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Fun Things To Do With a Math Or Science Degree?

Posted by kdawson on from the its-own-sweet-sake dept.

bxwatso writes "My niece just took the ACT and got a perfect score on the math section. 25 years ago, when I took the test, the kids who aced the math section were pretty special. Her score, combined with straight A's so far in high school, suggest to me that she might be able to go to a top university (MIT?) based on her math aptitude. The rub is that she doesn't like math or science, even though she finds them easy. She doesn't want to be an engineer or scientist. I thought the folks here would be a great group to ask: What are some creative, not too nerdy professions that nonetheless require a talent for math, engineering, or science?"

5 of 564 comments (clear)

  1. How about medicine? by damn_registrars · · Score: 4, Informative

    Most prerequisites for medicine (or dentistry, veterinary medicine, or chiropractic school) are science classes. If she does well as math and science, she may way to consider those paths.

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    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:How about medicine? by damn_registrars · · Score: 5, Informative

      Medicine is great if you are prepared for the huge amount of student loan debt that comes with it.

      There are a variety of ways to deal with that.

      • There are several programs that will essentially relieve your debt if you do a few years rural practice
      • Some schools have BS/MD programs for students who would otherwise be "traditional" pre-med in undergrad - finish the two degrees in less than the usual 8 years (and hence take in less debt)
      • Research physician (MD/PhD) programs are usually paid in full by the school
      • If you go into a high-paying specialty you will pull in enough money that your debt will be irrelevant
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      Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
  2. Re:Don't get too excited. by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 3, Informative

    Forgot to add the homework assignment. Do your freakin' research before your choose your goal. You'd think that would be obvious, but it apparently isn't.

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    Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
  3. Re:Be a teacher by foobsr · · Score: 4, Informative

    Instead of asking what you have here, I suggest you ask your daughter what she'd /like/ to do

    Excellent point — I myself was pressed into (natural) 'science' because math was easy to me, which in the long run (decades) turned out to be a major desaster that I am still trying to recover from.

    CC.

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    TaijiQuan (Huang, 5 loosenings)
  4. stewarts "letters to a mathematician" by e**(i+pi)-1 · · Score: 3, Informative

    A degree in math opens the door to many other areas: computer science, any other science, teaching or management. It essentially provides the flexibility and ability to think abstractly. Doing mathematical research is only one option, the actual work can be very applied. A good math education teaches naturally how to understand a complex issue, reduce it to a model which can be solved. Starting with "hard science" makes other areas easier to understand. A good reading for a student pondering the question whether math is an option is Ian Stewart's book "Letters to a young Mathematician".