Programs What can you do with a Math major? What does a mathematician do?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around the exploration of potential majors and careers for someone with a strong affinity for mathematics. The individual expresses interest in pursuing a math major but is uncertain about the career paths it could lead to, particularly those that contribute positively to society rather than working in financial firms. Various career options are suggested, including roles like cryptographer, professor, and actuary, while emphasizing that math skills are valuable in many fields, including teaching and applied mathematics.Participants debate the distinction between pure and applied mathematics, with some arguing that applied math offers broader job opportunities, while others contend that pure math graduates can also find diverse career paths. The conversation touches on the importance of mathematical reasoning in various professions, suggesting that math majors are equipped with critical thinking skills beneficial in numerous fields. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the versatility of a math degree and the potential for math graduates to make meaningful contributions to society.
mrchainsaw
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I'm still searching for a major and career that would fit me best. I'm sure this has been asked many times here, sorry if so.

My whole life I've been gifted in math, it comes easy and I like it. I've started learning about more complicated stuff like Pascal's triangle, Fibinachi(sp?) numbers, Phi/golden ratio.This stuff fascinates me so I was thinking maybe a math major would fit me. I know I want to use math in my career, but I don't know exactly what a math major would lead me to. Thanks.
 
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mrchainsaw said:
I'm still searching for a major and career that would fit me best. I'm sure this has been asked many times here, sorry if so.

My whole life I've been gifted in math, it comes easy and I like it. I've started learning about more complicated stuff like Pascal's triangle, Fibinachi(sp?) numbers, Phi/golden ratio.This stuff fascinates me so I was thinking maybe a math major would fit me. I know I want to use math in my career, but I don't know exactly what a math major would lead me to. Thanks.

Honestly, you have so made options I doubt you put them all in one post.

Here's a few...

Cryptographer
Professor
Actuary
Financial Analyst
Strategist
 
I forgot to mention that I was looking for careers that don't involve credit card companies or financial firms. I want a job that actually helps out other people and the world rather than make a new videogame or that does something insignificant and doesn't better the world. Could you also list careers that don't necesarily need a math major, but use math a lot? Thanks for the help.
 
mrchainsaw said:
I forgot to mention that I was looking for careers that don't involve credit card companies or financial firms. I want a job that actually helps out other people and the world rather than make a new videogame or that does something insignificant and doesn't better the world. Could you also list careers that don't necesarily need a math major, but use math a lot? Thanks for the help.

You're naive aren't you.

Without mathematics, there wouldn't be doctors, engineers, scientists, environmentalists... hell there would be nothing.

You can study mathematics for its own sake and know that some time in the future it will be used to help people.
 
You could become a math teacher!
 
You can't not be dumb to be a mathematician. Thats why I want to be one. :biggrin:
 
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Nothing000 said:
You can't not be dumb to be a mathematician. Thats why I want to be one.

I think you misspoke there...

Also, there are dumb people in every profession.
 
There aren't not any stupid mathematicians. That is definitely and feasibly for sure. :biggrin:
 
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  • #10
How can you say that when by your own admission you don't know who counts as a mathematician? (I am not supporting or defending any beliefs of anyone in this thread, just pointing out that saying 'I don't know what you can do with a mathematics degree' doesn't put you in a best position to comment on the people who have one). One of the few unifying themes in academic life is the almost intolerable, to some, recalcitrance of anyone to offer such definitive wide reaching assertions without defining your terms. Does anyone with a degree in maths count as a 'mathematician'? If so there are plenty of people with such a qualification who would be described as stupid by many people.

I think the reference to you misspeaking is that twice now you've used a double negative: aren't not; can't not.
 
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  • #11
- x - = +
Does he mean "you have to be dumb to be...errr..." and "there are stupid mathematicians" or I'm just interpret it wrong way?:confused:
 
  • #12
I am sorry, I was in a goofy mood. I was just kidding in both of those posts. I think I should get used to using the smily faces so that people can tell when I am kidding.
 
  • #13
Nothing000 said:
I am sorry, I was in a goofy mood. I was just kidding in both of those posts. I think I should get used to using the smily faces so that people can tell when I am kidding.

You want to be a mathemetician because you have to be dumb to be one? I know you're being funny, but still. You're basically admitting you're dumb. :p

I would start using smileys a bit more, because it seems like you simply messed up your double negatives there.
 
  • #14
As you can see, I have edited the posts with smileys.
 
  • #15
mrchainsaw said:
I'm still searching for a major and career that would fit me best. I'm sure this has been asked many times here, sorry if so.

My whole life I've been gifted in math, it comes easy and I like it. I've started learning about more complicated stuff like Pascal's triangle, Fibinachi(sp?) numbers, Phi/golden ratio.This stuff fascinates me so I was thinking maybe a math major would fit me. I know I want to use math in my career, but I don't know exactly what a math major would lead me to. Thanks.

To my knowledge it depends on your skills as a mathematician.
e.g. Are you an applied math major or pure math major? That definitely decides whether you're going to be getting a real-world (application) based job or something a little less applied. (So to speak)

Also, I have seen math majors getting jobs as computer programmers, administrators and such. Math degrees can get you a lot of jobs but it just depends on your specialization I guess.
 
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  • #16
Math major = Math teacher
Applied Math = Endless possibilities
 
  • #17
Well, pure math majors do end up as computer programmers in some cases-- you're not just limited to getting a job as a math teacher...
 
  • #18
JSBeckton said:
Math major = Math teacher


Utter, utter nonsense.
 
  • #19
matt grime said:
Utter, utter nonsense.


Every math professor I have ever had has suggested math majors focus on applied math unless they want to be a math teacher. Its like being a English Major when you want to be a Journalist.
 
  • #20
at the undergrad level I was told the oppurtunities are similar for pure math and applied math majors. At my school the applied math students take numerical methods and math models while the pure math students take topology and abstract algebra, and that is basically the only differences in course work, how can two courses make that much of a difference in oppurtunities after graduation?
 
  • #21
in most schools, topology and abstract algebra are 2nd/3rd year courses.

hence, pure math majors would also end up taking topology 2, ring theory, advanced analysis, manifold theory, coding theory, cryptology...

Ends up being more than 2 courses.
 
  • #22
JSBeckton said:
Every math professor I have ever had has suggested math majors focus on applied math unless they want to be a math teacher. Its like being a English Major when you want to be a Journalist.


Then I would suggest that that is a reflection of your particular school and not one of the situation in general. There isn't even a unique division of subjects into pure and applied mathematics within a country; the distinction is very arbitrary.

Companies like KPMG, Accenture, Barclays, HSBC, and many more blue chips (if that's the term) are very keen to hire people with pure maths degrees.

Does stats and probability count as pure? Then the Office of National Statistics in the UK wants people like that.

Why? The ability to prosper ina good mathematics program indicates abilities beyond mathematics, as well as in mathematics. If all your pure degree program does is give people enough knowledge to be a maths teacher in a US high school then that says a lot about the program.
 
  • #23
What do you do for a living matt?
 
  • #24
Math teacher?
 
  • #25
No, not a maths teacher. (I am half assuming you mean high school here anyway.) Anyone who has sigs turned on can surely follow a link to my homepage.
 
  • #26
I don't see where it says on your homepage what you do for a livng. I see the current projects that you are working for. But who pays you?
 
  • #27
Yeah, it only says he's a 3rd year PhD student!
 
  • #28
Where does your chedar come from. You know, green, bengamins, dead presidents; your paper?
 
  • #29
Matt has finished his phd .
 
  • #30
If you can't put together the fact that I work at Bristol University (the fact that my homepage is maths.bris.ac.uk means nothing to you?), and am on the staff list of the maths department (Matthew Grime, Dr), to figure out that I'm not a maths teacher then I really feel sorry for you, well not sorry, pitying perhaps that you can't figure out the host website of a page like that.There is nothing on my web page, or the department's that states I am a 3rd year PhD student as far as I am aware.

(And cheddar has two d's, last time I checked Benjamin (Franklin) was not on the any unit of Sterling currency, nor are banknotes green in the UK, but apart from that...)
 
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  • #31
matt grime said:
There is nothing on my web page, or the department's that states I am a 3rd year PhD student as far as I am aware.

Don't say that loud..Actually Lisa! has crush on you...So she presumed you to be a bit younger guy.:biggrin:
 
  • #32
So where does your chedddar come from matt? :biggrin:
 
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  • #33
Where do you think the salary of any University employee comes from?
 
  • #34
So you get paid to do mathematical research?
 
  • #35
That's what happens at universities, or is this news to you?
 
  • #36
its not a uncommon thing that people sometimes don't know trivial things..but are always afraid of raising boldly their point.
 
  • #37
i think a math major can do most anything afterwards, and maybe do it better thah most. i have heard for example that physics majors are favored in med school acceptances.

there is a reason for this - physics majors know how to reason and solve problems.

i think the same applies to successful math majors.

thinking skills are prized in maths and this makes math majors good at whatever they choose to do that has a reasoning aspect to it.

just a guess as i myself stayed in the fold, i teach and do math. but my wife was a math major and is a crackerjack doctor, and our older son was a math major and is a successful internet soft and hardware guru.

our other son scored higher than me on SAT math, and is a talented artist and English teacher and was briefly a semi - pro basketball player.
 
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  • #38
Aw so that's why some people say if you want to be a successful person, study math even if you don't want to do math in thee future!
*sigh*
 
  • #39
What can one do with a maths degree...

I did a masters, then a PhD, now I write papers...

Some of my friends became accountants :biggrin:
 

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