Timeline for Which major for applied math PhD?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
12 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Jan 1, 2014 at 18:20 | comment | added | TSGM | @user14449: I didn't think I was rude, but perhaps you have misinterpreted by statement (and I could equally have misinterpreted yours). I have said everything I wanted to say, and I admit that my experience may not be representative. However, my viewpoint is coming from someone who has served on applied admissions committees in several universities. My advice is oriented towards someone who is debating an undergraduate major, and my principle point was to warn against underestimating the differences between the different styles of mathematics. | |
| Jan 1, 2014 at 18:15 | comment | added | user10269 | @TSGM I'm not sure what you are getting at -- I have written that there are NO requirements, and that he could very well get into an applied math grad school after pursuing a degree in English. Before being rude, perhaps you could read more carefully. FYI, I did my PhD in math. | |
| Jan 1, 2014 at 18:14 | comment | added | TSGM | [Continued] but I feel that a lot of people here don't understand the significant differences between engineering mathematics, physics mathematics, and (stand-alone) mathematics. There are significant differences. It is not terribly helpful to talk about what may be possible, and the question we need to address is what course of action will lead to a likely outcome. | |
| Jan 1, 2014 at 18:12 | comment | added | TSGM | @user14449: I don't know why so many of you are hung up on official requirements. The original question didn't ask about official requirements---it was much more open ended, and asked about what the best course of action was. Given the right grades, reference letters, and research potential, you can transition from any one field to any other field. That is always possible. Now is it likely? It depends. My response showed some of the reasons why you need to be wary of the transition. [continued] | |
| Jan 1, 2014 at 16:01 | comment | added | user10269 | As far as I can see (and I did go back and check some admission requirements), as @JeffE said, nothing says that you need a math degree to pursue a PhD in applied math. Heck, if you decide that you like math after getting a BA in English, and if you have good reasons to let grad schools believe that you are capable of math research, that is perfectly fine, too (and your papers would be so well-written!) | |
| Jan 1, 2014 at 3:21 | comment | added | TSGM | In addition, I did teach a professional engineer who went back to get an applied mathematics degree 'for fun'. It took him a little over two years of extra coursework, I believe. | |
| Jan 1, 2014 at 3:18 | comment | added | TSGM | @JeffE: Technically, this is true of any field, but it is probably least true of engineering just because engineers are almost always constrained by a very strict schedule. The course structure is different between engineering mathematics and pure mathematics. For example, engineers will typically take a first matrix course that goes over things like solving matrix equations. Mathematicians will be doing 'similar' course but first dealing with vector spaces and their axioms. In theory, an engineer can do both. In practice, I don't know how many would care to, given their tight schedules. | |
| Dec 31, 2013 at 23:46 | comment | added | JeffE | Nothing prevents you, as an engineering major, from taking mathematics classes or doing mathematics research, either pure or applied. Except time. | |
| Dec 31, 2013 at 15:50 | comment | added | Alex | Thanks, it seems like an applied math major would be most appropriate for me. | |
| Dec 31, 2013 at 15:48 | vote | accept | Alex | ||
| Dec 31, 2013 at 9:40 | review | First posts | |||
| Dec 31, 2013 at 9:48 | |||||
| Dec 31, 2013 at 9:23 | history | answered | TSGM | CC BY-SA 3.0 |