<p>When did you math majors/minors decide to go with pure/applied math? I plan to either major or minor in math, but I have no idea which one I would want to do. I asked my math teacher and she said that I'm pretty versatile and my skills are evenly spread out and should do fine either way. I've thought about becoming a doctor, but I think I'll google for math/engineering jobs once I have time.</p>
<p>How much math have you taken so far?</p>
<p>You will need linear algebra and multivariable calc either way. After that most students will take differential equations (applied math) and/or some intro-to-proofs course (bridge to higher math, discrete math, number theory, whatever). At this point most students have a pretty good idea whether they prefer pure or applied math.</p>
<p>I'm still in high school.
I'm a junior and am currently taking precalculus. I should be in a higher class, but a high C in sixth grade dropped me down a class :/. If I don't take a calculus course over the summer, I will take AP Calc BC at my HS for senior year. If I do take a course over the summer, I will take MV Calc/Diff Equations (1 sem each) as long as the calc course covers everything the BC Calc class would have covered.</p>
<p>Edit: I'm pretty good at math. I pick up concepts pretty easily and can apply them pretty quickly as well. I struggled a little in Hon. Physics, but I guess I just never tried and I didn't really understand everything. Taking AP Physics next year should tell me how much I could do if I try.</p>
<p>Which AP physics are you taking? At my old high school Physics C is pretty legit (i.e. only 20 kids out of a class of 900 took it) and you should definately take a calc course before taking it, but Physics B was like Honors Physics</p>
<p>It's C. My school allows us to take it as long as we're taking Calc concurrently or have taken calc before.</p>
<p>I always knew I would go applied. The job oppertunities are much better than pure. If you want to do pure math on a daily basis after graduation, then academia is probably the only place for you.</p>
<p>They are so vastly different that once you take a few applied vs. pure courses, you'll see the difference instantly.</p>
<p>Actually, at a specialized, advanced stage, even disciplines <em>among</em> pure math will seem highly different. So it's only at the stage of inexperience that this question will stump you. Try to get experience in math as soon as possible. </p>
<p>And yes, obviously pure math careers basically = academia.</p>