Are there any Math professors here?

[Anonymous]

My DC is a math major and bio minor (interests here are mainly evolution, ecosystems and environmental issues) DCwas also interested in physics and took Quantum in his freshman year, but biology won over physics. DC also took Data Structures just to get to know how things work in that realm. DC is only interested in pure math (despite my encouragement to take at least a few more applied math classes as a back up plan). DC is a junior and gets all A’s. He did a SULI internship last year and is applying for some pure math REUs for next summer. Topology and Number Theory have been his favorite classes (although he likes them all). He is planning on going to grad school, but is still trying to figure out a direction. I am encouraging him to consider a Post Baccalaureate once he graduates from undergrad. He could have graduated a year early, but wants to take more varied math classes beforehand. DC’s college is well known for STEM, but more applied than pure- so he had had few opportunities for research at school.

What kind of math literature - peer review journals - would be good for him to read to see what is out there in the field and learn a more than his classes have given him?

He is planning on going to grad school, but is still trying to figure out a direction.

[Anonymous]

I'm a physicists, not a mathematician. But I'd suggest he start at: https://www.maa.org/press especially https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/american-mathematical-monthly

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t he have an advisor?

[Anonymous]

Who takes quantum physics as a freshman?

Signed,

A physics major

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a physicists, not a mathematician. But I'd suggest he start at: https://www.maa.org/press especially https://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/american-mathematical-monthly

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t he have an advisor?

Yes, but he seems to have checked out

[Anonymous]

Not exactly his interest right now...but make sure he checks out Bioinformatics...it is a field with a big future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who takes quantum physics as a freshman?

Signed,

A physics major

He took AP Physics C and got 5s on both of the tests, so he tested out of the general physics class. He had taken AP Physics 1 the prior year. There were 5 freshman in his class. They had a fun year together.

[Anonymous]

Biostatistics combines statistics with public health/medicine. Interesting and important.

With his interests, make sure he gets exposed to GIS (data & spatial relationships/maps)

[Anonymous]

Applied Math college professor here.

"What kind of math literature - peer review journals - would be good for him to read to see what is out there in the field and learn a more than his classes have given him?"

Instead of the research journals, I would suggest your DC review graduate-level textbooks to explore other branches of mathematics. Math research journals focus on newly proved theorems, usually without the background knowledge provided in a textbook.

To DO math (pure or applied) typically means proving new theorems. Certain branches of math (eg, topology) are considered pure because they are less closely linked to possible applications. Areas that are considered applied math include Analysis (eg, differential equations), Discrete math (eg, graph theory), Game theory.
In any case, a PhD in math (pure or applied) typically means proving new theorems.

This is in contrast to USING (Applying) math, which is what most researchers in the natural sciences or engineering do.

I am encouraging him to consider a Post Baccalaureate once he graduates from undergrad.

What do you mean by this? A graduate degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Applied Math college professor here.

"What kind of math literature - peer review journals - would be good for him to read to see what is out there in the field and learn a more than his classes have given him?"

Instead of the research journals, I would suggest your DC review graduate-level textbooks to explore other branches of mathematics. Math research journals focus on newly proved theorems, usually without the background knowledge provided in a textbook.

To DO math (pure or applied) typically means proving new theorems. Certain branches of math (eg, topology) are considered pure because they are less closely linked to possible applications. Areas that are considered applied math include Analysis (eg, differential equations), Discrete math (eg, graph theory), Game theory.
In any case, a PhD in math (pure or applied) typically means proving new theorems.

This is in contrast to USING (Applying) math, which is what most researchers in the natural sciences or engineering do.

I am encouraging him to consider a Post Baccalaureate once he graduates from undergrad.

What do you mean by this? A graduate degree?

No, it is like a Post Doc, but it is a one or two year research internship after Baccalaureate but before graduate school. We have a friend doing one at NIH right now.

[Anonymous]

What’s the point of the post bac for your child?

Also, effectively no undergrads do research in pure math.

And if your kid was going to go on to do research and a PhD in pure math, he’d know it by now. (Ie, that would be his only interest and his schedule would be filled with mathematics classes, ideally grad mathematics classes.) Taking a pure math class is eons away from doing research in pure mathematics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Applied Math college professor here.

"What kind of math literature - peer review journals - would be good for him to read to see what is out there in the field and learn a more than his classes have given him?"

Instead of the research journals, I would suggest your DC review graduate-level textbooks to explore other branches of mathematics. Math research journals focus on newly proved theorems, usually without the background knowledge provided in a textbook.

To DO math (pure or applied) typically means proving new theorems. Certain branches of math (eg, topology) are considered pure because they are less closely linked to possible applications. Areas that are considered applied math include Analysis (eg, differential equations), Discrete math (eg, graph theory), Game theory.
In any case, a PhD in math (pure or applied) typically means proving new theorems.

This is in contrast to USING (Applying) math, which is what most researchers in the natural sciences or engineering do.

I am encouraging him to consider a Post Baccalaureate once he graduates from undergrad.

What do you mean by this? A graduate degree?

No, it is like a Post Doc, but it is a one or two year research internship after Baccalaureate but before graduate school. We have a friend doing one at NIH right now.

In pure math, this seems like a weird idea. If he is going into math, go right into grad school.

[Anonymous]

Advice from a pure math prof: Tell your DC to talk to their pure math professors!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Advice from a pure math prof: Tell your DC to talk to their pure math professors!

x1000 I don't understand why this child hasn't done this already. It is weird b/c OP says the child is a junior. Something is off.