Will the title of my major have any effect on graduate school?

elarson89

I'm a math major, and will be taking enough math courses to qualify for 3 different mathematics options, theoretical, applied, and modeling. Does anyone think that the title of my math major will have any effect on my entrance to graduate school? Secondly, in your opinion which one sounds the best?

I initially picked theoretical. By the way, I am a math and physics double major (and double degree) if that impacts anything.

HallsofIvy

What "titles" are you talking about? I presume you mean "concentrations" in the math major. Concentrations in "Analysis" or "Algebra" probably would not bother any faculty. "Applied Math" is vague enough that it might raise some eyebrows. If you are going to graduate school a concentration in "secondary teaching" probably wouldn't make much sense! In any case, I think that graduate school admissions committees will pay more attention to the specific courses you take rather than a "title".

Diffy

Hi,
Welcome to PF!

To halls: I think the school he is in defines the concentrations for undergrad to be what he has stated: Theoretical, applied, and modeling.

I think you need to answer a few questions:

1) What are you going to study in Grad school? Math or Physics?
2) Do know have any idea what type of math or physics you will study in grad school?
3) What have been some of your favorite math courses so far?
4) What are the differences in required courses for the 3 options?

elarson89

I'm not quite sure on what I'll go to grad school for, but probably in physics and may pursue a higher degree in astrophysics.

So far I've taken diffy q, intro to linear algebra, and a combinatorics class. I'm not sure what my favorite is but i really enjoyed both diffy q and combinatorics, linear algebra not so much. But that could have very well been because I hate the textbook. As far as the requirements for the different options, its a matter of 4 classes, with most of them cross-listed in the other options. So in reality, there isn't much of a difference besides the name.

Diffy

Well, before you jump into theoretical you probably should take a course like topology or Abstract Algebra. Something that deals with Groups, Fields, Rings etc. Also Theoretical may not be the most complementary to physics.

Modeling sounds like it might be more numerical analysis and statistics, that may not be right for physics either.

Since you are considering Physics in grad school, and since you enjoyed diffy qs, and since the other two options don't seem to fit, I would lean toward the applied.