<p>I am interested in studying something quantitative, but to be honest, I'm not the biggest "fan" of math (although I'm pretty good at it). Can someone please elaborate the differences in the four degrees mentioned in the title, and tell me which one is more/less quantitative, harder/easier to complete?</p>
<p>All the math degrees will be heavily theoretical. The BS degrees are simply the BA with some more math course restrictions and additional required non-math classes in economics, the physical sciences or computer science. The BA on the other hand, has less course requirements and greatest flexibility for electives. </p>
<p>Importantly, all the math degrees require a year of real analysis and at least 2/3 a year of abstract algebra, both of which are theoretical classes. Many other classes including seemingly quantitative ones like ordinary differential equations seem to be theoretical too, since they often have perquisites of real analysis or abstract algebra.</p>
<p>Here is a bunch of info you will probably find useful: [Mathematics</a> - University of Chicago Catalog](<a href=“http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/mathematics/]Mathematics”>Mathematics < University of Chicago Catalog)</p>
<p>Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>Like I said, I don’t really enjoy math for its own sake, but I’m willing to do a math major because, correct me if I’m wrong, it looks impressive on a resume for someone who’s into business/finance.</p>
<p>So would I be better off doing a BA so that I can avoid some of the more quantitative classes and instead opt for some easier electives? (do those even exist?) Thanks again.</p>
<p>Sorry, by quantitative classes I thought you meant those focused more on applications to obtain numerical answers, as opposed to theoretical classes focused more on describing things in abstract ways.</p>
<p>There are very few quantitative math classes at UChicago from what I can see in the course catalog, with the exception of math classes meant specifically for non math majors such as ‘Mathematical Methods for the Social Sciences’. Such classes don’t seem to be accepted to count for any of the math degrees.</p>
<p>So to answer your question, the BA will be easier to complete since there are less requirements and greater flexibility thought I don’t know how it’s viewed by employers compared to the BSs’. If you wish to do some “easier” electives, then the sub-200 level classes such as ‘Basic Number Theory’ or ‘Basic Geometry’ seem suitably “easy” if not requiring real analysis as a pre-requisite is a good measure to judge by.</p>
<p>However, you may find such theoretical type even worse or perhaps better than the math your’re used to. If you’ve never been exposed to proof-based theoretical mathematics which is what “real math” is, perhaps the thing you dislike is computation rather than math. But then again, you might find proof-based math very dry and frustrating. Trying do the math degree just for the resume then might not be worth it, though I don’t know much about this stuff.</p>
<p>If you end up going to Uchicago, try taking honors calculus, introduction to analysis, real analysis etc. whichever one you place into via the on campus placement test to find out if you enjoy theoretical math. If so, you might just end up having your cake and eating it too :).</p>
<p>Yeah, my reaction on reading the first post was “The University of Chicago will cure you of that!”, without being sure what, exactly, “that” was. “That” could be one or more – quite possibly all – of the following: not being a fan of math, thinking you are pretty good at it, wanting to major in “something quantitative,” and assuming that math is something quantitative.</p>
<p>JHS’s post is up the right alley. You might want to consider Stats, but more likely you will settle on the Econ degree after seeing what “math” is really like.</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much!! especially zhangvict – your posts have been really informative. And I will most definitely be going to UChicago this fall, right now I’m just trying to evaluate what I should focus on.</p>
<p>I guess I’ll have to try out some of the proof-based/theoretical math classes once I set foot on campus to decide whether or not math is my thing. Thanks again for all the input guys.</p>