Should I continue doing research in mathematics?

[Orsorum]

I've been doing this research for a year now (well, winter qtr 2003, then August 2003 through now) with a professor of mine from the mathematics dept. It's been semi-interesting until about a month ago, it's basically playing with equations in Maple and trying to figure out any patterns (hint: I haven't found any yet. ). So I'm finishing up my quarter report right now, and I'm mulling over the question of whether or not I want to continue this next quarter.

Two lines of thought regarding this, one for, one against:

For: no matter what, research on your resume looks good. He's a good guy, as well, and I enjoy sitting around and talking with him. The research is also paid ($500 a quarter), which isn't much, but it's some scratch ($10 an hour, 5 hours a week).

Cons: It's boring. Not so boring that I fall asleep doing it, but I'm losing interest in it. Once I realized that mathematics wasn't my field of choice, I lost a bit of steam. I'd rather be doing research with a statistics professor (haven't had any luck yet) or a finance professor (haven't found one yet, maybe this quarter).

I'm thinking I'll probably have a finance prof this quarter who I'll get to know and I'll manage to worm my way into doing some research with them. Unfortunately this is not certain.

As I'm typing this out, I realized that I can't really think of a solid reason not to do it, other than I'd probably enjoy having the free time during the Spring.

Thoughts?

Cheers!
Nate

 

[Aharami]

free time is always good, esp if you are overworked already

 

[3point14]

Grad student?

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: 3point14
Grad student?

Undergrad, BS Economics.

 

[Ameesh]

at 5 hours a week, its hardly a commitment, i'd continue if you dont have something more compelling to do

 

[3point14]

Hummm, tough call. I am a math graduate, so this may be a lil' bias. I would probaby stick with it until you graduate or find another (more enjoyable) department to transfer to. If you plan on doing a graduate degree in Economics, I suggest LSE. My best bud just got accepted to their Political Economy and he wants me to come along. I know research is gruelling at times, but you being an underdrad, it will pay off in the long run. I only wish I had the opportunity to do research in my undergrad. Who knows, maybe you will be the next Gerard Debreu

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: 3point14
Hummm, tough call. I am a math graduate, so this may be a lil' bias. I would probaby stick with it until you graduate or find another (more enjoyable) department to transfer to. If you plan on doing a graduate degree in Economics, I suggest LSE. My best bud just got accepted to their Political Economy and he wants me to come along. I know research is gruelling at times, but you being an underdrad, it will pay off in the long run. I only wish I had the opportunity to do research in my undergrad. Who knows, maybe you will be the next Gerard Debreu

Heh, I'm thinking a graduate degree in law at this point, anything more technical would probably be in finance or accounting. I've toyed with the idea of a Masters in Economics, but I've read enough articles and spoken with enough professors to realize that unless I'm studying economics as it applies to law or finance, I'm probably not that good at it. Political Economy could be fun after law school.

 

[blackdogdeek]

i would switch. research is hard enough as it is. it should at least be in a field or topic about which you are passionate.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek
i would switch. research is hard enough as it is. it should at least be in a field or topic about which you are passionate.

The only problem would be finding an opening in the finance or stats dept. at my school.

 

[Orsorum]

My other thought is that I would do the research in math for Spring quarter, then switch into finance or accounting or something starting in the summer.

 

[zerocool1]

maybe look into doing research sociology

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: zerocool1
maybe look into doing research sociology

Why? The statistical application?

 

[ohtwell]

Well, if you think you need the free time then you should probably stop, but if you don't mind the work then just keep researching.


: ) Amanda

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Well, if you think you need the free time then you should probably stop, but if you don't mind the work then just keep researching.


: ) Amanda

Yeah, I don't really need the free time.

You shortened your sig.

 

[ohtwell]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Well, if you think you need the free time then you should probably stop, but if you don't mind the work then just keep researching.


: ) Amanda

Yeah, I don't really need the free time.

You shortened your sig.

Yep! I got tired of people commenting on the "Girls kill kittens too." line.


: ) Amanda

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Well, if you think you need the free time then you should probably stop, but if you don't mind the work then just keep researching.


: ) Amanda

Yeah, I don't really need the free time.

You shortened your sig.

Yep! I got tired of people commenting on the "Girls kill kittens too." line.


: ) Amanda

I think that was my favorite line from AT, ever. Second only maybe to the "referring to myself, the four young ladies, and of course the goat" comment.

Probably time to move on, though. Sigs are only cool for so long.

 

[ohtwell]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Well, if you think you need the free time then you should probably stop, but if you don't mind the work then just keep researching.


: ) Amanda

Yeah, I don't really need the free time.

You shortened your sig.

Yep! I got tired of people commenting on the "Girls kill kittens too." line.


: ) Amanda

I think that was my favorite line from AT, ever. Second only maybe to the "referring to myself, the four young ladies, and of course the goat" comment.

Probably time to move on, though. Sigs are only cool for so long.

I might put it back! I miss it!


: ) Amanda

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: ohtwell

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Well, if you think you need the free time then you should probably stop, but if you don't mind the work then just keep researching.


: ) Amanda

Yeah, I don't really need the free time.

You shortened your sig.

Yep! I got tired of people commenting on the "Girls kill kittens too." line.


: ) Amanda

I think that was my favorite line from AT, ever. Second only maybe to the "referring to myself, the four young ladies, and of course the goat" comment.

Probably time to move on, though. Sigs are only cool for so long.

I might put it back! I miss it!


: ) Amanda

You know you want to.... silly evil pleasure robots, always with the pleasure!

 

[ohtwell]

Much better

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V


: ) Amanda

 

[Passions]

Math boring????

You should write equations on your windows or mirrors.

Seems to always conjur up emotions in the movies.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Passions
Math boring????

You should write equations on your windows or mirrors.

Seems to always conjur up emotions in the movies.

I'm not that smart. : )

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: ohtwell
Much better

||
||
V


: ) Amanda

Yay!

 

[Orsorum]

There's nothing quite like disappointing an adviser to make you feel bad. Granted, he's been busy all quarter and so have I, but when you come to him with a rough draft of the material you've been working on for the quarter and he says "You haven't done much this quarter, have you?", just brings that whole guilt thing right on ya.

I haven't been doing nothing, mind you, I've been putting in my time and more, I just haven't found any results. You can only look at the same... 215 equations so many times before you start to blank out. And you can only reshuffle them around so many times before you start to see the same numbers, time and time again. I'm quite serious. 50 hours of work this quarter, a good 25 of that was spent staring at the same graphs and shuffling them around in LaTeX.

Ugh.

I sometimes wish I was working full-time, at least then there's a definite end to my day, a yardstick by which to measure my progress.

Well, I suppose that's why I have Spring Break, to restate everything and sum it all up.

*sigh*

I'm going to go take a nap before I start getting irritable.

 

[Azraele]

I haven't been doing nothing, mind you, I've been putting in my time and more, I just haven't found any results. You can only look at the same... 215 equations so many times before you start to blank out. And you can only reshuffle them around so many times before you start to see the same numbers, time and time again. I'm quite serious. 50 hours of work this quarter, a good 25 of that was spent staring at the same graphs and shuffling them around in LaTeX.

Perhaps you need to think outside the box, as it were.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Azraele

I haven't been doing nothing, mind you, I've been putting in my time and more, I just haven't found any results. You can only look at the same... 215 equations so many times before you start to blank out. And you can only reshuffle them around so many times before you start to see the same numbers, time and time again. I'm quite serious. 50 hours of work this quarter, a good 25 of that was spent staring at the same graphs and shuffling them around in LaTeX.

Perhaps you need to think outside the box, as it were.

I'm trying to, and I'm not finding many ways to do so. One of the many reasons why I'm not pursuing an actual career in mathematics.