<p>I'm currently an undergraduate (Junior) math major at NYU. I decided to study math for the challenge, and so far, I have loved it. It's been fascinating and satisfying. Having said that, I'm currently at a crossroads. I have absolutely no idea what to do.</p>
<p>Let me elaborate; I'm not sure whether I should pursue graduate mathematics, or try to transition into something like engineering. I am interested in both. I am drawn to Astronautical Engineering due to a humongous interest in space/space travel/jets etc. However, I am also drawn to the idea of becoming a professor of mathematics. I foresee one humongous problem: getting a PhD in math. Quite frankly, I don't think I'm capable of it. I've done well enough so far (~3.6 GPA in Math, recently got an A- in my Analysis course), but I'm skeptical towards my ability to pursue graduate Mathematics, much less my ability to actually do research.</p>
<p>So, I'm here for advice. Without exposure to math research, and without exposure to engineering, how should I go about making a choice? More importantly, is there even a choice to make? Can I transition into a graduate engineering program as a pure math major? I've been looking around at some graduate engineering programs (mostly in Aerospace) and most require some sort of undergraduate engineering degree.</p>
<p>Also, as far as engineering goes, I would also like to explore different possibilities there. Are there any resources that elaborate on different types of engineering and what jobs in those specialties might actually be like?</p>
<p>Any and all help/advice is deeply appreciated.</p>
<p>I would say to take physics courses and maybe a semester or a year of chemistry if you’re interested in graduate engineering. You may have to take some additional engineering courses in grad school but with physics you may have enough to get in to a graduate program. I would also say to take some applied math courses, such as Differential Equations. You still have a year and a half of college left.</p>
<p>Getting accepted into a good graduate math program, getting a good placement, etc. would be enormously difficult. You could concentrate your efforts on getting engineering-type experience and go to graduate school in engineering after a few years’ experience and have a stable job and income. It’s possible you’re drawn to the idea of becoming a professor because you’re still in college. Just my two cents.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the help alaink! I have a follow up question, if it’s not too much trouble, in regards to graduate engineering programs.</p>
<p>I’ve seen that many programs make a distinction between an M.Eng and an M.A.Sc, often times limiting M.Eng degrees to students that had an undergraduate degree in engineering. Is there a functional difference between the degrees? What about from the perspective of an employer?</p>
<p>How about looking into an Applied Mathematics program. The field borders on physics, engineering and computer science and it is quite practical.</p>
<p>By the way, this would have a better chance at a response if it were posted in the Graduate School forum.</p>
<p>You may want to look at the web sites of some graduate aerospace engineering programs to see what undergraduate course work they expect entering graduate students to have.</p>