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A love for the subject of Mathematics
Hi,
I'm just interested to know how many Mathematics students really love Mathematics?
I can't truly say that this is the case with me. I mean, I find Mathematics one of the most useful subjects there is and it comes quite naturally for me. I also find it really interesting and challenging. However, I'm afraid the fact that I won't study maths for the fun of it will be a big disadvantage. Could present and previous mathematics students give me some advice about this? Will I find it too tough at university or did you experience the same thing before you entered university and does the subject "grow on you" as time goes on?
If not, I might have to go with the safer option of doing Business maths and statistics at LSE instead of straight Maths at Imperial. I would not want to start my degree over if I mess things up.
So, does every mathematics student "love" studying maths or just find it interesting and challenging like I do?
I'm just interested to know how many Mathematics students really love Mathematics?
I can't truly say that this is the case with me. I mean, I find Mathematics one of the most useful subjects there is and it comes quite naturally for me. I also find it really interesting and challenging. However, I'm afraid the fact that I won't study maths for the fun of it will be a big disadvantage. Could present and previous mathematics students give me some advice about this? Will I find it too tough at university or did you experience the same thing before you entered university and does the subject "grow on you" as time goes on?
If not, I might have to go with the safer option of doing Business maths and statistics at LSE instead of straight Maths at Imperial. I would not want to start my degree over if I mess things up.
So, does every mathematics student "love" studying maths or just find it interesting and challenging like I do?
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How could you get excited about Business maths and stats? Just listen to the lack of passion in that title.
To be honest, anything you study will grind on you simply by virtue of the fact you do it so much.
With regards to loving maths, I love maths even though I am **** at it. I appreciate it's usefulness of course, but what I love about it is its absoluteness. The answer is correct or incorrect (unless you operate with some transcendental number like Pi where you get approximations of course) and to be able to manipulate and really understand maths, is to be able to describe everything in the world and universe. Everything boils down to maths, and if I was good enough at pure maths, I would take it to degree level. As it is I do Aero Eng, which is of course basically just maths, but its nothing like a maths degree.
So, think hard about it, but personally I think anything with "business" in the title is the work of the devil.
To be honest, anything you study will grind on you simply by virtue of the fact you do it so much.
With regards to loving maths, I love maths even though I am **** at it. I appreciate it's usefulness of course, but what I love about it is its absoluteness. The answer is correct or incorrect (unless you operate with some transcendental number like Pi where you get approximations of course) and to be able to manipulate and really understand maths, is to be able to describe everything in the world and universe. Everything boils down to maths, and if I was good enough at pure maths, I would take it to degree level. As it is I do Aero Eng, which is of course basically just maths, but its nothing like a maths degree.
So, think hard about it, but personally I think anything with "business" in the title is the work of the devil.
In describing maths as "interesting and challenging" I think you're at least as pro maths as most maths undergraduates. IMO if a student doesn't enjoy maths at uni it's because what was previously easy has become harder. So, if it's not too presumptious, then here's a list of "rules of thumb" relating to uni maths - and differences with A-level maths - as I at least see it:
1. Maths at uni can be challenging, and a bit of a shock if you've been used to getting 100% all the time without much effort. If you're prepared to work at it and do plenty of examples then what was initially difficult usually becomes quite approachable (though not always routine). Also no-one really expects all exercises/problems to be totally completed anymore, but thoroughly attempted. If you enjoy challenges and stick at it I imagine you'll be fine.
2. Analysis - almost always the biggest shock for students is analysis which is, roughly speaking, the pure maths behind calculus. The results proved usually seem obvious and so the point of the course doesn't always seem that clear. The course is taught to fine-tune students' presentation, proofs and argumentation. It's often better to treat it as completing a logic puzzle or crossword rather than maths. The point is mainly to quash careless habits and unreasonable assumptions.
3. Abstraction - maths is mainly about patterns and in focusing on a particular type of pattern maths can go quite abstract. This is in order to get past the superficiality of the various different ways this pattern may emerge. This is a powerful technique but means you needs to get "used" to unusual ideas seemingly quite removed from the concrete examples that motivated them.
4. Mathematics isn't modular like A-level - though abstraction can sometimes put up such barriers. So you need to be interested in the bigger picture and the best maths is usually when different streams of maths come together to be employed to solve a problem.
5. In my experience students sometimes find the first year somewhat dull because in most courses it is a grounding in all the ideas that are core to the subject. But this tends to be a temporary problem because...
6. There is a great deal of variety in maths. It's much more various than you'd guess from A-level (or equivalent). The juicier stuff tends to come later in the degree (second year on) and usually by then students can start choosing which options they enjoy most or go on to things entirely new to them. Even though I've been doing maths quite a few years now I keep finding new stuff that I think is very neat in areas I wouldn't have guessed (e.g. information theory, group characters are two examples in recent years).
Anyway I hope this convinces you to stick with Maths - if you've enjoyed it thus far and the challenge it offers I think you'll only moreso enjoy it at university.
1. Maths at uni can be challenging, and a bit of a shock if you've been used to getting 100% all the time without much effort. If you're prepared to work at it and do plenty of examples then what was initially difficult usually becomes quite approachable (though not always routine). Also no-one really expects all exercises/problems to be totally completed anymore, but thoroughly attempted. If you enjoy challenges and stick at it I imagine you'll be fine.
2. Analysis - almost always the biggest shock for students is analysis which is, roughly speaking, the pure maths behind calculus. The results proved usually seem obvious and so the point of the course doesn't always seem that clear. The course is taught to fine-tune students' presentation, proofs and argumentation. It's often better to treat it as completing a logic puzzle or crossword rather than maths. The point is mainly to quash careless habits and unreasonable assumptions.
3. Abstraction - maths is mainly about patterns and in focusing on a particular type of pattern maths can go quite abstract. This is in order to get past the superficiality of the various different ways this pattern may emerge. This is a powerful technique but means you needs to get "used" to unusual ideas seemingly quite removed from the concrete examples that motivated them.
4. Mathematics isn't modular like A-level - though abstraction can sometimes put up such barriers. So you need to be interested in the bigger picture and the best maths is usually when different streams of maths come together to be employed to solve a problem.
5. In my experience students sometimes find the first year somewhat dull because in most courses it is a grounding in all the ideas that are core to the subject. But this tends to be a temporary problem because...
6. There is a great deal of variety in maths. It's much more various than you'd guess from A-level (or equivalent). The juicier stuff tends to come later in the degree (second year on) and usually by then students can start choosing which options they enjoy most or go on to things entirely new to them. Even though I've been doing maths quite a few years now I keep finding new stuff that I think is very neat in areas I wouldn't have guessed (e.g. information theory, group characters are two examples in recent years).
Anyway I hope this convinces you to stick with Maths - if you've enjoyed it thus far and the challenge it offers I think you'll only moreso enjoy it at university.
5. In my experience students sometimes find the first year somewhat dull because in most courses it is a grounding in all the ideas that are core to the subject. But this tends to be a temporary problem because...
I'm glad to hear that because I've been toying on and off with dropping maths and had decided not to... Reassures me a little! lol..
What? so you guys lied on your personal statements about how you had passionate nights in with your maths textbook? I'm dissapointed in you guys, you've let yourselves down. I personally can't cope without my hourly dose of Maths.
I think that I do love maths, but I don't actually know if I really do or not, I'm deliberating wheter to do maths or dance, I think I love maths, but I know I love dance, maths is better prospects wise, but I don't know which to do. I think they do both inspire me. Don't really know.
MatchDancer
I think that I do love maths, but I don't actually know if I really do or not, I'm deliberating wheter to do maths or dance, I think I love maths, but I know I love dance, maths is better prospects wise, but I don't know which to do. I think they do both inspire me. Don't really know.
They are both beautiful things and IMO very human, and you're lucky that you're good at both things, but if you can definitely say that you love maths and are good at it then I'd say go for maths. Both subjects are far from lifeless, and I think you would enjoy one as much as the other, so I reckon go for one with the best 'prospects'.
I'm personally considering a maths degree even though I'm the least career-oriented person on earth, because I love it. I'm not very competitive at all and so don't see myself in a great job but at least there's something there for me.
Besides, I'm sure it's easier to get into a career in dance without a degree in it. The kind of thing you can do on the side, get noticed and then quit your degree to pursue new opportunities.
But don't take my word for any of this, after all I'm not a great careers advisor
.
Like RichE said: there's a HUGE difference between high school maths and university maths. If some of you still have doubts concerning how "passionate" you are about maths, have a look at some 1st year 1st term lecture notes.
PlaystationStudies
They are both beautiful things and IMO very human, and you're lucky that you're good at both things, but if you can definitely say that you love maths and are good at it then I'd say go for maths. Both subjects are far from lifeless, and I think you would enjoy one as much as the other, so I reckon go for one with the best 'prospects'.
I'm personally considering a maths degree even though I'm the least career-oriented person on earth, because I love it. I'm not very competitive at all and so don't see myself in a great job but at least there's something there for me.
Besides, I'm sure it's easier to get into a career in dance without a degree in it. The kind of thing you can do on the side, get noticed and then quit your degree to pursue new opportunities.
But don't take my word for any of this, after all I'm not a great careers advisor.
I'm personally considering a maths degree even though I'm the least career-oriented person on earth, because I love it. I'm not very competitive at all and so don't see myself in a great job but at least there's something there for me.
Besides, I'm sure it's easier to get into a career in dance without a degree in it. The kind of thing you can do on the side, get noticed and then quit your degree to pursue new opportunities.
But don't take my word for any of this, after all I'm not a great careers advisor
.I thought he was joking :| Dance or Maths is just funny
tazmanmaniac
I thought he was joking :| Dance or Maths is just funny
LOL. I'm one of these chumps that takes everything at face value
. But I think they are into dance judging from their name.Siamese twins?
tazmanmaniac
Siamese twins?
Sure. One can do maths, the other can dance :P.
darth_vader05
Would you really recommend that? I mean it can be 'off putting' I guess.
Mmm...True but it would give then an idea of how uni maths is structured (the HUGE emphasis on theorems/proofs) and thus they'll know whether a maths degree is for them or not I guess.
If you're thinking of taking maths, remember, that if you study say, geography, or history, or whatever, you have **** loads of reading to do, but once you do all that, you cant fail an exam. How well above a pass you get depends on how you analyse the info they give you and how present your answers and ideas. In certain maths modules, maybe not first year ones, there is not much that you actually need to know. you can know all the theorems and lemmas, and even understand the answers to examples, but then have no idea how to do anything yourself.
However, that makes it way more fun!
However, that makes it way more fun!
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