Is it true that if I go to college for a mathematics degree that I'll be screwed when I graduate?...no job?:(?

Question

Is it true that if I go to college for a mathematics degree that I'll be screwed when I graduate?...no job?:(?

Answer 1

There are plenty of things you can do with a math degree, and teaching is one of the best if you like it (we always need more good math teachers). Friends of mine with math degrees have gone on to work for the government in great jobs for the DoD ad NSA.

Answer 2

Mathematics is one Major where it is useful to have a technology or commerce-specific Minor. Computer Science is good. Computer Technology may be better.



A Mathematics Major shows good discipline, and employers like that, but in this economy they'd also like to see something that will make you immediately useful.

Answer 3

A BS degree in a science isn't too useful for getting a job. People who love pure math and science generally go into academia. A BS degree is never terminal for them. They get PhDs. There really aren't other options for jobs in math or pure science without advanced degrees.



To get by on a BS degree alone, you need to go into an applied science/engineering.



If you love both math and teaching, you can go on for a masters in teaching, and teach children. Teaching is a tough field right now, with the country being broke and all, and our schools failing. But qualified math and science teachers in our public schools are always hard to come by. You will have an advantage over all other public school applicants with your math degree. It's still a cruddy job though.

Answer 4

I see you take the suggestions of a failure in life to heart. College isn't about job training, it's about brain training. When you get your B.S. in Mathematics, you'll have lot of opportunities available that your friend doesn't. My friend with his degree in Math is a statistician, and making better money than I do... and as a teacher, I don't do badly.

Answer 5

420

Answer 6

2

Answer 7

Paid Surveys At Home - http://OnlineSurveys.uzaev.com/?uLaj

Answer 8

Teaching at a college level is actually a pretty solid career. Colleges look to hire long-term, so unless things get REALLY bad, then you won't have to worry too much (and by then you'll have to worry about losing your house, not just your job). Consider where you want to teach - Community Colleges have GREAT teachers, but lower salaries. Being a teacher, you will probably do more work than you're paid for. But I haven't met a single teacher who has regretted teaching. :) If you want to aim for a University profession, you might miss with the teaching, because most of the job includes research and department duties.

Answer 9

Are you working on your Bachelors? I'm afraid to say that with a degree so general, it may be difficult for you. My friends all received general Psychology degrees and they can't get jobs anywhere. You could try for accounting jobs, math subbing in schools and such, but with mathematics, unless you have a Master's degree, it may be a little difficult finding jobs. Heck Im even a registered nurse with a BSN and a year after graduating, half my class only had jobs. Sorry :(

Answer 10

And this old guy has a degree in what exactly? And he works in HR there at your WalMart does he? No? Because he's clueless perhaps. If you'd really like to make this guy's day - stop by your HR department and make sure the HR supervisor knows you're doing a math major and wouldn't mind some work dealing with their numbers, provided you'd like more hours and responsibility in that store.



"The economy is so bad and will never recover" he maintains. Have you observed that nobody comes to your store to buy anything because they have no money/job? Have you observed that your store is laying off people because they're losing money? No? You know why? "The economy" isn't quite as simple a concept as some people like to consider it.



Yes, teaching is an option with a degree in math. It's a pretty good option too because math teachers are hard to find. They're hard to find because businesses like math majors a lot and most can find a much better paying job than school teacher. The hardest skill set for HR to find in employees is math skill - it's just scarce.



A minor in computer science will help it along considerably. So would a minor in economics, finance, statistics, actuarial science, or physics. A grad degree (master's or PhD) would also be a good move. If you'd really like to add employability impact with strong math skills - switch over to engineering and do a minor in math.



Most important though - decide what industry and career you'd like to work in and get the credential required to do that. Don't get a degree in something just because you like it without looking at specific careers and their requirements.



School Teacher - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos318.htm

Post-secondary Teacher - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos066.htm

Adult and Remedial Teacher - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos289.htm

Actuary - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos041.htm

Computer Scientist - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos304.htm

Mathematician - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos043.htm

Operations Research Analyst - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos044.htm

Statistician - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos045.htm

Econometrician - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos055.htm

Epidemiologist - http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos310.htm

Adjusters, Appraisers, etc... - http:// www.bls.gov/oco/ocos125.htm [remove the space to work the link - there's a limit here]



How's that for a start list of math-heavy careers? Jobs HR just can't fill because not too many people can do calculus and trig - let alone some really simple algebra. It should give you some ideas to get started. Some will need a different grad degree or a minor or a related dual major etc... but then, a BS in Math isn't enough to teach school either, you'll need a teaching certificate for that one so make sure you're getting the education you need.



It is REALLY easy for someone with a secondary math certificate to add middle-grades math, elementary ed, and adult HS/GED certs to their teaching certificate and thereby become a candidate for a lot of open jobs. Math folks also do pretty well advanced to administration and especially district level administration where counting the money and solving theoretical based problems is common.



PS: A private math tutor usually earns more than a WalMart stocker and works fewer hours to do it. Why are you at WalMart at all? [this is also true of science tutors and piano/guitar teachers]