<p>I'm going to cornell this fall. I haven't decided my major yet. However, I'm leaning towards math. My only turnoff is that I know college math has a notorious reputation for being a grade killer. I've been a very good math student throughout high school, but I would really like to have some input on how hard math courses are at Cornell. Are they doable?</p>
<p>Real math is nothing like high school math. If you enjoy thinking about math in your free time, like finding proofs, really enjoy abstract thinking, you’ll do better. But it’s pretty hard regardless.</p>
<p>I am also a math student at Cornell. Here is a brief rundown:</p>
<p>Calculus 1- adjust to college math, limits are a bit tedious, but derivatives are like the easiest thing in the world.</p>
<p>Calculus 2- integrals are easy with a little practice, but you will have to develop a talent for recognizing which techniques to use and some topics like trig substitution, partial fractions…etc can get down right nasty to deal with. Towards the end you’ll get into series and such, which everyone seems to think are so hard. Really it’s just allot to memorize.</p>
<p>Calculus 3- if you make it through calc 1 and 2 this class should be a breeze. Multivariate and vector stuff is easy. some things that can get hard: convert to polar triple integrals, parametric equations… yeah. If you can “think mathematically” you will be fine.</p>
<p>Linear Algebra- the computation in this class is very simple and it is known by many as “super easy.” The crucial aspect of this class is to change the way you look at math and be able to wrap your mind around abstract concepts like {moon} + {moon} = 2{moon} +1. Or the fact that a zero vector space can be defined as [0,-1].</p>
<p>Once you get to this point I’m sure you will develop opinions of your own, but NO, math is not that hard. As long as you are an analytical thinker and a hard worker. </p>
<p>The most beautiful thing about being a math major (I’m sure this applies to other quantitative degrees) is that you will find your self able to analyze and logically interpret events that occur in everyday life. You will find your mind sharpen and you will excel in problem solving.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you do not want to be a teacher (cause teaching is gay) find what you are going to apply your analytical skills to. Yes, there is money in a math degree, but that will only come after an applied grad degree.</p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>
<p>What’s the math department like? Is math in any way a strong or popular major at Cornell? Cornell has the best engineering program of the Ivies, but that doesn’t necessarily imply an outstanding math program…does it? Oh and what do math majors at Cornell generally do once they graduate?</p>
<p>My daughter just finished second year as a math and econ double major. She didn’t take any low level math at Cornell. I think she has taken linear algebra, multi variable, analysis. Lots of proofs. She struggles with a B+ in math, but As in Econ. She spends most of her time on math. It is considered to be one of the harder major at Cornell. She plans on going into ibanking or something in finance. She is doing an internship at an equity research firm this summer, she also has an internship lined up in Sydney at a BB firm while she is studying abroad. Most employers are impressed with math major from anywhere, especially from Cornell.</p>
<p>Thanks oldfort! If I may, what other schools did your daughter consider when applying for admission to Cornell as a math major? (Did she know she wanted to do math/econ when she applied?)</p>
<p>She wanted to do something in international business. She applied to Tufts, Duke, Cornell, Columbia and Princeton and few other safeties. At the end it was Tufts, Duke and Cornell. Her uncle (my brother) went to Cornell, graduated with math and CS degrees. My daughter was also advised by my friends in ibanking to major in math/econ rather than undergrad business. My brother believed Cornell’s math was better than Duke. He also felt she would have more opportunity to take different business courses at various Cornell schools (Hotel, AEM). My brother also went into S&T right after Cornell (and Dartmouth for MBA later) and worked overseas for 20+ years. He felt Cornell degree (especially in Asia) served him very well.</p>
<p>Sounds like ur sister is doing the same thing that I am: Mathematics of Finance. I am looking into Princeton, Cornell, Columbia, NYU and CMU for grad. These are the best programs in the world.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info! I actually wasn’t aware Cornell’s math was so strong. This helps a lot!</p>
<p>cguilz, as you’re looking at NYU for Math of Finance, are you looking at Courant or Stern?</p>
<p>Cgiulz- Columbia has two programs, one in the math department and one in the industrial engineering department. Looking at the curriculum and the faculty, I see the math one is more theoretical, proof-oriented and the IEOR one is more programming intensive. NYU’s program is similar to Columbia’s math one but maybe a bit more programming. CMU and Cornell’s are similar to Columbia’s IEOR. Princeton MFin has a lot of flexibility and you can make it as technical or non-technical as you want. I was researching these programs a lot and decided I wanted to go into academia more so I applied to a PhD. For industry jobs, once the smoke clears, these masters should be a great launching pad. Columbia math finance and financial engineering allow students who have summer internships to stay a third semester, otherwise, you can finish as quickly as a year. That said, it’s a very tough year, on par with my first year in a doctoral program. </p>
<p>For Columbia’s math program they say you should have a good background in baby Rudin. The University of Chicago’s FinMath and Stanford’s program are also top notch. If you’re more applied, consider Michigan also.</p>
<p>My S is a math Major at another top school. from his perspective multivariate calculus was was the easiest class he has had. Quantitative majors tend to be difficult and demanding. You have a lot to learn and one of the first things is that there is always someone better in the area than you are. If you are useed to straight "A"s in High School and expect that in college you are going to be disappointed- unless you are truly very gifted in math. Those kind of people understand virtually everything…</p>
<p>Cornell just reduced the size of the math faculty pretty dramatically. It’s sad and hard to understand. From what I know, the math department is dedicated to teaching and to its undergrads.</p>
<p>@cgiulz
You went all the way up to Linear Algebra but I’m curious as to what’s beyond that.
At my HS, I will be done with Linear Algebra by the time I’m done with my senior year so say that I ace those placement tests (I might just decide to repeat Calc 3 and Linear Algebra so I can start out strong with a good GPA)… Where does it put me then?</p>
<p>cgiulz, you took the MATH 221-222 sequence?</p>
<p>I’ve heard many friends complain about how hard 221 (linear algebra) is</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this topic has given a good intuition of what studying mathematics is really like. Disclaimer: I’m a student in theoretical computer science, a field parallel to mathematics, so take my words with a grain of salt. Just know that calculus is not real mathematics - it’s more like the results of mathematics, summarized in a few neat classes.</p>
<p>If you want the real mathematics behind Calculus, you’d have to study Real Analysis (MATH 3110 or MATH 4130), in which you go back to the basics, like the real number system. From there you go through differentiation, integration, except this time, you actually study the mathematics. Think this sounds easy? Read Spivak’s Calculus ([Calculus:</a> Amazon.ca: Michael Spivak: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.ca/Calculus-Michael-Spivak/dp/0914098896]Calculus:”>http://www.amazon.ca/Calculus-Michael-Spivak/dp/0914098896)) and Rudin’s Analysis ([Amazon.com:</a> Principles of Mathematical Analysis, Third Edition (9780070542358): Walter Rudin: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Mathematical-Analysis-Third-Walter/dp/007054235X]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Principles-Mathematical-Analysis-Third-Walter/dp/007054235X)), then get back to me.</p>
<p>Here’s a list of the 1000 and 2000 level courses offered by the math department:
[Cornell</a> Math - Lower-Level Courses](<a href=“http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/Catalog/lowerlevel.html]Cornell”>http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/Catalog/lowerlevel.html)
Most of these courses are not what I would consider to be courses in mathematics. Most of these are designed for non-majors or engineers. MATH 1120, 2230 and 2240 are perhaps the only ones I would think give a hint of what mathematics really is.</p>
<p>Here are the 3000 and 4000 level math courses:
[Cornell</a> Math - Upper-Level Courses](<a href=“http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/Catalog/upperlevel.html]Cornell”>http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/Catalog/upperlevel.html)
This is when you get to the fun stuff. This is where you actually learn mathematics. There’s tons of different fields here, so I’ll just let this handy page explain what everything is:
[Cornell</a> Math - Is There Life After Calculus?](<a href=“http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/lifeaftercalc.html]Cornell”>http://www.math.cornell.edu/Courses/lifeaftercalc.html)</p>
<p>Math is a lot more about reasoning and creative thinking than it is about doing boring integrals and calculations. If it weren’t, there’d probably be little to no reason to study mathematics past first year university.</p>
<p>Hey, if I major in ILR, would I have enough free time to take courses from Calc II and advance in math all the way to Real Analysis?
If yes, would it take all of my elective time away?</p>