Why is everyone down on the math degree?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,526
1,694
126
All I hear about my degree is how useless it is.

"Guess you'll be teaching math forever"
"You should major in Engineering."
"No one wants someone with a math degree"
"It's not practical"

Why all of the hate for a math degree? I mean, mathematicians have to have something to do, right?
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,526
1,694
126
Originally posted by: Anubis
yes but your most likely gonna have to get a masters
Click to expand...

I'm planning on a PhD. Something bad will have to happen to keep me from getting a doctorate. I also plan on doing Physics if I can get away with it.
 
H

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
10,621
1
0
There really isn't a big market for people with a BS in math. You really need a PhD in order to get a decent job.
 
P

PoPPeR

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 2002
6,993
0
0
is it true that to get a phd in math you have to solve one of those million dollar math problems?
 
Legendary

Legendary

Diamond Member
Jan 22, 2002
7,019
1
0
An undergrad degree in math can get you an actuarial job = good starting pay + benefits most of the time.
 
F

Feldenak

Lifer
Jan 31, 2003
14,090
2
81
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
All I hear about my degree is how useless it is.

"Guess you'll be teaching math forever"
"You should major in Engineering."
"No one wants someone with a math degree"
"It's not practical"

Why all of the hate for a math degree? I mean, mathematicians have to have something to do, right?
Click to expand...

Friend of mine took his math degree and laughed all the way to Sun before the tech bubble burst.
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,526
1,694
126
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
There really isn't a big market for people with a BS in math. You really need a PhD in order to get a decent job.
Click to expand...

Well, I already have a job that wants me to get a math degree.

The thing is, I'm not going to college to get a $150,000/yr job. I'm going because I'm interested in the subjects. If I have to teach math all of my life, so be it.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: PoPPeR
is it true that to get a phd in math you have to solve one of those million dollar math problems?
Click to expand...

Probably several of them. I didn't appreciate the 20 pagers I had to do for Calculus for an IS degree. That was like, an entire semester of :confused:.
 
A

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
0
math degree's are fine, there are a variaty of careers you can go into, the reason why people say its not practical is because usually math skills are applied to another discpline like engineer or biology or physics. etc.
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
34,526
1,694
126
Originally posted by: Ameesh
math degree's are fine, there are a variaty of careers you can go into, the reason why people say its not practical is because usually math skills are applied to another discpline like engineer or biology or physics. etc.
Click to expand...

Well, I'd like to do the physics thing. That's my real area of interest. PhD level physics requires some pretty heavy math, and as Michio Kaku said, our mathematics is lagging behind.
 
A

Ameesh

Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
23,686
1
0
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Ameesh
math degree's are fine, there are a variaty of careers you can go into, the reason why people say its not practical is because usually math skills are applied to another discpline like engineer or biology or physics. etc.
Click to expand...

Well, I'd like to do the physics thing. That's my real area of interest. PhD level physics requires some pretty heavy math, and as Michio Kaku said, our mathematics is lagging behind.
Click to expand...

IMO physics is a math degree, they have to take soo many damn math classes, and physics classes are just using the math you learned from the quarter you just finished.
 
H

Heisenberg

Lifer
Dec 21, 2001
10,621
1
0
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Ameesh
math degree's are fine, there are a variaty of careers you can go into, the reason why people say its not practical is because usually math skills are applied to another discpline like engineer or biology or physics. etc.
Click to expand...

Well, I'd like to do the physics thing. That's my real area of interest. PhD level physics requires some pretty heavy math, and as Michio Kaku said, our mathematics is lagging behind.
Click to expand...

IMO physics is a math degree, they have to take soo many damn math classes, and physics classes are just using the math you learned from the quarter you just finished.
Click to expand...
Err...no. There is a lot of math in physics for sure, but math is just a means to an end. It's the difference between designing hammers for a living, or using the hammer to build a house.
 
C

Chu

Banned
Jan 2, 2001
2,911
0
0
As a CS/MA major, and dealing with a lot of Pure Math people, I think most people just don't understand the concept that it is possible to like Math, and it is possible to choose a major based on something other then how much money you will make. Happiness found in wealth is shallow, you made a good choice in ignoring them if you truly enjoy math.

But as for the finding a job part, they are right, it sucks.
 
G

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Ameesh
math degree's are fine, there are a variaty of careers you can go into, the reason why people say its not practical is because usually math skills are applied to another discpline like engineer or biology or physics. etc.
Click to expand...

Well, I'd like to do the physics thing. That's my real area of interest. PhD level physics requires some pretty heavy math, and as Michio Kaku said, our mathematics is lagging behind.
Click to expand...

IMO physics is a math degree, they have to take soo many damn math classes, and physics classes are just using the math you learned from the quarter you just finished.
Click to expand...
Err...no. There is a lot of math in physics for sure, but math is just a means to an end. It's the difference between designing hammers for a living, or using the hammer to build a house.
Click to expand...

i'd say it's more like taking a house, and trying to guess how and which hammers might have led to it
 
G

gopunk

Lifer
Jul 7, 2001
29,239
2
0
Originally posted by: Chu
As a CS/MA major, and dealing with a lot of Pure Math people, I think most people just don't understand the concept that it is possible to like Math, and it is possible to choose a major based on something other then how much money you will make. Happiness found in wealth is shallow, you made a good choice in ignoring them if you truly enjoy math.

But as for the finding a job part, they are right, it sucks.
Click to expand...

along those lines, i really think that most people who "hate" math just haven't had a good teacher.
 
X

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
2
81
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Heisenberg
There really isn't a big market for people with a BS in math. You really need a PhD in order to get a decent job.
Click to expand...

Well, I already have a job that wants me to get a math degree.

The thing is, I'm not going to college to get a $150,000/yr job. I'm going because I'm interested in the subjects. If I have to teach math all of my life, so be it.
Click to expand...

Then why do you give a sh!t what other people think?

-Xionide
 
A

Armitage

Banned
Feb 23, 2001
8,086
0
0
I have a math minor, and plenty more in grad school. But that's the one thing I wish I had more of now. Especially stats & calculus. At least in my field, you can never have enough math.
 
W

Wahsapa

Diamond Member
Jul 2, 2001
3,004
0
0
math is great

all the people that say "it doesnt mean anything" obviously hate math and dont understand it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom