BA in math v BS in math v BS in applied math v BS in math with specialization in econ

zhangvict
Mon, 08 Jul 2013 03:47:35 +0000

Sorry, by quantitative classes I thought you meant those focused more on applications to obtain numerical answers, as opposed to theoretical classes focused more on describing things in abstract ways.

There are very few quantitative math classes at UChicago from what I can see in the course catalog, with the exception of math classes meant specifically for non math majors such as ‘Mathematical Methods for the Social Sciences’. Such classes don’t seem to be accepted to count for any of the math degrees.

So to answer your question, the BA will be easier to complete since there are less requirements and greater flexibility thought I don’t know how it’s viewed by employers compared to the BSs’. If you wish to do some “easier” electives, then the sub-200 level classes such as ‘Basic Number Theory’ or ‘Basic Geometry’ seem suitably “easy” if not requiring real analysis as a pre-requisite is a good measure to judge by.

However, you may find such theoretical type even worse or perhaps better than the math your’re used to. If you’ve never been exposed to proof-based theoretical mathematics which is what “real math” is, perhaps the thing you dislike is computation rather than math. But then again, you might find proof-based math very dry and frustrating. Trying do the math degree just for the resume then might not be worth it, though I don’t know much about this stuff.

If you end up going to Uchicago, try taking honors calculus, introduction to analysis, real analysis etc. whichever one you place into via the on campus placement test to find out if you enjoy theoretical math. If so, you might just end up having your cake and eating it too :).