Applied Math VS Economics?

College Majors Business Major
1

<p>I'm currently a sophomore that's going to change my major from neuroscience to either applied math or economics because the job prospects for neuroscience are poor and the only reason I chose neuroscience in the first place is because I thought i was going to go to medical school. I soon realized that it wouldn't be worth it because my gpa is already messed up (2.9) and getting straight As at my LAC is extremely difficult because the professors grade tough no matter how hard you try. </p>

<p>Before anyone says how difficult math is, I've already taken 2 math courses and I did well in them. The reason I don't like neuroscience as my major is because it doesn't make you think. You're basically memorizing a bunch of facts and spitting them back out during exam time. My school has a very good science department, but I feel like any high schooler can do the neuroscience/biology labs. What am I going to do with a degree in neuroscience anyways? Even at the masters/PhD level it's bad.</p>

<p>I felt like I wasn't learning any analytical/critical thinking skills like I did in my math classes. It felt good when I was able to work through a math problem and get the right answer.</p>

<p>I know if I worked harder i can raise my gpa though. That's the reason why it's so low at this point.</p>

<p>If i were to do applied math, I would minor in biology and psychology because I'm 2 classes away from getting them for each minor. I would probably take 1 or 2 econ classes as well as supplements. I would specialize in statistics and take some classes for acturial science.</p>

<p>If I were to do economics, I would probably take another calculus class such as Calc 3 and minor in biology.</p>

<p>Which one will open up more options? What exactly can I do after I graduate with a bachelors in either one? </p>

<p>I'm so lost and I really just want to start my career asap so I can start paying off my loans and help my family with debt. I want to become an analyst, but I looked at job listings and they ALL require 4 years of experience.</p>

<p>I was thinking about doing actuary science, but I heard you have to complete 9 exams and they are all harder than the MCAT, PCAT, LSAT, and GRE combined.</p>

<p>I thought about becoming a CPA, but I heard the demand is pretty low in this economy and I'm not sure how I would even get experience to become one. I know I have to have 24 credits in econ, 24 credits in business, and 150 credit hours total to even take the CPA exam.</p>

<p>And if i were to go to graduate school, what the heck would I do? I know that math opens a lot of options, but if I'm trying to get involved in business, finance, or accounting, what kind of program would I be looking at?</p>

<p>Would it be useful for me to talk to my advisor and try and get help so I can apply to internships? The math department is very small, last year there were only 15 math majors in the graduating class of 621 (probably because everyone thinks math is a ridiculously hard major). I feel as if I'll get the help I need and more opportunities.</p>

2

<p>Can you double major in both? That’s what I’m doing, and I think it’s an awesome combination.</p>

3

<p>Unfortunately no. I’m switching majors 2 years into college and I want to graduate on time so the double major is out of the question.</p>

4

<p>Calc 1 and 2 are pretty basic and not a good representation of what a math major is actually like.</p>

5

<p>How do math majors major in math if they don’t know what a good representation of math is based off of calc 1 and calc 2??</p>

<p>and isn’t it better to major in math than economics? aren’t the skills i learn from a rigorous math major going to be more of value to me than economics classes that don’t really teach me that much besides theories that I’ll never use?</p>

6

<p>It’s not clear to me what you mean by “I want to become an analyst”, but based on the information that you have provided, you will need to improve a bit in order to graduate with a GPA above 3.0, typically the minimum for any sort of graduate study.</p>

<p>This is not some sort of life/career ending disaster, though many on CC will tend to view it that way. However, it does argue against any plan predicated on graduate school. </p>

<p>You don’t mention it, but I wonder whether statistics is an option for you. It ties together a number of the disciplines that you mention, so your studies to this point need not be viewed as “wasted.” Statistics is also useful for employment without graduate studies. The best people to ask about statistics would be your current or recent math professors.</p>

7

<p>Statistics is a concentration of the mathematics major ere. I was going to stick with that concentration. And I don’t know why you’re saying my gpa is already screwed. I have 2 years left to bring it up. I know that I wasn’t studying hard enough to begin with and this time I know what I’m doing.</p>

<p>The math department is relatively small so I feel as if I’ll get the help I need to achieve As in my classes and the internships I need, as I mentioned before.</p>

<p>What do you suggest I do if my gpa is already messed up? I need to plan my career and obviously medicine is not for me at this point with my gpa.</p>

<p>I thought employers love to see math majors because they have good analyzing/critical think skills. Should my gpa be good enough if I get it up to at least a 3.3?</p>

<p>And I don’t know what exactly an analyst does but I heard it’s a typical job for any math intensive major.</p>

8

<p>Hello??</p>

<p>Bump</p>