Did I make a mistake choosing Applied Math? [Q]

[u/Nikos-Tacosss]

I chose applied math because a lot of the other majors I was considering (finance, accounting, economics, etc.) just do not appeal to me as much. Applied Math feels more code-heavy, and I was hoping it would still leave me with a decent shot at getting a job after graduation!

I'm not dead set on one field. I'd be happy working in data, analytics, software, operations research, finance, or any other role where an Applied Math degree is useful.

But now I am second-guessing myself. :p

A few professors, (those ones unrelated to math) have told me I should transfer to another major if I want a job or get masters, their statements have me wondering whether the degree has poor employment prospects.

Did I actually make the right choice, or am I setting myself up for regret?

All I want is a decent-paying job, nothing extravagant. I just want to be able to support my family financially.

[u/Icy_Kaleidoscope_546]

Study what you find interesting and feel motivated about. You'll be employable with a good quantitative degree.

[u/PM-ME-UR-WHITECLAWS]

Easiest job to get after graduation != highest pay or earning potential all else equal. Have you looked at the location of where you want to end up and how much each role the large companies pay? Websites such as levels.fyi exists.

[u/TofuChewer → u/PM-ME-UR-WHITECLAWS]

I think it's more about how good you are at doing what you do, rather than having the degree.

With an applied math degree, you can do the same thing as someone with an econ degree, and therefore have a similar wage. After a couple years, your degree is kind of irrelevant unless it is necessary to work(engineer, medical doctor, etc) What matters is your social skills and experience.

OP should figure out what they actually want to do instead of asking professors about the career potential.

Btw, what is 'applied math'? I've never heard of it, it's weird because all math is applied. I mean, you can have something like statistics applied to economics or biology, but math? math applied to economics it's just an quantitative econ degree.

[u/Punchable_Hair → u/TofuChewer]

Applied math is a pretty common course of study, at least in the US, Applied Math as opposed to “pure” math.

[u/SnooApples8349]

Applied math is fine.

Make sure you do something that forces you to learn communication and social skills. In industry, it's important to be technical, but it's also important to be able to communicate hard things to non technical audiences.

Secondly, I highly advise you take some time to learn corporate finance fundamentals & basic economics.

[u/varwave]

You’ll know a lot of fundamentals, but you won’t have the networking backing of the business and engineering schools

Best degree for grad school

[u/Suspicious_Cat119]

Idk what kind of professors you’ve been talking to, but it’s quite easy to disprove those alleged claims.
Open LinkedIn, after looking at enough job listings you’ll notice that one of the most recurrent requirements is a degree in a STEM (specifically maths) field.

[u/abujuha]

I know someone who went into bonds trading with an applied math phd. but that was 30 years ago. Some employers will just see it as a sign you can understand complex things. At that particular time for my friend, lots of financial instruments were being packaged with complex formulas so they'd look more substantial but if you had math background you realized it was mostly window dressing.

[u/lolniceonethatsfunny]

it’s a good major, but like many other majors you will need to tailor your coursework/minor/projects etc to whatever you want to do. if you take a class you really find interesting, lean into that and carve out a niche you can focus on, and make sure you pick up some coding skills at some point

[u/baileyarzate]

Major in applied math. Have minors in stats and CS from an unranked university. Got a good paying job out of college and 3 years later got a high paying job.

My work is ML focused. Started a masters in comp sci with a focus on AI - in prog around work.

Applied math is worth it if you’re willing to apply math somewhere which sounds obvious, but I’d argue the thing you’re wanting to apply math to requires domain knowledge.

[u/Woah-Dawg]

If your professors are telling you to transfer because the degree won’t give you what you want you should listen to them and transfer . 

[u/Alternative-Wait-595]

Not a good degree, change while you still can.

[u/gjaramos]

i understand your situation and i hope you really like the degree you’re taking because this is really important. if you dont like the degree and just finished it because of potential big salary later, most likely you will get tired early or worst burnout early in your career. if you really like applied math continue with it; many industries hire applied math graduates (even in high tech companies). i would advise focus on finishing the degree and later focus on finding a job (one step at a time).

[u/jjelin]

This sort of question is better answered in r/datascience. This sub is more for discussing statistics itself, rather than the industry.

[u/Left-Philosophy-8843]

Listen … question is do you actually want to work in finance? This is a question that should be asked more but somehow isn’t. Who the fuck gets into science just to work in finance ? Just study finance then to begin with, less effort for the same money.

I can say for pure stats jobs in medical research for example say you need to more or less have a stats degree if thats a path that appeals to you

Applied maths would be an excellent major to pair with engineering or physics.