<p>I haven’t seen any jobs in that say specifically math/stats major only unless it is actuary job.</p>
<p>Most of the job I see when I apply to say:
econ/math/accounting/finance or no specific major at all.</p>
<p>So does majoring in math have any advantage over accounting/finance/econ majors?</p>
<p>Or does work experience outweigh whatever major you are?</p>
<p>I know accounting jobs specifically ask for accounting major or people who have taking accounting courses so math majors are disadvantaged there.</p>
<p>Most of the jobs math/stats majors at the undergrad level are able to get that are not accessible to business/econ majors are related to software engineering and computer programming. The differentiation starts to become apparent when you start looking into actual professional careers. Graduate engineering programs, and some engineering entry-level jobs, will accept math/stats majors, but they will not look at business majors. Likewise, statisticians, economists, operations research analysts, industrial engineers, quantitative analysts, computer scientists, and the many careers that fall under those general umbrellas, are all careers that require a high degree of mathematics education.</p>
<p>A math/stats major is going to have the edge over a business major (or econ major without significant math requirements) in most “analyst” positions. </p>
<p>Also, if you can get through the rigor of a mathematical based degree, it shows you have some kind of intelligence. Unfortunately many business type degree (at the undergrad level) tend to be “watered down”. It’s difficult for potential employers to weed through the masses of BBA’s to determine the stand outs from the kids who just skated by. It’s not really the same case with a math based degree, you had to work your butt off to get those types of degrees.</p>
<p>Math majors can have a strong advantage over accounting/econ/finance majors in any quantitatively-related position, assuming the math major has a minor or some classes in the areas above. I’m an actuary, and I can honestly say that my accounting and econ classes have helped me the most in day-to-day work, but in terms of teaching you how to think logically and critically, math cannot be beaten.</p>
<p>S. graduated last year with a double major in math (stats focused) and economics and now works as analyst. He had the sense that the math degree was getting him more interviews than econ.</p>
<p>If you have a higher gpa in math, people will look at your resume and go, “wow! this guy is a genius, we have to get him on board!” As oppose to a high gpa in business and they go, “mmhmm, 3.7 business major, about right.”</p>
<p>As oppose to a high gpa in business and they go, “mmhmm, 3.7 business major, about right.”</p>
<p>This statement is true when you mean…</p>
<ol>
<li>Business as in management, business administration, or marketing major</li>
<li>One were to go to a business program outside the Top 50 programs</li>
</ol>
<p>Obviously, but the comparison was business gpa vs. non-business gpa not business gpa vs. math gpa. Disciplines outside of the basic sciences and math are on par with the rigor of business. You can’t tell me an English major has an harder time than a business major at a half-decent school.</p>
<p>While my degree is in Statistics, I also took many Business classes. My Stats GPA was around a 3.2. My GPA in the Business classes was around 3.8-3.9.</p>
<p>The Math classes that are heavy in proofs, theory and computations are very difficult. Nothing comes close to them in the Business school. Business majors would largely run away crying if they had to take an upper division math class. I never once saw a business major in any of my upper division Statistics or Math classes. Closest thing was a very smart Econ major that was minoring in Stats…and he is now on his way to a top Law School. Yet he still never took any of the math intensive Stats classes.</p>
<p>By trizz75, “You can’t tell me an English major has an harder time than a business major at a half-decent school.”</p>
<p>Depending on your professor, English can be harder than math, and not only business. What is harder: to read a certain amount of pages, and write a 10-20 pages research paper (without plagiarizing), or to solve 10-20 derivatives/integrals? I bet writing a paper will take you more time to complete. When you are writing a paper, you are actually have to think more than when you solve certain math problems, such as straight applications of formulas, where your brain “doesn’t have to work” at all. (though I’m not comparing verbal/logic problems)<br>
Also, didn’t you ask yourself a question why a lot of English majors are being recruited by Fortune 500 companies and IBs? I’m pretty sure that they do not fully agree with your statement.</p>
<p>Math is harder. I have no trouble writing 20 page research papers. All of the papers I wrote in college got very high marks.</p>
<p>I wish upper division math classes were all about “solving 10-20 derivatives/integrals”.</p>
<p>Almost all questions on upper division math tests are word/analytical problems. You have to extract the required material from the question, know the proper applications, and execute the proper mathematical derivations/proofs to solve the problem…all with only your mind and a pencil…doing it 8 or 9 times in the span of the hour given for the test.</p>
<p>I’d much rather have a week or two to complete a 20 page research paper. Research, outline, draft, structure, write, rewrite…rather, rinse, repeat. For me that was always much easier.</p>
<p>FWIW, I’m not a giant advocate of “tests”, but I realize that was the primary method of knowledge testing for math and science classes.</p>
<p>ominous, you’re scaring me about the upper level math courses. Do you think reading a textbook this summer that covers first and second order logic would be a substantial boost to my confidence and ability in the analysis courses?</p>
<p>While “reading” some higher level math books can have some advantages, I always recommend completing tons of practice problems, in combination with practicing the derivations and proofs that are applicable to what you are studying. It seems like most upper division math classes are 1/2 application, 1/2 proof.</p>
<p>Don’t be scared of high level math classes. It’s all about practice. As long as you solid algebra, calculus and proofing techniques, you’ll be fine.</p>
<p>This just goes to show how one thread explaining majors that are considered strong for the business world can sway plenty to those majors without any of them putting an ounce of thinking to it.</p>
<p>i.e Taxguy’s accounting thread, now similar math threads like this one</p>