<p>I am currently a an honors freshman Engineering major with a minor in Mathematics. I have some drawbacks about how much I would enjoy engineering as a career. Just recently, I started thinking about how much I love calculus (I am currently in vector) and am really considering changing my major to math (either with a minor or double major in chemistry). </p>
<p>I am just worried about the upper division, more proof-oriented classes. Do you need an innate ability to succeed in mathematics (upper level undergraduate and graduate)? I have a passion for math and work really hard, so I have gotten all A's in math as of now. But is a work ethic and interest in math really enough at the higher level? </p>
<p>I am aware that this is more of an individualized question, but any general advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>(P.S. Please don't tell me to stay in engineering, I really just want to know more about what it takes to succeed in upper level mathematics courses)</p>
<p>Are there honors frosh/soph level math courses offered that can give you practice writing proofs before you decide whether to change to a math major? Or perhaps a “how to write math proofs” course offered to sophomores as preparation for proof-heavy upper division math courses?</p>
<p>There is a proof class that is designed to bridge the gap between lower and upper division math courses. Linear algebra (which is what I will take next semester) also has proofs at my school, but it isn’t until second semester sophomore year that I could take the actual proof class.</p>
<p>If you are in vector calculus (multivariable calculus) now, then aren’t you ahead in math and likely eligible to take the proof-writing course next semester?</p>
<p>The sooner you can take a math course with proofs, the sooner you can decide if majoring in (pure) math is for you. However, depending on your school, there may be applied, computational, or actuarial options which have fewer proof-heavy upper division courses and more other courses, if you do not find proofs to be what you like.</p>