How Demanding is the Applied Math Major?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>To start off, I'm not posting this because I'm lazy and afraid of working hard in college. </p>

<p>I'm a prospective college freshman who's been accepted into Berkeley, and if I decided on going there, I'd aim to major in Applied Math. I've heard that math and science are exceptionally rigorous at Berkeley, which is a challenge, and that's great and all. But I want to know HOW demanding Math is at Berkeley. I plan to study for and hopefully pass three actuarial exams before graduation, which is demanding in and of itself, in conjunction with my coursework (the classes I take at Cal won't be nearly sufficient enough for the exams). My concern is that Applied Math + Studying for Three Actuarial Exams would turn me into a hermit, so Berkeley may end up not being the right school choice if my college experience will be nothing but stress. Is math at Cal really that rough?</p>

2

<p>It depends on your own individual capability. If you’re afraid of working hard though, honestly, don’t expect anything spectacular at Cal, unless you’re a sociology or dance major. Everyone, no matter how intelligent, has to work here.</p>

3

<p>I’m a math/physics double major but was also active in the life of a dancer and in defense of the dance majors, dance, especially ballet, is very hard and if you want to be great at it you must train for many hours almost every day.</p>

4

<p>Math can be intellectually demanding, but not especially time consuming if you can handle it intellectually. Math courses tend not to have time consuming labs (science, engineering), computer programming projects, studio (art), or performance (music, dance).</p>