<p>I'm not talking being in algebra I as a 7th grader, or being in AP Calculus AB or BC as a sophomore or junior, I'm talking about the men and women who go on to get PhDs in math and the top-notch engineers. </p>
<p>I'm in high school right now and basically acing AP Calculus AB, but I don't really find myself to be "good" at math. I'm honestly wondering because I love math and I'm decent at it, but I don't know if I'm good enough at it to enter into a STEM field. </p>
<p>So, the question follows, when can you confidently claim someone is "good" at math?</p>
<p>The math needed to be a good engineer is somewhat different from that needed to succeed in a math PhD program.</p>
<p>A good engineer needs to have a good working knowledge of calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, with a basic understanding of the theory behind it, but need not be an expert at mathematical proofs. Doing well in high school calculus is probably a good predictor of how well a student will do in the math needed for engineering, although college math courses will move at a faster pace than AB.</p>
<p>A math PhD student needs to have a strong ability in understanding and writing mathematical proofs. Being good at calculus likely has some predictive value, but it may not be until one is in college and takes a proof-oriented course (e.g. an upper division course like real analysis or abstract algebra, an “introduction to mathematical proofs” lower division course offered by some math departments, or an honors calculus, multivariable calculus, linear algebra, or differential equations course) that a student will get a good idea of how strong s/he is in the math needed to succeed as a math PhD student. (Economics, physics, and theoretical computer science may be similar at the PhD student level.)</p>
<p>Bottom line is that you are likely more than good enough in math to handle most STEM fields including engineering, but you may not know if you have what it takes to be a PhD student in math until you take a proof-oriented math course in college.</p>
<p>I was good enough at math for an STEM field - though architecture doesn’t actually use much math as it turns out. But I doubt I was good enough to be a math major, though doing proofs in geometry was my absolute favorite part of math. My husband took math courses until they got too hard. He was several courses beyond Calc 1, but he was definitely happy he took the last one pass/fail. I think most (but by no means all) those who will be reasonably strong math majors probably play with math on the side (math teams, computer programming and the like).</p>
<p>I was also good enough for STEM (Physics major) and able to follow high level math classes fairly easily. However, I wasn’t even remotely near math competitions. I do not have “math imagination” and I can not see math beyond the curriculum :)</p>
<p>What UCB writes is very true! I was always an outstanding math student. I even participated in the Mathematical Olympiad in high school. I was also an outstanding student in Electrical Engineering. </p>
<p>When I was in grad school, I decided to take graduate-level Real Analysis in the Math Department for “fun”. Big Mistake! My skills at calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, etc. were no predictor at all of my ability to handle Real Analysis! That class humbled me.</p>
<p>I am an engineer, but my math skills are nowhere near those of my BFF who majored in math. And she, like BobWallace, found Real Analysis to be very humbling.</p>
<p>If you love math, that is the most important thing. If you love math and get good grades in Calculus, then there are almost certainly math-related fields where you can excel. Try to find a field that you love that leverages that love of math.</p>
<p>It’s a good question. I survived Engineering classes, but in college I realized that it was arithmetic and algebra that I loved… not calculus and higher level mathematics. It seems that is fairly common for engineers to use math as a tool but not love math’s w/o near term application.</p>
<p>I always loved math, did really well, and double-majored in math along with econ, but I was never great at science and don’t think I have the ability to put things together / take them apart that seems to be the hallmark of engineers.</p>
<p>I like math and science more than anything in school (well, I like history but there’s no money in that…lol). But I’m leaning towards an economics major…I’m looking at Princeton, however, because of its financial engineering. Does anyone here know how math/science intensive that is, or any math-based economics major is?</p>
<p>Here are suggested prerequisites for preparing for PhD study in economics:
<a href=“https://www.econ.berkeley.edu/grad/admissions/preparation[/url]”>Preparation | Department of Economics;
For reference, the math and economics departments accept a 3 or higher on AP calculus AB or BC for Math 1A (although the math department cautions students with a 3 or 4 about the risks of skipping any college math course), and a 5 on AP calculus BC for Math 1A and 1B (though you would have to self-study a small amount of Math 1B material).</p>
<p>sosomenza, my older son would do anything over writing an essay. (Though in fact he’s a perfectly decent writer.) He ended up being more interested in comp sci rather than pure math, but I think he has the mathematics brain. When he was in fifth grade one of his favorite books was *The Book of Numbers.<a href=“written%20by%20the%20guys%20who%20invented%20the%20Game%20of%20Life”>/I</a> and is almost accessible to non-mathematicians. </p>
<p>I had a friend my freshman year in college who was majoring in math, but who said she realize while competent enough to keep up, and to write a senior thesis of original work, knew she wasn’t really good enough to go on to a PhD. She went to law school.</p>
<p>Note that math majors typically top the list of average LSAT score by major, probably because they can think their way through the logic questions (philosophy majors also do well).</p>
<p>Grades may not be the best predictors. When I was in HS (many moons ago, before SATs were recalibrated), I was told that a Math Sat above 600 indicated that the student could handle an engineering program. My advice now, look at your SATs and compare with good engineering schools, and you will see where you fit. Not that you necessarily want a relatively pure engineering school, but that can help you make a decision. IMHO.</p>
<p>I don’t know how good of an engineering student I’d be. I think I’m only good at taking information given to me and being really adept at being able to apply that information on paper…but in real world application? That’s where I’d make an awful engineer. I don’t want to be like everyone and their mom who goes to a state school planning on engineering after seeing the average starting salaries and then getting kicked in the ass after one semester.</p>
<p>efeens, there is NOTHING wrong in trying and changing course. As a backup, you might want to make certain that your college also has finance and accounting majors, and you do not lose any scholarship if you change majors.</p>
<p>I am close to 60, and my biggest regret is majoring in accounting and not engineering. I have been successful financially beyond my dreams and happy at work, but I think that had I majored in engineering I could have done much more volunteer/humanitarian work.</p>
<p>Not sure if this is true, but I once read that more than half of the licensed engineers in the US had SAT math scores under 600. I guess it makes sense because not all of them went to top schools!</p>
<p>I was always very good at “lower math”–mental math, math games/puzzles, SAT math. I have MA in Eng Lit/ESL, but lately I’m a math tutor. I really LOVE math, but don’t remember anything beyond Algebra I and basic Geometry. I still consider myself good at math, though I never took calculus. </p>
<p>H and our 3 sons are all good at math. Two sons are the engineering type–creative/tinkering/spacial sense. I think the question they always asked is, “What will happen if I do … THIS?” A bit of the mad scientist. Always building, taking apart, and trying to invent things.
The 3rd son is more of the hyper-accurate accounting/stats/programming type–very much an “inside the box” thinker who likes to follow rules and procedures, and is sure the world would explode if he didn’t.</p>