Dropping Math Mayor for Grad School - Advice for German Physics Student

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr.Brown
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a student at the Technical University of Munich who has excelled in physics but is struggling with the math curriculum. Despite completing nearly double the expected physics courses in three semesters with outstanding grades, the student finds the math program uninteresting and challenging, particularly due to its focus on applied topics like numerical computations and statistics. The dilemma is whether to drop the math major to focus solely on completing the physics degree in two additional semesters, which could enhance prospects for graduate school applications, particularly to Ivy League institutions. There is a consensus that gaining research experience is more valuable than pursuing an uninteresting math degree, and completing the math prediploma could provide flexibility for future studies if desired. The student expresses frustration with the math coursework but acknowledges the potential benefits of maintaining some level of math education.
Mr.Brown
Messages
66
Reaction score
0
Hi
I´m a bit in a dilema at the moment :
I started studying at Technical University of Munich ( I am German btw) 3 semesters ago and thanks to not sleeping working all the time i compled nearly 6 semesters worth of physics and the standard curiculum in math for the three semesters.
Now I am wondering how to go on because i kinda have a lot of problems with the math degree here in munich, that´s why i just went standard pace here :)
It mostly consists of rather lame calc, lin alg, real analysis stuff and the focus is more on numerical computations and statistics/probability so more the applied sector which is rather uninteressting for since I am more in theretical physics and only took the math degree to give me some kind of extra knowledge but it really didn´t i didn´t learn anything from the math department and just went through maths as kind of a self learner, didn´t listen to lectures and stuff just did assignments and went to exams.
Now my situation is the following:

Completed douple the expected courses in physics ( even a bit more) as usual in 3 semesters ( good - outstanding grades)

Completed normal math curriculum(average grades)

Now i really see a chance for completing my physics degree in 2 more semesters what would mean i did it in half time, even though a had a pretty big advantage going to a high gifted boarding school before easily worth 2 semesters university from the knowledge point of view :), what i guess would give me kind of an advantage in the race for grad schools.
The drawback here is that i guess i would have to drop the math mayor completely since i don´t see any chance beeing able to keep goint that fast pace in physics with strugling with numerical computations and loads of total nonsense homework :(

So my question is should i drop the math mayor or not, whereby you should only consider the gradschool job market point of view since as i tried to explain the other aspects of math here suck anyways?

Thanks for some advice and sorry for the wired writing style but that thing kinda creeped me out right now during lunch and i really had to write it down :)

PS: How do you see chances for a german guy to go to ivy league universities when having finished physics diploma, equal to masters degree over here, in half the time with really good grades and teaching experience? :)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I'd say, get your Vordiplom in Math and leave it at that.

I've never applied to the US, but I think you'd be better advised to get some research experience under your belt, than study something you're not interested in.
 
yeah i guess completing the prediploma would be the right thing to do but i hate numerical computation lab so much :D
No seriously you´re right i guess having my prediploma still allows me to continue maths one day if i really want to :)
 
I’ve been looking through the curricula of several European theoretical/mathematical physics MSc programs (ETH, Oxford, Cambridge, LMU, ENS Paris, etc), and I’m struck by how little emphasis they place on advanced fundamental courses. Nearly everything seems to be research-adjacent: string theory, quantum field theory, quantum optics, cosmology, soft matter physics, black hole radiation, etc. What I don’t see are the kinds of “second-pass fundamentals” I was hoping for, things like...
TL;DR Summary: I want to do a PhD in applied math but I hate group theory, is this a big problem? Hello, I am a second-year math and physics double major with a minor in data science. I just finished group theory (today actually), and it was my least favorite class in all of university so far. It doesn't interest me, and I am also very bad at it compared to other math courses I have done. The other courses I have done are calculus I-III, ODEs, Linear Algebra, and Prob/Stats. Is it a...

Similar threads

Replies
32
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
1K
Replies
9
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
26
Views
5K
Back
Top