- #1
DarrenM
- 81
- 1
"Pure" Mathematics vs. Applied Math vs. Discrete Math
I'm approaching the point where I'm going to have to decide which four-year university I'm going to finish my Bachelor's degree at. I'm pretty much restricted to colleges in Georgia, and I am primarily looking at Georgia State and Georgia Tech.
I know that Georgia Tech has a better "reputation," but I'm a bit concerned about the fact that the only mathematics degrees they offer are Applied and Discrete, particularly since my goal is to eventually enter into a PhD. program for Mathematics. Georgia State has a Mathematics undergraduate degree, but (I can't find the rankings right now) I'm pretty sure that GSU is not a Group I school.
I've just finished reading Steven G. Krantz's "A Mathematician's Survival Guide," and it was an excellent source of information; I have no doubt that it will continue to be a valuable resource. However, Dr. Krantz suggested that a student attend a university where the math faculty are well-known in the field (because letters of recommendation are so important in applying to math graduate school programs); the problem I'm having, in applying that to my situation, is that I don't have the requisite knowledge or experience to even assess how someone is viewed in their field. I can look at the number of recent publications, I suppose, but I don't think that's the same thing.
Hmm. I suppose I've strayed a bit from the question I was asking, however it is a related inquiry. I feel that the pure Mathematics degree would better prepare me for graduate school, but I'm concerned that not attending a Group I university would hamper my future graduate applications.
Any help would be much appreciated.
I'm approaching the point where I'm going to have to decide which four-year university I'm going to finish my Bachelor's degree at. I'm pretty much restricted to colleges in Georgia, and I am primarily looking at Georgia State and Georgia Tech.
I know that Georgia Tech has a better "reputation," but I'm a bit concerned about the fact that the only mathematics degrees they offer are Applied and Discrete, particularly since my goal is to eventually enter into a PhD. program for Mathematics. Georgia State has a Mathematics undergraduate degree, but (I can't find the rankings right now) I'm pretty sure that GSU is not a Group I school.
I've just finished reading Steven G. Krantz's "A Mathematician's Survival Guide," and it was an excellent source of information; I have no doubt that it will continue to be a valuable resource. However, Dr. Krantz suggested that a student attend a university where the math faculty are well-known in the field (because letters of recommendation are so important in applying to math graduate school programs); the problem I'm having, in applying that to my situation, is that I don't have the requisite knowledge or experience to even assess how someone is viewed in their field. I can look at the number of recent publications, I suppose, but I don't think that's the same thing.
Hmm. I suppose I've strayed a bit from the question I was asking, however it is a related inquiry. I feel that the pure Mathematics degree would better prepare me for graduate school, but I'm concerned that not attending a Group I university would hamper my future graduate applications.
Any help would be much appreciated.