<p>Accepted into McCormick Undecided. Can anyone tell me about the Applied Math program? How hard is it? How many students major in it? Can I do Premed with it? Future Prospects?</p>
<p>Much Appreciated Fellow CC'ers!</p>
<p>Does one have to be EXCESSIVELY good at math to successfully pursue this? </p>
<p>I have strong quantitative skills, but not genius status by any means.</p>
<p>I don’t know that much about the applied math program, but I applied to it.</p>
<p>The way I understand it, the applied math is really applied math and engineering science or something like that. It’s engineering with a bigger focus on math. This is different than most applied math programs because they are usually not so focused on engineering and not in the engineering school. I’m not sure whether I’ll be attending or not, but I applied to Northwestern partially because the applied math was in mccormick, so I wouldn’t have to worry about switching schools if I changed my mind between engineering and applied math. However, I’m a little bit worried about applied math being so engineering focused if I decide that I don’t like engineering and just want to do (non-engineering) applied math.</p>
<p>Does anyone else have more information or opinions about northwestern’s applied math?</p>
<p>Hi guys, I’m not an applied math major (i’m chemical engineering and chemistry), but I know a lot of them and have taken some of the required classes for the major. </p>
<p>First of all, here is the detailed degree requirements for your perusal: [Northwestern</a> University - Undergraduate Program](<a href=“Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics | Northwestern Engineering”>Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics | Northwestern Engineering)</p>
<p>So really, the only required classes that are more mathematical and non-applied (ie. have to write proofs) are MATH 334 - Linear Algebra Second Course, and ESAM 311-3 or MATH 325 Complex Variables. But even those courses are lighter on the proofs compared to classes like Real Analysis. Some of my applied math friends enjoy pure math and opted to take MENU Real Analysis for their electives and plan on taking Abstract Algebra, but as you can see from the requirements it is not required.</p>
<p>The classes I took are ESAM 311-1 and 311-2. Basically a two course sequence on ordinary differential equations and partial differential equations. During the class the proof for everything was given and all derivations were made without skipping too many steps most of the time, but while understanding those help, writing the proofs was never the emphasis. The emphasis was always on the problem solving. It really worked really well for me as a chemical engineer because I was able to understand the math and almost immediately apply it in my other classes that require it.</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t think I am good at math. I like applications and physical theory but I’m not too good with very abstract stuff, but yet I aced both 311-1 and 311-2 without much difficulty. So you definitely do not need to be “excessively” good at math. Applied math focuses on using math through models, numerical methods (computer programming), and applications.</p>
<p>As to it being engineering focused, well, I don’t think it is. The focus always seemed to be on learning the methods and applications illuminated this, but there was never too much of an emphasis just on the applications.</p>
<p>Also, the professors in the applied math department are some of the best you will get in the entire university.</p>
<p>Yeah you can definitely do premed with it. All engineering majors are required to take technical electives (restricted to science and engineering classes). You can simply take premed courses to count for those.</p>