Math or Computer Science?

[mahnster13]

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So, I am only a very little bit into my college education at UW, but from all of the classes I have taken so far, my calculus classes and my computer programming classes have been my favorite. I am not AMAZING at programming, but I enjoy it well enough. And math is a new-found love because up through AP Calc AB in high school I was convinced that I hated math. But I think now that it is focused on learning the material rather than preparing for the AP exam, I like it a lot more. Now, I wouldn't mind double-majoring if I could fit the med-school pre-req's in there somehow, but that just isn't going to happen. Does anybody have any opinions on whether a BS in Math or a BS in Computer Science would be more forgiving to my GPA? (I have to raise it up from a measly 3.1 that I got in my first quarter :/ )

 

[Naijaba]

So, I am only a very little bit into my college education at UW, but from all of the classes I have taken so far, my calculus classes and my computer programming classes have been my favorite. I am not AMAZING at programming, but I enjoy it well enough. And math is a new-found love because up through AP Calc AB in high school I was convinced that I hated math. But I think now that it is focused on learning the material rather than preparing for the AP exam, I like it a lot more. Now, I wouldn't mind double-majoring if I could fit the med-school pre-req's in there somehow, but that just isn't going to happen. Does anybody have any opinions on whether a BS in Math or a BS in Computer Science would be more forgiving to my GPA? (I have to raise it up from a measly 3.1 that I got in my first quarter :/ )

Neither of those majors are going to treat you nicely in upper-division classes. You really must choose one based on how much you like it because enjoying what you are doing will help during the most difficult courses.

EDIT: I will say that as someone who's done Comp. Sci. and Math (and bio for that matter), it is my general impression that mathematics majors have higher GPAs. And, it seems as if the math majors here on SDN have *really* high grades. I believe that supports the age-old adage, "The only people who are math majors are those who love math." That statement really isn't true for many other fields.

 

[mahnster13]

Well I think I've decided then because I am working on programming homework right now, and I have to say I do not think I am cut out for it. I love math, I love doing my math homework and I love taking two pages to work on a problem because I love the feeling of coming up with the answer at the end (which is how I felt about chemistry before I couldn't get into the second quarter in the series here!!!) I think I would much rather stick with math as my major. Possibly applied math.

 

[Knitress]

If you love doing math, it's a nice way to spend your undergrad years. It's definitely not an easy major, though. But if you put in the necessary time and effort to succeed, it's not impossible to come out with a nice GPA.

 

[HolySmokes]

I would definitely recommend math over computer science. Then again, I'm a math major, and I hated my two computer science classes, so I may be slightly biased.

 

[stevesavi]

Hey, the other posters are correct, its whatever excites you cause you're going to be doing a lot of it. I had this same decision to make three years ago, picked math and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. If you go with math be sure to take combinatorics and advanced calc (real analysis) they are the best undergrad courses out there. Take a proofs/intro to higher mathematics course soon because you dont know what math is till you've been through a course of this type. It starts with logic, moves to set theory and then will branch differently based on your professor's preference. If you love that course you are a mathematician, if not choose something else.

 

[afugazzi]

Yeah there are some very different types of math classes. Some of the lower level major classes (linear algebra, diff eq's, multivariable calc) are going to be really calculation based, so if you really like doing tons of integrals and that kind of stuff, you will like those.

Then there's combinatorics and probability and things like that. Those have some fun puzzle-type problems.

The bulk of what you will probably take are those proof-based classes. These require really abstract logic and feel very different from the lower-level calculation-based classes. Like an above poster says, take something that gives you a good exposure to writing proofs before you commit yourself. It's actually a lot like philosophy, so if you enjoy philosophy you might like this too.

 

[YeOldeMan]

Yeah, I started out loving math. Back when I was taking diffeqs and linear algebra I couldn't get enough of it. Then I went on to Probability Theory and Combinatorics and I still couldn't get enough of it. Then I went on to Real Analysis and Functional Analysis and got enough of it. I came out with decent grades in the end, but they were so much work....drained so much time. At one point I went too fast, and took a graduate course in Complex Analysis (I liked the more computational undergrad version), as well as another graduate analysis course and all my grades from all my classes got hit.
Looking back now, I should have taken a more rigorous physics major -- I would have skipped all the proofing and unfriendly pure math, and done all the calculus and probability in upper-level physics.

Grades were never all that low in the math classes (as long as you avoided known nutcase teachers) -- but I never ever got a "gimme" grade.

I would recommend math over computer science, but unless you find you are into proofs -- avoid the analysis and stick with applied math. Looking back now I am totally bittered with all the work I put into the pure math.
On the bright side, all the analysis did open me up for really serious probability courses.