3 answers
Ryan
Student
Nashua, New Hampshire
1
Question
Asked
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If you were me,what would you do in this situation?
I was stuck in this problem where my parents told me to take science but my friends and mentors told me to take math what should i do? imm good at both the subjects
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3 answers
Amanda Iannuzzi
10
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
It's easy to say to go with your gut and do what feels right for you. However, it may be helpful to listen to the feedback that those around you are giving to you and create a list of pros and cons for both options. Think about what the short term and long term outcomes will be if you choose one direction over the other.
I agree with what Amanda says. While it is helpful to listen to other people's feedback, this is your life and the most important question to ask yourself in this situation is what feels right to YOU.
All the very best!
Yasmin Igne
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
183
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
You can satisfy your parents, friends, and mentors in this situation.
It should be appreciated that mathematics is the language of science (especially hard science such as physics) and technology.
As far as mathematics is concerned, you may want to decide if you would like to pursue pure mathematics or applied mathematics. In pure mathematics, you may be engaged in the further development of mathematics as a language for its own sake or working on its foundation. It is pure art in a sense.
On the applied side of mathematics, it is the queen and servant of science and technology. In this sense, you are practically engaging in scientific work with your knowledge in mathematics.
What about science, then? Well, you need advanced mathematics in science and technology. This is especially true for hard science such as physics and its related disciplines.
For example, I have all my degrees in physics (BS, MS, PhD), and work as Principal Scientist of Raytheon consulting NSAS on geodynamics, space-borne geophysics, and space geodesy for two decades, and went back to academia as Professor of Mathematics for fifteen years before my retirement. It is a good marriage of science and mathematics.
Yes, you may be able to have the cake and eat it at the same time!
It should be appreciated that mathematics is the language of science (especially hard science such as physics) and technology.
As far as mathematics is concerned, you may want to decide if you would like to pursue pure mathematics or applied mathematics. In pure mathematics, you may be engaged in the further development of mathematics as a language for its own sake or working on its foundation. It is pure art in a sense.
On the applied side of mathematics, it is the queen and servant of science and technology. In this sense, you are practically engaging in scientific work with your knowledge in mathematics.
What about science, then? Well, you need advanced mathematics in science and technology. This is especially true for hard science such as physics and its related disciplines.
For example, I have all my degrees in physics (BS, MS, PhD), and work as Principal Scientist of Raytheon consulting NSAS on geodynamics, space-borne geophysics, and space geodesy for two decades, and went back to academia as Professor of Mathematics for fifteen years before my retirement. It is a good marriage of science and mathematics.
Yes, you may be able to have the cake and eat it at the same time!
Rahul Gautam
Film Director, Producer, Cinematographer
1
Answer
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Rahul’s Answer
It's truly impressive that you excel in both math and science. Studying math offers significant philosophical, moral, and technical benefits. Despite the overlap with science in these areas, math specialists are highly sought after worldwide across various sectors. Pursuing math can open doors to unexpected career paths such as economics, meteorology, seismology, mathematical biology, computer sciences, mathematical modeling, innovation diffusion, banking, and mathematical physics, to name a few. Continue nurturing your interest in science as well. While my family and friends pushed for engineering, I followed my passion for math. After earning my master's degree in mathematics, I received numerous job offers from prestigious banks like CITI bank, Morgan Stanley, and even central government organizations like NISTADS in India. So, if you love exploring and experimenting with math, job security won't be an issue.