Studying Maths (1st year) but not if its for me

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a first-year mathematics student expressing doubts about their choice of major and contemplating dropping out. Participants explore alternative paths that might align with the student's desire to help others, including engineering, nursing, and teaching. The conversation touches on the relevance of mathematics in various fields and the potential for applying mathematical skills in practical contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) feels a lack of motivation for studying mathematics and questions its usefulness in helping others.
  • Some participants inquire about the OP's specific interests in helping others, suggesting that clarity on this could guide their decision.
  • Engineering is proposed as a potential alternative, with some arguing that a math degree could provide a foundation for a career in engineering.
  • Others suggest that the OP could still help others while pursuing a math degree, such as through tutoring or teaching.
  • There is mention of applied mathematics in fields like biomedical engineering and medical physics as ways to contribute positively to society.
  • One participant shares their personal experience of shifting focus from pure mathematics to applied mathematics due to a desire for practical applications.
  • Teaching mathematics is suggested as a viable career path, highlighting the shortage of qualified math teachers and the societal benefits of improving math education.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on whether the OP should switch majors or continue with mathematics. While some advocate for engineering or teaching, others emphasize the potential for applying math in various helpful ways. No consensus is reached on the best path forward for the OP.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the relevance of mathematics in different careers and the emotional aspects of the OP's experience, but the conversation does not resolve the OP's uncertainty about their future direction.

roman93
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Hello guys,
I am currently in my first year of studying maths and well... I thought I enjoyed it in the first term... but I really don't see the point of learning it anymore.
I want to help other people and I am not sure how I am going to do this with a Math degree.
I don't have any motivation to revise it or see how it is going to help others, so I am wondering if I should drop out =/

What do you guys think? what other courses do you think will suit me?

Sorry for this depressing post =/

Any thoughts is much appreciated, thank you
 
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roman93 said:
I want to help other people

How do you want to help other people?
 
MathWarrior said:
How do you want to help other people?

I don't really mind, just provide some sort of service so that it solves their problems and makes them happy
 
Engineering?
 
ZenOne said:
Engineering?

Do you think I will be able to get a job in engineering with a Math degree?
 
No--switch to engineering instead of dropping out, you're only one year in and you be exempted from the calculus sequence (assuming you did ODE, PDE, Vector calc. etc).
 
Nursing or med school?
 
roman93 said:
I don't really mind, just provide some sort of service so that it solves their problems and makes them happy
You could probably help others with math on the side while you pursue your math degree, most schools have some sort of math-help center. You could even become a math instructor of some sort after you graduate. You would then be helping people.

Another thing to note is their is an area of applied mathematics focused around biological mathematical models which is often used to study things such as cancer cell growth. It's easy to see that this would be highly useful, and beneficial to humanity.

If your intent on changing your degree engineering would be a good choice, things like biomedical engineering or even medical physics you will be helping people extensively with.
 
http://www.infoocean.info/avatar2.jpg How do you want to help other people?
 
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  • #10
It sounds like you should switch to something else, possibly engineering. You could still even do a minor in math, but if you want to solve problems that the average Joe is going to care about, engineering is a better bet than a math degree. Engineers still use math, but they tend to use it very differently. If you're someone who cares about proving things rigorously you'll probably be disgusted at the barbaric way in which most engineers use mathematics, but if you don't care why math works and you just want to use it to build things and solve problems, then engineering might be a perfect fit for you. (Of course I'm exaggerating... some engineers are more math-inclined than others, but hopefully you get the point)

If you're someone who does really like math (in the "proving theorems" sense) but you still want to do something the average Joe cares about, your options are a lot more limited, unfortunately. Teaching is the only option that I'm aware of (though there's probably more).

Edit: by the way, in first year I wanted to do pure math, but I stopped working towards the pure math half of my double major because I was frustrated by how little the profs seemed to care about how the theorems we were proving were actually useful. So I can sympathize with you. Don't get me wrong, I respect mathematicians and I think that what they do is important, but I find that I personally enjoy being closer to the "application" side of things.
 
  • #11
Why not aim to teach maths? There's a great shortage of maths teachers so the subject is often taught by those with little experience, leading to much frustration and suffering all round. Qualifications in basic maths is useful for everyone, just helping a few people to become confident in basic maths would be a vast help to them and society. Can you take courses in mathematics education rather than the advanced stuff you can see little use for? Or maybe convert to a teacher training degree? As you enjoyed it in the first term, and chose to do the course, you must have some enthusiasm for at least the basic stuff... why not pass that on?
 

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