<p>1) I am strongly considering grad school at the moment, and I know that research is very beneficial as an undergrad. However, everywhere I look it seems like previous research experience is needed. How can I get previous experience when I can't find a research spot to begin with? Does anyone have any success stories with finding a research spot/intern with no prior experience? Even if I were to get the position, I would feel more like a burden because I would probably spend most of the time learning the relevant material instead of actually doing research =(</p>
<p>2) My electrical engineering curriculum requires Calc 1-3, DiffyEqs, and LinAlg for math. However with just 2 more courses I am able to obtain a math minor, and I am interested in the subject as well. I am not sure on what 2 classes to take, though. The 3 classes I am considering are Fourier/PDE, Complex Variables, and Number Theory. I heard Fourier series being mentioned in Linear Systems, and PDE seem to be relevant to all engineering disciplines, so I thought this was a strong contender for one of the two spots. Complex variables (may be called something different at other schools, Complex Analysis?) has uses in EE as well, according to wikipedia. I don't think Number Theory has any direct connections to my major, however I find the topics covered to be very interesting and this would be my first choice in my list of classes that are interesting to me but not necessarily pertinent or difficult.
If, for example, Foureier/PDE is all I really need and Complex has little or no use, I would love to be able to take Number Theory as the second class. However, I do see the potential usefulness of PDE and Complex so I am prepared to take those two classes instead. Which 2 math classes (not just the 3 I listed) would you recommened I take?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Does you school have an undergrad research initiative? At Texas A&M they have a program setup to get undergraduates interested in research. They a pay 5,000 dollar stipend with room and board for a summer. Also, you won’t be doing you’re own research. You will be helping a professor with their current projects (part of them anyway). The projects you’ll be working on will be on your level. You won’t need a very long time learning the stuff. They’re not going to throw you onto a project you can’t handle, that’s losing them money.</p>
<p>I don’t know if a math minor would really help, unless you plan to go into the EE subarea of communication systems and signal analysis…where you would need more math than a math minor anyway.</p>
<p>Your best chance for getting something close to your own project is to find recently hired professors at your school in your area of interest; I was fortunate enough to get a spot where I had a say in the direction of the project, performed all the research, prepared all the tests, implemented all computer algorithms, wrote a research report (in review, first author), and now I’m headed to Boston to give a poster talk on the university’s dime (which IS through the Undergraduate Research Initiative – check that out). All this owed to a relatively new professor whom I actually had no connection to. Plus, I’m a math/CS guy, so I would hope that electrical engineering has a ton more research available. Though I can see the specialized equipment being an issue.</p>
<p>As to the classes you’re considering taking, complex analysis and number theory will be of equal utility (that is, none). Take what you like! PDEs are very useful at high levels but you may never encounter them personally, depending on your focus. Take PDE/Fouriers and one of the others.</p>
<p>Hope that helps!</p>
<p>At my school, EE and CS majors are required to take two additional classes on stochastic processes and numerical methods, so these are courses worth considering for more applied areas of EE. As for the three classes you mentioned, I think Fourier/PDE and Complex Variables will be more useful — I took a combined complex analysis/PDE course and found it immediately applicable to both my signals and systems and electromagnetism courses. Of course, you will not (neither are you expected to) use these maths concepts very often ---- they just help to consolidate your understanding of certain EE concepts ---- so just choose whatever you enjoy!</p>