Any advantage to declaring an applied math major

[Anonymous]

My junior in high school DD is pretty quant focused- she really doesn't know what she wants to study in college. Any advantage of her picking, say, applied math over Economics or engineering? Specifically, if she is truly un-pointy but likes math, what major should she put on her apps to help? Is this even a thing? TIA.

[Anonymous]

I suspect that many would-be CS majors are applying as math majors as that's less competitive.

within math, there's also pure vs applied math. I think pure is the less popular of the two? But not how much difference choosing either makes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that many would-be CS majors are applying as math majors as that's less competitive.

within math, there's also pure vs applied math. I think pure is the less popular of the two? But not how much difference choosing either makes...

Pure is becoming more popular due to quant finance. I think overall it’s not a boost to apply as a math major.

[Anonymous]

I would not apply as a math major if kid is not heavily into it. There are going to be pointy students in math and your child would be compared to them.

[Anonymous]

No it’s brutally hard now

[Anonymous]

Don’t know if it’s an admissions boost but I can endorse actually being a math major for kids with the aptitude and inclination.

[Anonymous]

Do physics instead

[Anonymous]

No don't do physics instead if no interest in physics.
Need math teachers and next gen to teach math in college. Get a phD after undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that many would-be CS majors are applying as math majors as that's less competitive.

within math, there's also pure vs applied math. I think pure is the less popular of the two? But not how much difference choosing either makes...

Pure is becoming more popular due to quant finance. I think overall it’s not a boost to apply as a math major.

Is this really true? When I was in undergrad (as a pure math major) we would joke about having bad employment outlooks.

[Anonymous]

Also, even places like MIT accept girls preferentially - plenty of MIT math majors whose biggest accomplishment is qualifying for AIME

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that many would-be CS majors are applying as math majors as that's less competitive.

within math, there's also pure vs applied math. I think pure is the less popular of the two? But not how much difference choosing either makes...

Pure is becoming more popular due to quant finance. I think overall it’s not a boost to apply as a math major.

Is this really true? When I was in undergrad (as a pure math major) we would joke about having bad employment outlooks.

Not anymore, AI and Wall Street all need math talent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that many would-be CS majors are applying as math majors as that's less competitive.

within math, there's also pure vs applied math. I think pure is the less popular of the two? But not how much difference choosing either makes...

Pure is becoming more popular due to quant finance. I think overall it’s not a boost to apply as a math major.

Is this really true? When I was in undergrad (as a pure math major) we would joke about having bad employment outlooks.

Not anymore, AI and Wall Street all need math talent

Is this just for PhDs or are they getting these positions out of undergrad?

Big percentage of undergraduates have double majors, one is Math one is economics or others, Wall Street like those from top schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No don't do physics instead if no interest in physics.
Need math teachers and next gen to teach math in college. Get a phD after undergrad.

Bad advice.
Much easier to be admitted as physics than math T20.

[Anonymous]

Dig into the data. You have to do the work.

https://www.koppelmangroup.com/blog/2019/11/11/the-best-small-liberal-arts-schools-for-physics