<p>@MathAdvising, hi! I got into UCSD, and I really love this place! When I applied to UCSD, I chose my major as applied math. However, I now think my major should be more of economics, finance, or accounting. Do you have any major advice for me? </p>
<p>@Victoria1997</p>
<p>First, there is no accounting major at UCSD - there is an accounting minor offered through the Rady School of Management. It would be a good complement to any of the majors you’re considering. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in Economics or Finance, then you would probably want to major in one of the following:
a. BA in Economics - plain vanilla econ, not a lot of required math (basically 3 quarters of calculus), more coursework in basic theory, economic history, etc. Offered through (obviously) the Economics Department
b. BS in Management Science - econ made rigorous (requires more math - through Linear Algebra) with a nod towards business. A lot of mathematical oriented econometrics and optimization coursework. Some options for financial/market coursework. Again, offered by the Economics Department.
c. BS in the Joint Math/Econ major - high level of mathematics required (including proof and analysis), good prep for financial math/actuarial math coursework. Especially good preparation for a PhD program in Economics. Offered by either the Economics or Mathematics department (same course of study at either).</p>
<p>So look over the coursework and requirements in the economics department (go to catalog,ucsd.edu and look up curriculum and courses) - see what matches to your interests, goals and strengths. The economics department at UCSD is highly mathematical - so the more open you are to taking math, the better off you’ll be.</p>
<p>@MathAdvising, thanks! :)</p>
<p>@MathAdvising </p>
<p>I’m an incoming transfer student (pure math), and here is my tentative year 1 schedule:</p>
<p>Summer Session I: Math 109, MMW 21 (maybe, this is an ERC GE requirement)
Summer Session II: Math 20E, MMW 22 (maybe, same as above)
Fall: Math 140A, Math 100A, Math 102, MMW 21 (if not taken over summer)
Winter: Math 140B, Math 100B, Math 120A, MMW 22 (if not taken over summer)
Spring: Math 140C, Math 100C, Math 120B, Topology/Statistics/Internship</p>
<p>Plan A for me is to go on to a fully-funded mathematics PhD program right after finishing at UCSD (so I’d be taking GRE’s next summer, and doing an internship or REU). My senior year would hopefully be a blend of Math 150A-B, Math 130A-B, internships, and graduate classes. I’m really trying to get the most out of UCSD while I’m there.</p>
<p>Is this plan overly ambitious? Taking proofs and vector calculus over summer is going to be a challenge, so do you think it’s a bad idea to also be taking MMW at the same time? I have read that starting Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis at the same time can be a huge challenge for students. Do you have any examples of students that have tried it and succeeded or tried and failed? Is taking Complex Analysis concurrently with Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis asking for a bad time? If my year one looks like hell to you, what would you recommend I do differently? </p>
<p>I’m open to your feedback and I would love to hear about your personal experiences, or the experiences of people you know. Apologies if these questions have all been asked before. Thank you!</p>
<p>Hi @MathAdvising I am freshman (class of 2018), and I really want to take the math 31ah and beyond(honor series) but I didn’t take the AP test. How can I get a consent from the instructor to take this course? Do i need to take any tests, exams??</p>
<p>@MrHerbert </p>
<p>That is a pretty ambitious schedule, but it has been done successfully. Some suggestions for summer… Math 109 is the critically important class - you would probably want to only take that one class in session one. 20E will probably be a lot of repeat - it’s going to be like the last few weeks of your multivariable calculus course expanded to a full class. </p>
<p>If you had a reasonably decent multivariable class, one that really covered things like Stokes’ Theorem and Green’s Theorem, then you might want to consider skipping the 20E in summer and try the 20E requirement fulfillment exam…there’s information on this on our website:
<a href=“http://www.math.ucsd.edu/programs/undergraduate/math_20E_exam/”>http://www.math.ucsd.edu/programs/undergraduate/math_20E_exam/</a></p>
<p>We generally give the exam once at the beginning of each quarter - if we give it in summer then take it before signing up for the class for sure. If you pass, we’ll give you credit for both 20C and 20E for your multivariable calculus transfer work. If you don’t pass, you can pick up the 20E in summer/fall.</p>
<p>For Fall…I’d generally recommend taking only two upper division classes - 140A and 100A (and then a GE class). It’s enough work to get your feet under you at a new school, and most transfer students take time to get used to the quarter system (it’s fast, 10 weeks as compared to a 15 week semester). Once you get the hang of it though, your Winter and Spring plans are just fine.</p>
<p>So some main things -
- Put in the work with 109. Getting the concept of mathematically rigorous proof down will be the key to future success as a math major.
- Keep up EVERY DAY with your work in Math 100A and 140A. Go over each day’s lecture once you get back home - try to summarize the key points of your notes. Stay up with the homework. Go to office hours (TA and faculty).
- Let me repeat that last bit - go to faculty office hours. If your plan is a Math PhD program, then one often overlooked aspect that is vitally important is the letters of recommendation. The faculty teaching your 100 and 140 courses are going to be your first go-to professors for letters. This can make or break your application. So make sure they know YOU. Not just your name, but your interests. Talk about math with them, not just the homework - but what you understand from the lectures and what about it you find interesting. You want to be Mathematically Curious - you want to connect to current mathematical research and thought. This cannot be stressed enough.
- You have two other aspects of a good PhD application covered - research (REU) and grad coursework. These show that you can handle the lifeblood of a graduate program. One other thing to consider - employment (in the Fall of your senior year) in the math department. We hire TAs, tutors and graders from our undergraduate population. This can be an added plus to an application (but not at the expense of any of the other things - research and grad courses). </p>
<p>So, yes, it’s been done, we have had successful transfer students that take these courses and finish in two years and go on to good PhD programs (I was just talking to one student today, he got into Harvard…but turned them down for a better match at UWashington in Biostatistics) - but it takes hard work and dedication. Will you be successful? That’s a question that really, only you can answer…the faculty and staff will help you, but you have to provide the drive.</p>
<p>@xinyi1729 </p>
<p>For any math course, you can waive the prerequisites if you get the consent of the instructor. So you’d just email the faculty teaching 31AH in Fall (Professor Adrian Ioana - <a href=“mailto:aioana@ucsd.edu”>aioana@ucsd.edu</a>) and lay out your math credentials… if he approves, just forward that email to <a href=“mailto:mathadvising@math.ucsd.edu”>mathadvising@math.ucsd.edu</a> (this will all be sometime in the summer before your enrollment period) and we’ll clear you for the class.</p>
<p>Now, there will be some leftover things to take care of…if you complete 31AH-BH-CH, but didn’t take the AP exam, you’ll have a hole in your record where 20A and 20B belong. If you’re a Math major and did well in the honors calc sequence, we can work with you on a petition to waive the 20AB requirement - no sense on making you go backwards in your math. If, however, you are some other major, you may be required to get 20A and 20B on your history (this is especially true for engineering majors - due to credentialing requirements, they waive NOTHING). Even so, there are ways we can work with you to limit what work you’ll need to do - options like Credit by Examination - where you take only the final for a class, and that determines your course grade 100%</p>
<p>@MathAdvising, thank you!! I am definitely taking your advice.</p>
<p>@MathAdvising First, thank you so much for the reply. What should I include in the email I send to the instructor for the consent? What kind of math credentials, information are needed for this?</p>
<p>@xinyi1729 </p>
<p>You’ll need to let the instructor know what math (courses/exams) you HAVE completed. Did you take AP Calculus classes (but just not the test), what score did you get on your SAT, have you done self-study of single-variable calculus, etc. You will need to demonstrate that you have the equivalent of the prerequisite knowledge even though you don’t have the prerequisite courses on your record.</p>
<p>Ultimately, it will be up to the instructor…</p>
<p>Scott</p>
<p>@MathAdvising more questions… I am thinking about the mathematics minor or (if I can handle the course load) maybe even a double major with chemistry and mathematics. I saw the requirement for a mathematics minor “Acceptable lower-division courses are limited to Math 20D, 20E, and 20F” is it okay if I take the Math 31AH-BH-CH, 20D sequence? </p>
<p>@xinyi1729 </p>
<p>You would be able to use Math 31AH, 31CH and 20D as part of your minor. You would then just need four upper-division math courses to complete the minor.</p>
<p>For Computer Science Majors, what is the preferred order for required Math classes? (i.e. which class should be taken first, second, third, etc.) Thanks</p>
<p>Like many of the rest, I got accepted to UCSD, but not to my first choice major (Computer Science).
What’s the difference between Math CS and CS?
Does it lower my possibility to switch to engineering major?(Yes, I understand it is impacted)
My stats are the following(if required)
32 ACT with 36 on math.
800 SAT 2Math
700 SAT 2Chem
630 SAT 2Bio
Unweighted GPA: 3.8
12APs, 5 on all math related and language related subjects, others are either 3 or 4, no 2 or below scores.
extra curriculum and activities…well, I’ll skip this part, too much to type((sass
lol, sorry.
Anyway, although I am accepted to UCI CE.
,I am committed to UCSD.
I would like to know the situation I am in (OAQ)
and hopefully I can still enter engineering.
Well… I am also interested in Bio engineering (or even just General Bio major), but let’s leave it here first.</p>
<p>If there are any UCSD students out there attending/ or know anyone in(was in) Math-computer science major. Please let me know your(their) experience. Thank you!</p>
<p>@kiddsupreme </p>
<p>For CS - they only require four classes, so the order is simply Math 20A-20B-20C-20F
For CE - they require five classes, their preference is Math 20A-20B-20C-20D-20F</p>
<p>The other math course required by CSE (Math 15A) is a discrete math class (and equivalent of CSE 20), and is not part of the general Math 20 sequence, so it can be taken at pretty much any time.</p>
<p>@imafoxonamission </p>
<p>The difference between Math-CS and CS is…Math (really it’s right there in the name…) </p>
<p>But seriously, the Math-CS major is a Mathematics program - it’s focused on the Mathematical Theory that forms the foundation for Computer Science. It’s concerned with topics like computability, combinatorics, discrete math, probability, and logic. It is NOT a programming major, it is NOT an engineering major, it is NOT a hardware nor software major. It IS theoretical, proof based, and grounded in math.</p>
<p>If you love math, and are interested in Computer Science as an outgrowth of math theory - then it’s a good major for you. </p>
<p>If you really wanted CSE, and this is just a second choice, it may not be what you want. </p>
<p>That being said, your major shouldn’t have any effect on your transfer into the CSE department as admittance is going to be based on your performance in CSE 8B or CSE 11, CSE 12, CSE 15L, CSE 20, CSE 21, CSE 30, and CSE 100. The slight benefit for Math-CS majors…these courses are generally going to be usable for your major, so you’d be taking them anyway.</p>
<p>Your SAT or ACT scores, AP exams, extra currics, etc should have no bearing on your admittance into CSE.</p>
<p>I’d think hard about the choice between coming to the school you want but not the major you want (your UCSD situation) versus the major you want but not at your first choice school (your UCI situation).</p>
<p>I’m not here to sell you (or anybody) on coming to UCSD…while I think we have a great school and a great math program, I totally understand that it may not be right for every student. There are things that only you can decide for yourself. </p>
<p>Let me know if you have any further questions.</p>
<p>delete</p>
<p>@MathAdvising, I have a couple more questions for you. </p>
<p>Is Math 102 at all redundant with the 100 sequence? I have read that taking upper-division linear algebra (102) is helpful for graduate school prep, but if 100A-B-C covers it then I don’t need to take the separate class. </p>
<p>I have also read that taking complex analysis is helpful, so would it behoove me to take 120A-B, or would it make more sense to simply take 220A-B-C (once I’ve completed 140A-B-C and cleared it with the dept/instructor)? I only ask because 120A-B is not a prerequisite for 220A-B-C, and in fact the course descriptions seem a little redundant (120 just looks to have less content.) Obviously graduate classes are a different ballgame, but I can’t see wasting time on a class that I’ll just repeat.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>@MrHerbert </p>
<p>Math 102 is a applied math course with content that carries over much of the material seen in lower division Linear Algebra. The Math 100 series deals more with group and spaces and relationships rather than the systems of linear equations (matrices), vectors, subspaces, and eigenvalues. </p>
<p>Math 220 is a graduate level sequence in Complex Analysis, thus it will certainly require a strong background in Analysis. Courses at the graduate level and even upper-division undergraduate level will vary from faculty to faculty - so while the basic description may seem redundant every instructor will have varying degrees of what they expect their students to have coming into the course. In the case of Math 220A (and any graduate course) you should contact the instructor teaching the class to see if you should enroll based on your background. So start by contacting the Math 220A instructor…if they think you’d be better served in 120A, then I’d follow their advice.</p>
<p>@MathAdvising,
I too am I Math-Computer Science freshman admit in Thurgood Marshall. I was wondering what jobs/internships these students typically land, and if they are the same as some CS majors. </p>
<p>Also, What does the Prerequisite part of the major mean? What do I need to do to satisfy it???
Thanks! </p>