Math major? Where does it lead?

[Anonymous]

Bond convexity.

[Anonymous]

Math is a very flexible major because it's easy to minor or double major in most other STEM or Social Science fields, and lead into a wide range of technical analyst jobs in technology or business?

[Anonymous]

Applied math is a great major that overlaps with industrial engineering / operations research offered in engineering programs. Also overlaps with data science and statistics. Can combine with biology or economics, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler has no idea what she wants to major in, and is getting worried because she's seeing all her friends pick their paths. She's always been an excellent student, and takes the most advanced courses in most topics without breaking a sweat. By graduation, she will have taken 14 APs, and some math class beyond multivariable. But she tells me that most of her subjects aren't really leading to an interest for college. The subject she most likes is math and the activities she most likes to do are creative writing and digital art.

Could she do a math major? What does that lead to?

Google and ChatGPT likely have suggestions.

I like to hear from actual humans with experience, but thanks.

[Anonymous]

Being able to learn math beyond multivariable calculus while only half paying attention might mean she isn't properly challenged. I see her whizzing through undergrad math and going for graduate degrees.

Enjoying writing and art is good. She could find herself in a position explaining math and her findings to a larger audience.

But seriously, with her easy grasp of mathematics, someting leading to a math heavy Master's degree seems pretty logical.

[Anonymous]

I graduated with a pure math degree in ‘18 and went into management consulting and now work in AI development as a product manager. Others I know have commonly gone the data science route or finance (quant or fundamental). Less common but still not rare is to leverage it into a programming role. I’ve also seen a lot of folks go into scientific domains (eg academic or industry research roles) but these are more specific cases that vary on your experiences and interests. At the extreme end I know individuals who now work in quantum engineering and cryptography.

I really encourage kids who love math to study it further in college. When studied at a reputable program it’s a highly rewarding and versatile discipline that can lead to terrific career outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being able to learn math beyond multivariable calculus while only half paying attention might mean she isn't properly challenged. I see her whizzing through undergrad math and going for graduate degrees.

Enjoying writing and art is good. She could find herself in a position explaining math and her findings to a larger audience.

But seriously, with her easy grasp of mathematics, someting leading to a math heavy Master's degree seems pretty logical.

Massive stretch. She definitely would be an exceptional engineer, but mathematics is a completely different ballgame in university

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Applied math is a great major that overlaps with industrial engineering / operations research offered in engineering programs. Also overlaps with data science and statistics. Can combine with biology or economics, for example.

So, in other words unless you combine your mathematics degree with another field of study job prospects will be limited Why not just major in engineering or economics instead?

What happens if the kid only wants to do math and is uninterested in other career fields or doesn't desire to go into academia? A bachelor's degree in mathematics leads to what? Is it foolish to major in just pure math? Pure math is so theoretical instead of applicable. I am so fearful that my child is going to make the biggest mistake of their life.

[Anonymous]

My math major plans on going to law school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Applied math is a great major that overlaps with industrial engineering / operations research offered in engineering programs. Also overlaps with data science and statistics. Can combine with biology or economics, for example.

So, in other words unless you combine your mathematics degree with another field of study job prospects will be limited Why not just major in engineering or economics instead?

What happens if the kid only wants to do math and is uninterested in other career fields or doesn't desire to go into academia? A bachelor's degree in mathematics leads to what? Is it foolish to major in just pure math? Pure math is so theoretical instead of applicable. I am so fearful that my child is going to make the biggest mistake of their life.

They can definitely go on to a math PhD if they’re any talented. Yes reality does catch up that eventually one needs a job but it doesn’t really hurt to get an undergraduate degree in math and figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high schooler and your high schooler appear to be twins. I tell her she doesn't have to decide on a career path in high school, but it makes sense to put down math or applied math as a possible major on college applications because of the accelerated math coursework. Mine also enjoys writing creative fiction, but it wouldn't make as much sense to put that as a major because she doesn't do any official activities related to writing, such as working for the student paper. However, that doesn't rule out writing as a future major or career path once she is in college. Mine also does a lot of digital art and animation, but again, not in any official activity.

When you say most of her classes aren't really leading to an interest for college, does that mean she isn't interested in any of the classes or that she enjoys many topics equally? Mine can see herself enjoying many different paths, which makes it hard to choose right now, but I imagine that in college it will be clearer.

OP here. Wait... I just remembered she said last weekend that she would love to work at IKEA, and manage one of their stores

It's not that she hates any subject, but she doesn't love the way they're taught, and that frustrates her. She finds everything easy and boring (she does have mild ADHD). In all her classes except math, she reads in class, because she can follow the class with half an ear, even in her AP classes.

Supply chain management is not just something IKEA does very well. It is also a major. One that requires math.

And she can get a Master's in Industrial Engineering that would have supply chain management and other system optimization as one of the areas she could specialize in.

[Anonymous]

my math major will be working at a quantitative trading firm as a new grad next year. she'll be pulling in about 600k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my math major will be working at a quantitative trading firm as a new grad next year. she'll be pulling in about 600k.

So the vast minority of mathematics graduates. There are IMO winners who don’t get quant. It’s a very niche career and not a viable option for a majority of even highly intelligent people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ultimately mathematics leads to infinity.

Or it’s constantly trying to get to zero but never does

[Anonymous]

Data analytics

It program management