<p>Haven’t been on CC for a long time, especially since after transferring to Berkeley as a Math major, I became aware of the mass of the paranoia and anxiety that pervades this website. But when I ran into this old thread while Googling about the typical GPAs of Math majors, I had to respond.</p>
<p>Do not let the experience of the original poster scare you away from the Math major. My experience has been extremely counter to his. Even with a semester left, I have already interviewed at a six-figure job (that I don’t even technically QUALIFY for by 4 years!) at Google and a top consulting firm in San Francisco is wanting me to take a job as an analyst (a job I didn’t even interview for and a job that I’m not sure I even want but one that my business major friends would kill for). This is all spectacular because I haven’t even been aggressively applying for jobs since I still have a semester of school left–but everywhere I go, people want Math majors who can program (more so than they want CS majors who can program).</p>
<p>Sorry if that offends some people, but the truth is that the analytic skills obtained through doing a Math major are widely applicable and, if played off well, are highly desired over many, many other majors in the private sector–even for jobs that have nothing to do with math. Math majors are widely seen as highly intelligent, bright and very quick learning individuals who are adaptable and innovative. If you find that this is not what you are experiencing, then consider moving somewhere like the San Francisco Bay Area.</p>
<p>The truth is, while choosing your major and while interviewing/applying for jobs, lose the formalism and be AUTHENTIC–be YOURSELF. That is seriously the BEST advice to counter all the overinflated hype on CC. Pick a major YOU LOVE, apply to jobs as YOURSELF, then watch as things fall into place.</p>
<p>And if you decide to major in math, consider this advice:
- Take 2 graduate classes that are related to the field you want to enter toward the end of your degree and ace them. Then put them into your resume under “Relevant Coursework”. Reading this would freak me out if I were a freshman or sophomore, but rest assured, I am certainly no genius… After doing several upper division math classes, graduate classes will be much easier than you think.
- Don’t listen to your peers freaking out. Study a lot and enjoy what you’re doing–you’ve entered an ancient subculture that will forever be an interest to you. Your peers will freak out about everything and give the impression that only geniuses do well in math–just ignore them, stay interested, and watch as you consistently do as well as those students that everything thinks are geniuses.
- Keep the subject fun, don’t let it become aggravating. Don’t get obsessed. Stay spiritually, emotionally, physically healthy. Go to church, hang out with friends, do whatever hobbies you have! Honestly, I would be no less happy if I got a low paying job because I don’t find my identity in what I do.
- Take CS classes toward the end of your degree. CS is incredibly easy to learn for someone who has taken a few upper division math classes, especially ones like Abstract Algebra.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Take the following courses in addition to your major (no matter what job you think you may want): Data Structures (Computer Science), Algorithms (Computer Science), Numerical Analysis (Mathematics)</p></li>
<li><p>Recommended courses for a job in tech: (Graduate?) Statistical Learning Theory/Machine Learning (Computer Science), Graduate Numerical Analysis, even consider Cryptography if you enjoyed your Abstract Algebra class.</p></li>
<li><p>Recommended courses for a job in consulting: just figure out a way to learn MATLAB really well… They seem to love it.</p></li>
<li><p>Enjoy the wacky world you’ve entered as a Math major. A lot of Mathematicians are extremely eccentric, interesting, and have unpredictable world views. It’s a lot of fun!</p></li>
<li><p>Also, keep in mind that in academia a Pure Mathematics degree can sound very prestigious. But in the private sector, an APPLIED Mathematics degree is usually more desired. So keep that in mind! It’s not critical (and Math majors know–there isn’t much of a difference between the two majors) but it may be worth considering.</p></li>
</ul>