Orion
What exactly does a math major do?
I have searched up countless times what math majors do and asked many people about their jobs, but all of the answers are very different. On one side it's "There are many jobs that you can do that pay very well," but there's also the responses like "All you can be is a teacher. Don't do it." Right now I am deciding between double majoring in Astrophysics and Nuclear Chemistry, Mathematics, or computer science. The answer to this question may be the tie breaker. #college-major #mathematics
2 answers
Breanna Bergin
Breanna’s Answer
With a degree in Mathematics, so many doors open for you. First and foremost, Mathematics allows you to think differently than most other individuals. It allows you to problem solve and think of situations much differently.
When I changed my major to Mathematics in college, I met with my adviser to discuss career options post graduation. She recommended that I read "101 careers in Mathematics" - this may be of use for you. There are so many careers to do with a Mathematics background. Often times, people will land a career in Finance, Accounting, Banking, Consulting, Actuary etc. Mathematics is a great degree with unlimited amount of options outside of the typical belief to Teach.
Frank Lemmon
Frank’s Answer
Hi Orion, the applications for mathematics in practice are endless. Any sciences, many medical fields, computer science, engineering, aerodynamics, and physics all rely on mathematics, just to name a few. The question becomes which fields are you interested in? Astrophysics is a great choice, because so much is happening around gaining understanding of space and the universe right now. For example, this is the area where Stephen Hawking has become famous, because of his ability to use mathematics to provide a fundamental understanding of the structure and processes of the universe (black holes, dark matter, gravitational waves, etc). Being on the cutting edge of such research and experimentation is quite exciting! For starters, I'd suggest looking for internship opportunities at science and technology companies, once you're able to meet the qualifications for such. Landing an internship will give you valuable experience and an opportunity to find out how much you like a particular type of occupation. Check with your guidance counselor or school administration office to obtain help on locating internship opportunities, or you can also sign-up (for free) and visit http://chegg.com/internships for some ideas, too! You can also browse career profiles at http://www.chegg.com/career-center/explore. Hope this helps and good luck ahead!