Math MA?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I'm a junior at an ivy in a weird situation. I was a math major for my first two years and then I switched to philosophy. I'm just now realizing in the spring of my junior year that I want to do more math. I can't realistically switch back to being a math major but I wanted to get people's advice on whether I should pursue an MA...</p>

<p>I have two semesters left and here is my background:</p>

<p>math research last summer, working at an investment bank this summer</p>

<p>calc 2 (A), calc 3 (A), linear algebra (B+), ODEs (A)...</p>

<p>I'm thinking I'll take complex analysis and algebra in the fall and then real analysis in the spring. What do you guys think?</p>

<p>It seems like it makes more sense to apply after I take these classes because it'll be a hard sell having only taken up through linear algebra and diffeq...</p>

<p>Advice on what I should do?</p>

<p>Thanks so much,
Claymangs</p>

2

<p>Sounds flaky.</p>

<p>Why did you switch in the first place?
What do you plan to do with an MA in math?
If it’s IB then why not MBA or MA in Finance?</p>

3

<p>Well, I want to do more math and if I like the stuff I do senior year, I want some plan for post-grad.</p>

<p>Fairly sure I won’t like IB but I thought it’d be worth checking out for 10 weeks.</p>

<p>If I liked it enough, I might do MA–>PhD but for now I just want to see more math.</p>

4

<p>I would speak to a graduate adviser at your school and in the schools you might apply to. Ask them what they recommend. If you speak to them they don’t expect you to automatically go there, so you can change your mind.</p>

<p>To me it sounds good as long as you can explain why you changed your mind. Graduate applications always seem to ask about what you plan to do with your degree. Apparently they only want to teach focused students with a future in mind.</p>

<p>It was just strange to go from a math intensive field to philosophy. When people take philosophy is sounds like they plan on law school and wish to avoid any math whatsoever. You’re not flaky, you’re just young. My bad.</p>