<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I'm currently a Econ major with around a year and a half left after I take finals in a few weeks. I have finished the equivalent of an Econ minor at my school but I am curious about Mathematics with emphasis in financial math. I just found out it was an offered major and so I'm interested. My question I this, I've only taken math courses through Calc 2 in college because that's all that is required for my Econ track. I really enjoyed my classes though and recieved A's in both. From my limited experience, I really like math but can I be sure that I will enjoy math to the point that I want to major in it? I'd really like input from current math majors on what they love and hate about it. Also, I'm not interested in the job prospects of Econ vs math, as an entrepreneur I just have a goal of obtaining a degree that challenges me and helps me grow intellectually. Thanks for any advice.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to take one proof-based course like real analysis or basic algebra (i.e. intro to group and ring theory, not symbolic manipulation for the masses) and see whether you still like this kind of mathematics. After that, you’ll know whether you want to do more math or not.</p>
<p>I promise you that you will be absolutely miserable if you try to squeeze an entire math major into 3 semesters. Think back to high school: would you want to take algebra 2 concurrently with pre-calc? Or what about pre-calc with calculus? Math classes build up on the previous courses; they are meant to be taken sequentially, not concurrently.</p>
<p>Hmm, that’s a good point. If it’s any conselation it would take two years to finish the math major, plus for the first year my school is still on quarters. We are switching to semesters after this year. Still I wonder how hard it would be to finish. I did a degree audit and it seems that it is required that I take Calc 3 and Calc 4 as pre reqs, but after those next two classes are completed I could take any available math class at any time. My GECs will be done in two quarters as it is, and I could also the summer session to help with the workload if that would make much of a difference.</p>
<p>Even if you weren’t a huge fan of pure math, you could still do a major in applied mathematics, which is in fact what the financial track is. I’m doing a math major with a focus in statistics and scientific computation. At my school, the only actual proof based course I am required to take is intro to real analysis, and in fact I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy a challenge, and as an aspiring entrepreneur I’m sure you do as well. </p>
<p>Don’t worry too much about it taking you an extra semester or two to do the math major. The skills and intellectual growth you will gain from having that math background is well worth the cost of .5 to 1 extra year of school, and a math degree opens up so many options that are not available to single econ majors. And most importantly, if you really focus on your education, a math degree will train your mind in a way that almost no other degree plan will. Upper level math requires not only logical reasoning, but creative thinking and rigorous problem-solving. Couple that with an eye for economical thinking and you will be a great decision-maker, arguer, problem-solver, and business owner.</p>
<p>If you have only completed second semester single variable calculus, it’s too early to tell if you will enjoy the higher mathematics you will encounter as a math major. Take multivariable calculus and linear algebra next year alongside your economics major (those two math classes are incredibly useful in economics) and try to take an intro to proofs class. If you enjoy those courses, then you might want to try a math major. </p>
<p>I ended up enjoying my math courses more than my economics courses, so I recently switched to a math major. I took two semesters of single variable calculus during my freshman year and multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and an intro to proofs class during my sophomore year. That math background was incredibly helpful in economics courses, but also laid the foundation for me to take real analysis and abstract algebra next year as a math major.</p>