<p>Hello all. I have a BA in mathematics and plan on going to graduate school to study applied math or engineering. I'm worried that not too many companies will want someone with an applied math degree who studied optimization and modeling. Is it a rational fear that there would not be too many positions that desire this skill set since a computer could be programmed to model and optimize.</p>
<p>As far as engineering is concerned, I am afraid I will have to spend at least 1.5 years taking prerequisites courses before I am allowed to start graduate courses. I really want to go out of state for graduate school and would have to attend a JC to take these prereq. courses; it would make no sense to pay out-of-state fees at a JC when I could stay in CA. and do it. Engineering would force me to stay in CA. Advice???</p>
<p>I am curious about the applied math degree also.</p>
<p>There are jobs out there for people with your background. We use applied mathematicians to help clean up our algorithms and optimize our system designs.</p>
<p>I would avoid the engineering degree unless that is really what you want to do. You are correct in that you would need to gain some undergrad-level exposure before starting grad classes, significantly prolonging your study. Still, if you are a US Citizen especially engineering degrees are in high demand.</p>
<p>i also its MUCH easier to find jobs in, say, aerospace or mechanical engineering with a MS in engineering than applied math?</p>
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<p>Well, this depends partially on what you mean by "companies" -- if you want specifically to use your applied math skills precisely from graduate school, you may find it harder than if you're just looking for an industrial position that could use the skillset + perspective of an applied mathematician. You could go into some economics-heavy field. Math-heavy undergraduate experiences lead to great experiences in economics grad school at times, and certainly you'll have good career prospects then. </p>
<p>I tried to fake an engineering degree as an undergrad, but stopped trying within a semester in my freshman year. It's just not a good idea to force yourself into engineering unless you actually like making stuff, or programming, or whatever. There are plenty of careers out there for someone with a math degree, though you'll have to adapt to them -- employers loves math majors because they're smart, BUT they don't want a math major who does only abstract things. </p>
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[quote=Mobiusfrost]
i also its MUCH easier to find jobs in, say, aerospace or mechanical engineering with a MS in engineering than applied math?
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<p>Even an undergrad with a degree in pure math would probably have a good time finding a good job, for instance as an actuary. The short answer is that the more academically intense you want your job to be, the steeper the slope gets, because you've got to be really, really good. But just don't try to fake being an engineer, unless you really like it. If you do like engineering a ton, then I'd say it's worth going for it. I'm pretty sure that if you're not jumping for joy at the prospect of engineering grad school, it won't get you very many places.</p>
<p>You might want to consider an Operations Research program in an Industrial Engineering department. As an applied math major, you very likely won't have to take any prereq courses. If you're into dynamic programming, stochastic programming, modeling and algorithms, that would be an excellent choice for you.</p>
<p>MS OR: <a href="http://www.isye.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/masters/?section=msor%5B/url%5D">http://www.isye.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/masters/?section=msor</a>
PhD OR: <a href="http://www.isye.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/phd/degrees/or.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.isye.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/phd/degrees/or.php</a></p>
<p>i want to do something more applied to physics, such as mech or aero eng</p>
<p>Sounds like you might look into engineering mechanics/astronautics. It is math heavy, but you'll need som prereqs...</p>
<p>i've been looking into computational fluid mechanics for applied math grad school. its tempting as it uses applied math and physics</p>
<p>how are the job opportunities for that?</p>