Likes math but hates science: what majors could she look into?

[Anonymous]

Forgive my ignorance and I apologize in advance if this question makes people cringe, but what is applied math, exactly? What can you do with it apart from teach? I always assumed it was practical applications of math and I'm not sure what type of job you use that in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgive my ignorance and I apologize in advance if this question makes people cringe, but what is applied math, exactly? What can you do with it apart from teach? I always assumed it was practical applications of math and I'm not sure what type of job you use that in.

Applied math is great for the financial world.

However, be aware that coursework in applied math will often involve science courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forgive my ignorance and I apologize in advance if this question makes people cringe, but what is applied math, exactly? What can you do with it apart from teach? I always assumed it was practical applications of math and I'm not sure what type of job you use that in.

I can’t define it, but I know it when I see it. Some examples include simulation (discrete event, continuous, agent-based); Markov processes; queueing problems; advanced inventory control (deterministic and probabilistic); deterministic optimization; games (as in game theory); and reliability, availability, and maintainability. A lot of this is also found in operations research (which was previously mentioned by another poster). Some of this may be offered by business schools and there it might be called management science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are some majors that make money (not teacher) for students who like math but don't like science? Student is very bright taking Precalc with trig honors in 9th grade. However, she is awkward (autistic and aloof) so maybe not a good fit for finance/business school. She loves to code but dislikes science so that rules our CS/engineering. Help with ideas please.

Data Science; it's applied math.

[Anonymous]

9th grade is too early to decide this. She needs to take a variety of classes and be more exposed to the options before choosing a major, which should probably not happen until college. Is there a math teacher at the high school who might be willing to act as a mentor if they were aware of your daughter's special interest and special needs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Economics, data science, math, applied math, finance, accounting, operations management, computer science, or the portion of any social science subject that uses applied math anyalyses.

Add epidemiology to this list if she is ok with health side of science. And I forgot to include statistics.

- 1 Don’t steer her to the lowest salaried profession of all of these!

[Anonymous]

My daughter hates laboratory sciences, not a big fan of math either (although she is amazing at it!). Majoring in CS at Harvard. Was admitted to MIT, but turned it down as she would have to take Physics and Chem there — not so at Harvard (at least that is what she told me, I have not looked it up myself!)

Here’s a few tips for you. Make sure your kid does 4 years of Math (do not count CS as Math — many kids at our school who were advanced in Math took CS in their final year as a “Math” course and failed to meet the 4 years of Math at Ivies, etc.) Do CC courses or virtual courses of necessary.

Have your DD do math competitions. Look into MIT PRIMES and similar programs. Really develop a spike in Math — it’ll get her places. My DD focused on CS and worked her butt off learning something (CS) she was exposed to in 9th grade. Her biggest regret is not pursuing Math when she had the innate talent. It would have freed up a lot of time for her in HS.

[Anonymous]

Also forgot to mention that your DD only needs to indicate a major when she applied to MIT and Ivies — she will not be admitted to that major if she gets in. Students declare their college major as sophomores and several change their minds once they reach college.

[Anonymous]

I don’t like science but like math and numbers. I majored in statistics and run an analytics and data team now at a tech company.

[Anonymous]

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How did you get through the gen ed science requirements in college, like chemistry?

Very few colleges would require chemistry for a CS degree. Often gen ed requirements for science can be fulfilled through a broad selection of course offerings or even through AP credit. At some schools, the requirement has more to do with scientific reasoning, not a pure science course (different answer if you're pre-med, of course).
This is really the least of your kid's worries at this point. Gen ed requirements vary a lot from school to school, but if they can get into a college, satisfying that school's gen ed requirements shouldn't be a roadblock toward their degree.

Actually if you do a BA thru Arts/Sciences, you may not need chemistry. But if you do a BS or CS thru an engineering school, you will typically need Chem and Physics (at least 1 course of each). Trade off is that the BA often requires 2 years of college level forgeign language (I personally picked the Chem and Physics over FL anyday).

But can't you place out of foreign language with a high score on AP exam?

NP. Yes, absolutely you can, though of course you'd need to (a) take AP foreign language in high school and (b) score high enough.

If there's still a choice consider Latin. We're finding that one of our daughters, as she gets older (upper middle school) is very good at both Latin and math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cybersecurity! The federal govt is pushing hard for schools to add cybersecurity degree programs. It’s an area that is severely understaffed, insanely necessary, and consists of almost pure computer science/coding. It’s going to be a hugely hot major in a few short years so find a school that offers it and be ahead of the curve. Many, many industries from telecom to finance to aviation (esp those with DoD contracts) are desperate to hire for these positions and currently resorting to any engineering major willing to learn as they work (my mechie is finding this out as he interviews).

(Same poster as above) Also, high level math is absolutely crucial in the most technical cybersecurity jobs. Plus, they are exceptionally well paying even with only a BS. Many will pay for their employees to get their Masters later on. I’m telling you this as a professional who has been involved in federal govt efforts to greatly increase and improve cybersecurity degrees in higher education. Your DD sounds like an ideal candidate.

Thank you for this. She was showing me a DOD Cyber Scholarship Program just the other day.

sounds like she is on the right track all by herself. Wishing her best of luck!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:However, if awkwardness is as big an issue as you make it to be, she will always be limited in terms of making money.

This is very true and just something we have come to terms with.

As another pp pointed out "Actuary." We have a family friend who is an actuary. Social skills aren't great, but he's done well and makes *a lot* of money.

[Anonymous]

You don't need to be good at science to get a cs degree. I have one and never did any science at my jobs. Also there are various other computer related majors like Information Technology that probably have less science classes needed to graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:However, if awkwardness is as big an issue as you make it to be, she will always be limited in terms of making money.

What? Zuckerberg and Jobs are/were extremely awkward and likely on the spectrum.