Programs Is a Year-Long PDE Course Worth It for Pure Math Majors Going to Grad School?

[CharmedQuark]

How useful would a year-long course in advanced differential equations be for a pure math major who wants to go to grad school? I can't decide whether or not it would be worth my time to take this course.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[whs]

A year long? Probably not.. Are you going to continue math in grad school? And if so, do you see a certain area that you see yourself specializing in?

I don't know why anyone would take a full year long course... I'd suggest simply buying a book or 2 and doing it on your own. If you are talented in math, and are grad school material, then you will have no problem learning the material on your own and I'm sure you have plenty of access to different professors at your school if you have questions.

 

[whs]

It sounds like you are still in the stage where you just like to learn everything you can. No doubt a good stage, but eventually you are going to have to choose an area and make things happen, or go work in the industry.

If only we could get paid to learn things, I'd be rich.

 

[lurflurf]

Yeah I saw some twelve year olds who were taking a year long course in algebra, so I told them they were pretty stupid to be wasting their time. I told them they should just get Lang's Algebra and read it over a three day weekend. On a serious note what is advanced about this course? It is a math course so that is good. Differential equations are good, maybe it is the only math class available, if not are there better ones on offer? A year course is a very brief introduction. Even so you are not 'locked' in for a year are you? If it does not meet your need swap it out for something else.

 

[CharmedQuark]

A year long? Probably not.. Are you going to continue math in grad school? And if so, do you see a certain area that you see yourself specializing in?

I don't know why anyone would take a full year long course... I'd suggest simply buying a book or 2 and doing it on your own. If you are talented in math, and are grad school material, then you will have no problem learning the material on your own and I'm sure you have plenty of access to different professors at your school if you have questions.

Thanks that sounds like a much better idea than taking the full course, especially since there are other course I can put there such as another course in algebra.