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Searching for Mathmagicland... | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)

[new] Geez, you're young! (none / 0) (#4)
by vizioneer on Thu Jul 20, 2006 at 08:06:55 AM PDT

Hi Hero, By all means, your gut and your heart are telling you to at least explore the option of becoming a mathematician. 26, is a fine age to start a graduate program, in fact that is about the average age of a new grad student in math. 25 is the average starting age, and 29 is the average age of a continuing grad student in math, and the average age of a new PhD is 33-34. So, by all means, age is not a concern for you. You already have interest, skills, and abilities and personal initiative that you've cultured. If you want to start a grad program, I'd recommend taking courses such as advanced calc, undergrad abstract algebra (or holding off for algebra if the program's grad level course is more of an introduction type course into algebra), a course that teaches proofs, etc. Basically, the pillars/core courses of a grad program usually are: algebra, analysis, topology, and complex analysis. If you haven't taken the prerequisite courses to these at the undergrad level you may want to find out 1) if you need to, 2) what the best way to go about building up that foundation would be. Sounds also like you'd be interested in math logic. After investing all the time of getting a PhD, you probably might want an actual job. It pays I think to temper your most fancied area of math with what's marketable- maybe some application of logic? It seems to me that math logicists are kind of few and far between, but who knows maybe this will pay off. Better to consult some professors beforehand and kind of plan out your course. Good luck.

Searching for Mathmagicland... | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)

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