The Georgia Institute of Technology

Date: Apr 26 2011
Major: Math (This Major's Salary over time)
Club Math and some of the student vocal groups seem pretty exclusive to me. Student vocal groups need auditions each year, so you can't start singing with them just because you like it. It is virtually impossible to be heard in Club Math unless you are an elected officer (for those who don't know, Club Math is a virtually Math Department sponsored club). Other undergrad student clubs associated with their departments are also heavy on elections and their internal politics, rather than being open to other students. Student research is mandatory for Discrete Math majors, but there is also no guarantee you will get it - because YOU have to be the one to get a professor to sponsor you on your own with virtually no guaranteed research opportunities (and most Math professors are extremely hard to contact outside the classes they teach). The Skiles building is a disgrace, so dirty (so is Howey). You will be spammed with emails from the Department if you get a math.gatech.edu address for any reason. Also, Georgia Tech students get non-Departmental spam, day in and day out. I believe the university is big on its propaganda (how great they are, is all you hear from faculty and administrators). The Math department is big on advocating research and grad school, but not on jobs that can be done with just a Bachelors degree. The few jobs I received information on, all needed a high GPA even to apply for. In other words, if you are a career-oriented person, do not pursue a Math degree at Tech. Only pursue a Math degree if you want to pursue years in grad school, or as a double major to something in Engineering or Computer Science. Mathematically inclined people who want a job straight after graduation should strongly consider Industrial Engineering or Computer Science as standalone majors.