<p>Hi to anyone that reads this,
I am a senior in high school this year and when I go off to college I will be majoring in math. Currently I am filling out college application supplements and there are a lot of essays that ask “Why do you want to go to X School?” I want to talk about doing research and working with a professor, but when I look at the websites, they list math work being done in different categories of math. For example, Tulane lists four categories of math as: 1. Applied and Computational Mathematics, 2. Statistics and Probability, 3. Algebra and Theoretical Computer Science, and 4. Topology and Geometry. Another example, Rice lists eleven categories: [url=<a href=“http://math.rice.edu/Research/research.html]Department”>http://math.rice.edu/Research/research.html]Department</a> of Mathematics Research<a href=“I%20don’t%20feel%20like%20copying%20them%20down%20but%20take%20a%20look%20at%20it%20please”>/url</a>. I’m not trying to be naive but if I am more interested in regular math, as in the extension of calculus you learn in high school, (I’d be able to answer this question after taking calculus but my apps are due before then obviously), what category of math would it fit under? Thanks a lot.</p>
<p>Wouldn’t you have at least taken 1 semester of calculus before your apps are due?</p>
<p>The type of math done in high school most closely approximates applied math. But, quite frankly, even that is stretching it. The more accurate answer is that college math is nothing like high school math. You don’t really need to specify the specific area of math you like.</p>
<p>Ah, the good old potential math major, unprepared for what’s ahead… Unfortunately, particularly in the US, calculus has been hyped up as “the” advanced math to high school students. Mathematics is a lot more than that, and as terenc noted, college math is nothing like high school math. Once you start a math major, you’ll (hopefully) get exposed to those different areas and pick the path you like the most (many just skedaddle as fast as they can away from math). When I started, I thought I’d do pure math, I ended up choosing statistics (even though at first I preferred probability). </p>
<p>So, when writing your essay, don’t try to be too specific on what you want to do. If you really want, you can try to tailor it to each college’s own best area of expertise, but since you don’t know about those subfields yet, I wouldn’t recommend trying this approach.</p>
<p>Thanks for your responses.
Blobof: Yeah I think I will probably end up doing something in statistics.</p>
<p>Good luck with the applications, CollegeBound947, and congratulations on reaching your senior year in high school. The thing you need to remember when writing your applications to various math departments is that your application will be read by math geniuses. Math professors have spent their lives perfecting how to be analytical. Most have mastered how to extract info and reach logical abstract conclusions off of details most people overlook. My advice to you is to be honest. They will detect contradictions in your statements, and attempts to impress them will backfire if you are dishonest. Be honest if you are unsure of something. That will impress them more. Sincerity.</p>