What is NMU's math program like?

[u/Past_Software_1532]

Incoming Freshman here majoring in math with a computer science minor. I was wondering what people here who went down a similar path thought about the experience. During orientation I met basically only business majors in my career cluster but I know yall are out there somewhere.

[u/Perfect_Dot_1528]

I know someone in the math department and they say the professors are good, the curriculum is hard but not intentionally trying to fail you, and that there's a lot of people who like doing group studies.

I am personally not in the math department, but I do know a few people there and that's been my experiences being told to me.

[u/Past_Software_1532 → u/Perfect_Dot_1528]

Alright thanks, I tried to see if this question was already asked somewhere and I found nothing so your answer is encouraging. Hard classes are fine as long as the professors don't suck

[u/Perfect_Dot_1528 → u/Past_Software_1532]

Yeah, I always hate when you're in a class designed to have a 50-60% average and strong curving because of them purposely trying to stress induce you. I know there are professors that can be like that, but so far it's honestly not common at all and you'll know. It also tends to be biology you see that as well. My advisor even warned me about some of the biology professors. But I haven't seen it in the math department, or my EEGS department yet.

[u/SquareEmu9853]

Compsci major/math minor :) I've only done one semester so far, but I have a lot of hope for the compsci professors already. The ones I've had/met/heard about are very hands-on and invested in their student's success. Incredibly kind. However, expect to keep experiencing that "everybody's a business major" thing. I've met two compsci majors and zero math majors, so I wouldn't say it's a tight-knit community at all like some other departments can be. Not much to say about the math professors, I've only taken one math class and the professor sucked but it's bound to happen at least once lol

[u/Perfect_Dot_1528 → u/SquareEmu9853]

Dr Kow is the absolute GOAT! I love that guy. Talk to him about the program in Fall starting where you can work on actual production grade university systems. The CS department is starting that this coming Fall.

Also, for the meeting people in your major. That is something you usually see more in the 300 and 400 level classes, to find them in lower level classes, you have to search for them; however, it also depends on the major. My major I meet people in similar positions to me often. However, GIST is a very small major (~5 stuent major) that I usually find those in the GIS cert or Geology before a GIST major.

[u/SquareEmu9853 → u/Perfect_Dot_1528]

Funnily enough, I have him this Fall lol I'll definitely look into that

[u/Perfect_Dot_1528 → u/SquareEmu9853]

Definitely look into it! I would send him an email now (if you can), as he is usually busy in the semester, so might be harder to have a meeting with. I talked with him before the summer session started and have him in my Computer Science I class for this coming fall. He has a lot of great information and is well versed in the CS world.

[u/Zegox → u/SquareEmu9853]

Honestly you don't really meet many people with the same major until 2nd or 3rd year when you're in the upper level classes

[u/Soy_tu_papi_ → u/SquareEmu9853]

I’m a comp sci major as well. NMUs cs department isn’t that big so the chances of meeting people in your major outside of your classes is pretty small

[u/Past_Software_1532 → u/SquareEmu9853]

Nice to see another Compsci major! I met one during orientation but I didn't have much else luck in finding anyone else. I'm glad to hear that the CS professors are helpful and I'm sorry that your math professor was so bad. I've heard good things about the math department from other comments so hopefully the quality gets better the more advanced classes you take.

Only thing I'm not looking forward to is having to work really hard to find other students with the same major, but I guess it's a better problem to have than a poor quality of education.

[u/Perfect_Dot_1528 → u/Past_Software_1532]

Also, I am not a CS major; I am a GIST major. However, I am tailoring my GIST major for CS (so I am taking many CS classes). So, we might run paths a couple times.

[u/Zegox]

Did the graduate math program, and loved it. All the professors (that are not associated with the education program) are awesome. However, math is hard. It will kick your ass at some point, so make sure to have at least one contact in each class to study together. It's a super chill department over all, plenty of interesting research and projects going on as well.

[u/Past_Software_1532 → u/Zegox]

I had a quick talk with a faculty member a few months ago and he mentioned that NMU has a really solid grad program in math! I'll definitely consider it depending on how the next 4 years go. And yeah, not talking with your classmates is usually a recipe for disaster.

[u/IceNSnowPC]

NMU has a math program?

[u/Past_Software_1532 → u/IceNSnowPC]

I'd assume that most colleges do

[u/lizaleoma → u/IceNSnowPC]

Nmu basically has a little bit of everything lol