and I'm a freshman. I simply asked around till the opportunity arose and showed enthusiasm to anyone that would take me.

 

[Mo0o]

1 semester of credit... did you bring that over from high school or did u actually take a course at the unviersity. I know at my school there had been a few math major hopefuls that changed their intended majors after taking a couple of courses. College math and high school math are pretty different. Sure the stuff is interesting, but i dont think everyone is up for the challenge, especially going for a PhD

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
1 semester of credit... did you bring that over from high school or did u actually take a course at the unviersity. I know at my school there had been a few math major hopefuls that changed their intended majors after taking a couple of courses. College math and high school math are pretty different. Sure the stuff is interesting, but i dont think everyone is up for the challenge, especially going for a PhD

Meh, I can handle it.

I took up to Trig in school, and I taught myself up to around Calc 2 or 3. I'm on vectors/parametric curves.

I need to brush up though.

 

[beer]

Dude, take it a year at a time.....

 

[Excelsior]

"We can smile, breathe, walk, and eat our meals in a way that allows us to be in touch with the abundance of happiness that is available. We are very good at preparing to live, but not very good at living. We know how to sacrifice ten years for a diploma, and we are willing to work very hard to get a job, a car, a house, and so on. But we have difficulty remembering that we are alive at the present moment, the only moment there is for us to be alive.
Every breath we take, every step we make, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment."

 

[Kadarin]

I would hazard a guess that you should expect to have to do a LOT of freakin' math...

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: beer
Dude, take it a year at a time.....

I am. I want to make that clear. I'm going to focus on each class, and if I ever want or need to stop, I will.

I'm just shooting for my star.

 

[Jmman]

Well, I am finishing up degrees in math and computer science right now. It gets very tough very fast. If you go to grad school in Mathematics it gets even tougher. My recommendation would be to see how it goes in a couple of years of undergrad, and then see if you want to pursue a graduate degree in Math. I have seen lots of people change their mind after a few semesters of numerical analysis or chaos theory...... My last class started out with about 30+ students and by the end of the semester there was only about 7 students left.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Jmman
Well, I am finishing up degrees in math and computer science right now. It gets very tough very fast. If you go to grad school in Mathematics it gets even tougher. My recommendation would be to see how it goes in a couple of years of undergrad, and then see if you want to pursue a graduate degree in Math. I have seen lots of people change their mind after a few semesters of numerical analysis or chaos theory...... My last class started out with about 30+ students and by the end of the semester there was only about 7 students left.

Do you know of any websites with some examples of what you're doing? I'm curious.

 

[Orsorum]

Haha, I was a double degree in economics and mathematics from the spring of my freshman year to the spring of my sophomore year - in that year I took the last quarter of calculus, diff eq, linear algebra, nonlinear modelling, multivariable calc, probability, and logic.

It was the logic and the multivariable that really weeded me out, got a 1.7 and a 2.3 and I finally had to concede that I'm not "built" for mathematical logic or theory; here's a tip - logic, higher level math in general, is very different than calculus or even diff eq and linear (matrix) algebra. All those lower level courses are basically plug and chug, maybe a short proof here and there. Logic is all about proofs and no plug and chug.

I'm now in accounting and economics, and enjoying them much, much more. I know what you mean about wanting to learn and enjoying it; I'm thinking about a doctorate in law and maybe a JD/MBA in tax, the former with an emphasis on law and economics and public policy. Can you tell I want to work in government someday?

The way I look at it, I'll probably spend 3 years in a JD/MBA Acc. program, 4 years in an LL.D. program, so I'll graduate when I'm 21, work, get my JD/MBA when I'm 27, work for a while longer, and come back to school in my mid-30s and have my doctorate by 40. I've also considered going into the military after I've worked for a year or two as a CPA and then get my JD/MBA paid for by them, then work a term of service (6 years?), and be out by the time I'm mid-30s, again good timing for an LL.D. program.

That's all a good plan, but the step beyond my bachelor's is still a good three years away. Oy.

Cheers!
Nate