What to Expect

It may surprise you to know that not all math students are good with numbers. This program involves a lot more than just number crunching.

"Many high school students get the strange impression that a superior ability to do computations is a positive indicator of success in the field of mathematics, but in my experience this is far from the truth," says Amanda Schermer.

"Many mathematicians that I know commit errors or are slow when asked to actually work with numbers. As one of my professors always says, 'There are three types of mathematicians: those who can count and those who can't.' Mathematics at the college level deals far more with patterns, relations, rules and symbols than it ever does with numbers and ugly computations."

Schermer has a degree in math from Indiana University at South Bend. She also took a PhD in math at Boston University.

You may think of mathematics students as loners. But that's hardly the case. "When we are not in class, many of us work together in study groups; also, we participate in community outreach activities -- teaching children and adults about different nifty topics in math," says Schermer.

"Many of us are involved in math, physics or research club activities, independent research projects, or helping other students in the tutoring center."

Schermer says the workload for math students can be intense.

"Some upper-level math courses require upwards of eight hours of homework per week, but sometimes one long study night per week is sufficient to get all of the work for two classes done," she says. "I frequently arrived at school before 8 a.m. and stayed until after midnight."

How to Prepare

Caralei Elliott majored in math. She says it's important to take as many math classes as possible in high school, but that's not all. "It is important to also take other science courses such as biology, physics and chemistry," she says.

"It is also helpful to take as many advanced math, science, logic and computer courses as possible," agrees Schermer. "Composition classes are also quite important if one intends to do research, since you will be required to publish."