Math can be thrilling for some students. As you learn the building blocks of arithmetic, each next step leads you to unlocking bigger mysteries of the universe. As a result, knowing math assures the possibility of a promising career for those who choose to take studying seriously. If you’re considering a math degree, it’s important to understand just how big of a world mathematics is.
For students who find themselves fascinated by forecasting sports trends or breaking codes ‘James Bond’ style, a math degree opens doors to thrilling career possibilities. Universally, students report that math gives them a different view on how things work, from how a baker measures ingredients to how airlines plot the most efficient flight routes.
Thinking About Majoring in Mathematics?
A math degree offers a time-tested mode of thinking, specifically, how to break big problems into bite-sized chunks. This skill can be used anywhere; whether you’re learning how to best keep track of sports statistics, how to build a deck in your backyard, or how to make use of some complex algorithms in computer science. Math is a versatile specialty because it plays a role in so many different areas: engineering, finances, data analysis, medicine, environmental science, and on and on.
What Makes a Math Degree So Special?
Many people think math is all theory. However, real-life math applications are everywhere. Take for example, tapping a banking card to the ATM without having to insert it into a machine, or buying something online: mathematicians and data scientists have been working tirelessly in the background to make sure everything is secure, seamless and efficient.
A Career in Math - From A to Z:
Math majors are in high demand and there are wide ranges of career opportunities that you can pursue after acquiring a math degree. Below are ten math-related jobs sorted from lowest to highest average salary. There’s a good chance that your dream job may not even be on this list. Keep in mind that roles overlap with other fields, technology, finance, healthcare, research, and more. This is merely an introduction, meant to demonstrate that math degrees can send students in a wide set of directions.
1. Math Teacher
Sharing your love of numbers is a time-honored profession. A good math teacher can help students achieve that “aha” moment when something that’s always been tricky suddenly becomes clear. Math teachers that we remember as our “favorites” from school were those who showed us how to be confident.
2. Actuarial Assistant
Actuarial assistants help actuaries evaluate risk. Actuaries are niche accountants and risk management professionals. They crunch the numbers, analyzing the trends and helping the business to predict the likelihood of different events — car accidents, natural disasters, and more.
3. Data Analyst
Data analysts collect and interpret data to help businesses make correct decisions. Being a good data analyst demands being good with numbers. What they do is help to search for patterns, trends, correlations, and make sense of everything from consumer preferences to seasonal sales peaks. Without data analysts, businesses stand to waste time and money.
4. Financial Planner
Individuals or companies turn to financial planners to create roadmaps for saving, investing and meeting long term financial goals. These people can help nonprofits to make best use of donor contributions, they can help with planning your estate or retiring comfortably, or they can assist with the growth of a small business.
5. Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts use math to drive improvements in areas like logistics, healthcare, retail, ecommerce, and more. They model out scenarios, test various avenues, and determine which strategies are the most useful: for instance, how to make supply chains operate without costly delays, or how to expand a national brand on a global scale.
6. Cryptographer
Secure communication and threat prevention software solutions are continuously being developed by cryptographers to safeguard data. These people ward off prying eyes who would otherwise keep personal info, corporate secrets and even national security details hidden using complex encryption systems.
7. Statistician
Surveys, experiments and data are used by statisticians to help make decisions in government, healthcare and tech. They might help pharmaceutical companies assess a new drug’s effectiveness or help political action committees to better predict election outcomes.
8. Quantitative Analyst (Quant)
Finance is a most common destination for quants. Quantitative analysts are corporate professionals who make models that predict market movements and help to manage risk. These are the “crazy math wiz kids” who are wicked smart; in short, they apply all sorts of unusual math techniques to help investors and financial institutions.
9. Data Scientist
Data scientists are like the detectives of mathematics – investigating large datasets to extract actionable insight. This job is a mix of programming, math and creative thinking, and it is necessary in order to drive business decisions, develop new products or decide on how to make emerging trends actionable.
10. Research Mathematician
Research mathematicians are pushing the boundaries of what we know. Instead of clinging to established knowledge, they go where few others have gone — into theoretical physics, or beyond. These are the true innovators who often change the way we solve problems in the future.
Is a Math Degree Hard?
Sometimes it can feel like math is too demanding on our brains, particularly if you’re tackling advanced material like abstract algebra or differential equations. The good news is that there are plenty of resources to help you be successful such as study groups, tutoring programs or online courses.
In order to develop the problem solving mindset that you need, you need consistency and practice. If you approach math with a little curiosity and patience, you will find it fun. It’s not just about right answers, it’s about learning how to think in a clearer, more structured way.
Math as a Foundation For a Solid Future Career
Mathematics never goes out of style. In a world that is ever changing, the ability to analyze, predict and innovate gives you a competitive advantage. A math degree will prepare you for a job in science by helping you understand publications, and enabling you to achieve your own scientific breakthroughs.
Need Help Preparing For a Math Degree?
If you’re picturing yourself in one of these math based roles but not sure where to begin, this is for you. First, it’s important to build a strong base in high school — that might mean brushing up on fundamental skills like algebra, geometry, trigonometry. At OMC, we teach students of all levels how to sharpen their math skills so when college comes around they’re ready to excel.
OMC is here to help you if you’re still unsure as to where to start, whether you’re deciding between algebra, geometry, or other math courses. Algebra often gives a strong foundation. If you’re already familiar with how to do equations and can handle abstract symbols, then geometry or trigonometry is the next exciting step.
Taking action, and finding the right course that pushes you enough to learn new skills, is what separates great students from the rest. If you want to cruise into college with a strong math toolkit, reach out to OMC to build your confidence and start tackling math exams with ease today.
