Should I major in pure math if I want to have an easy time in college?

[Anonymous]

OP, take a gap year. you are NOT ready for college regardless what you major in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I majored in math in college. It is an incredibly difficult major. Doing well requires creativity and the fortitude to deal with coming across problems that you have no idea how to solve, even after many hours of study and research. There is also much that is stunningly beautiful, like Zermelo-Frankel set theory. If you enjoy this sort of study, the joy will help you get through much of the hard times, but if you don't, it will just be added misery.

Also, being a math major is usually lonely. I was just one of seven in my year (at a public university) majoring in math. I missed having a cohort to hang out with.

The term "pure math" makes me laugh. I know some people think it is sounds more impressive than applied math, but what is impressive is doing what you love and doing well at it.

Anyway, there really is no "pure" math, in the sense that even an abstract field of study like number theory has applications, e.g., for cryptography.

Applied math, like statistics, is generally considered easier than courses typically thought of as pure math, like topology and complex analysis. I would certainly not think of these courses as easy As.

Good point-all the math/stats majors are pretty lonely, everything is independent (not group) and you need to be incredibly self-motivated and the cohorts are small (and usually get smaller by the time you graduate)

[Anonymous]

Okay, that's not the case for all schools. LACs in particular have great math communities with a challenging curriculum yet caring dynamic. There are math learning communities and great mentorship by professors and more advanced math undergrads. At some of the top ones, some 8-10% of the student bodyis a math major- much more popular than at universities (even absolutely). Part of the reason is to have a more practical degree, but the larger reason is that there's an intellectualism involved with math that naturally draws LAC students.

I'm a professor and if I had a child interested in math I'd have them check out LACS. Even if they were exceptionally qualified, I'd have them consider the elite ones with excellent track records like Williams and Harvey Mudd.

[Anonymous]

Given that you don't like to work, you need to start thinking about what kind of job you are going to get, that is suitable for somebody who doesn't like to work. Maybe sales in a department store or gap or something? you might not even need a college degree, given that you don't intend to work...

[Anonymous]

Another math major here- I thought it was pretty easy, but I was/am good at math. By "easy", I mean that on a weekly basis, each math class required a couple of hard hours of work doing problems/projects, and did not require a lot of additional studying. By comparison, I would regularly have 20+ hours of easy reading and writing per week for English/history classes, plus extra time to prepare for tests.

The best perk of being a math major is that I has able to get a job as a grader for the big calculus classes that paid really well for student (something like $100 per week but only took two hours to finish)

As for finding work, all of the math majors were hired by graduation. I worked as an actuary for a while, but that was (ironically) unusual. About a third were also education majors and went to teach. Many of the rest became consultants doing operations research/systems engineering. A couple that were strong in stats/signal processing made good money on Wall Street tracking stock prices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, that's not the case for all schools. LACs in particular have great math communities with a challenging curriculum yet caring dynamic. There are math learning communities and great mentorship by professors and more advanced math undergrads. At some of the top ones, some 8-10% of the student bodyis a math major- much more popular than at universities (even absolutely). Part of the reason is to have a more practical degree, but the larger reason is that there's an intellectualism involved with math that naturally draws LAC students.

I'm a professor and if I had a child interested in math I'd have them check out LACS. Even if they were exceptionally qualified, I'd have them consider the elite ones with excellent track records like Williams and Harvey Mudd.

OP is lazy and a mediocre student. Williams and Harvey Mudd are not in the cards.

[Anonymous]

https://www.hmc.edu/mathematics/top-reasons-to-study-math-at-harvey-mudd/impressive-facts-about-the-department-of-mathematics/

This is seriously impressive. Always knew Harvey Mudd was top tier, but these facts about the strength of their programs and outcomes are eye-opening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I majored in math in college. It is an incredibly difficult major. Doing well requires creativity and the fortitude to deal with coming across problems that you have no idea how to solve, even after many hours of study and research. There is also much that is stunningly beautiful, like Zermelo-Frankel set theory. If you enjoy this sort of study, the joy will help you get through much of the hard times, but if you don't, it will just be added misery.

Also, being a math major is usually lonely. I was just one of seven in my year (at a public university) majoring in math. I missed having a cohort to hang out with.

The term "pure math" makes me laugh. I know some people think it is sounds more impressive than applied math, but what is impressive is doing what you love and doing well at it.

Anyway, there really is no "pure" math, in the sense that even an abstract field of study like number theory has applications, e.g., for cryptography.

Applied math, like statistics, is generally considered easier than courses typically thought of as pure math, like topology and complex analysis. I would certainly not think of these courses as easy As.

Good point-all the math/stats majors are pretty lonely, everything is independent (not group) and you need to be incredibly self-motivated and the cohorts are small (and usually get smaller by the time you graduate)

You can't get a math degree without analysis. You can't even get a stats degree without it.

[Anonymous]

My brother is good at math, extremely intelligent, and always interested in the highest return on the least investment of work. He could have been a PhD scientist if he had wanted. He chose to major in mechanical engineering, made great grades, had a paid internship for a year, and a good-paying job on graduation. He has moved up in his company and still says he is paid a ridiculous amount for the amount of work he does. He has a great life and lots of time for his family and hobbies. He also went to a good in-state engineering school with scholarships and graduated without spending all his college fund money. He invested that in rental real estate and now owns nine houses that he rents out.

This is all to say that you are not necessarily lazy. Calculating the best-paying job/major for the least amount of work is really smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I majored in math in college. It is an incredibly difficult major. Doing well requires creativity and the fortitude to deal with coming across problems that you have no idea how to solve, even after many hours of study and research. There is also much that is stunningly beautiful, like Zermelo-Frankel set theory. If you enjoy this sort of study, the joy will help you get through much of the hard times, but if you don't, it will just be added misery.

Also, being a math major is usually lonely. I was just one of seven in my year (at a public university) majoring in math. I missed having a cohort to hang out with.

The term "pure math" makes me laugh. I know some people think it is sounds more impressive than applied math, but what is impressive is doing what you love and doing well at it.

Anyway, there really is no "pure" math, in the sense that even an abstract field of study like number theory has applications, e.g., for cryptography.

Applied math, like statistics, is generally considered easier than courses typically thought of as pure math, like topology and complex analysis. I would certainly not think of these courses as easy As.

Good point-all the math/stats majors are pretty lonely, everything is independent (not group) and you need to be incredibly self-motivated and the cohorts are small (and usually get smaller by the time you graduate)

You can't get a math degree without analysis. You can't even get a stats degree without it.

Lonely math major here. Of course you can't get a math degree without analysis. But at least in the college I went to (public university), you were not required to take a course in complex variables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Easy time at college?

Not for Math majors.

Seriously. You have got to be the dumbest Math major ever.

If you want an easy time you need to study

Sports Education
Sports Therapy
Dance
Hotel Management

and all the other completely dumb subjects.

I hate crappy generalizations like these. People have different strengths and interests. I was a dance major and am very successful in my career (in non-profit arts management). I was also accepted into a well-know law school after majoring in dance. Some of my undergrad classes were anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, contract law, physics, etc... To this day people assume I must be dumb to have a dance degree. I'm sure there are easy ways to a college degree, but a dance major is not necessarily one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 18 and currently a senior in high school. I just got accepted into one of my top-choice colleges. Now I hate to admit this, but I'm not a very studious person. I really want to major in something that doesn't require a lot of outside studying. I keep hearing that math, more specifically pure math, is by far one of the easiest and least-demanding majors. Does math sound like a good choice for me, given my terrible study habits?

Are you good at math?

I wouldn't say I'm terrific at high school math. I'm taking AP Calculus AB right now and I have a B.

Hahahahahha. Hilarious.

I actually thought this post was going to be some sort of satire/joke when I clicked on it, and I'm shocked that it seems to be a serious question. Let's just say that you're looking waaaaayyyyy above your IQ level.

You'd be much more at home doing an education degree.

- Someone with a PhD in applied mathematics

[Anonymous]

Accounting is a good practical major with some (not too difficult) math. Just try to avoid being bored to death.

[Anonymous]

Another math major here .
Math is not easy major by any means even for people who really love math. Do not forget that being Math major would require to take 2-3 math classes simultaneously and with Real Analysis that can be too much fun...
Person with B in Calc A-B should not consider any Science or Engineering at all... That is so basic class...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Accounting is a good practical major with some (not too difficult) math. Just try to avoid being bored to death.

Oh no! Accounting has nothing to do with math majors. Most math students will not do accounting for any money. That is SOOO boring...
Accounting is like Business. You do not need to know much math for accounting beyond Algebra (or even less).
Actuarial science - yes that is math. Operations Research - yes! Statistics - yes! Simulation _ yes! Mathematical Modeling - yes!