Don't Make This Mistake in Mathematics Graduate School

Good day, why do you recommend Discrete Math as a good starting point to learn math from the start.

There are always people who know things you don't. It'll save your time having a connection with them, although you can certainly find out such things by yourselves

No matter how intellectual or introverted you are, don’t neglect or give up on personal development and growth. It’s essential for a fulfilling life and don’t think you can’t change just because you’ve always been the “smart” one.

I’d say this is excellent advice, but I wouldn’t wait until grad school.

My first-degree was a BA in modern mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania. There were about 100 students who entered the program the same semester I did. Of those 100 students, 19 of us completed the degree. I was one. All 19 of us were in the same study group. Almost all the other students tried to make it on their own.

So, I would say don’t wait for grad school. Don’t even wait for college. Study together, but make sure you help each other learn the material, not just learn the answers to the homework.

By the way, I eventually got a PhD in engineering and I teach at the college level. I strongly encourage my students to form study groups and I provide guidance on how to effectively study together.

College is hard. The important thing is that you learn.

Lol nice video, this is so true

Hello, why did you suggest Discrete Math (textbook) as a base to start learning Math? What is it about Discrete Math that you feel will create the base?

When you go to college(undergrad) I highly suggest taking a public speaking class if you can fit it in. The point of the arts is to develop interpersonally which, in my opinion, is essential for long term happiness.

Which book would you consider a better book for calculus the one by Micheal Spivak or the one by Louis Leithold?

In every class you take: Sometime during the term, go to the professor’s office and ask a question. Someday you may need to ask him for a recommendation and when that happens, you will want him to remember you.

I'm curious how you'd do on the Putnam test pre/post grad school?

I was afraid that you would make this video.
Your comments are correct specially in the US...recommendation letters play a big role after graduation.

However, in my experience, math is, in itself, a very individual activity...and if you are too much socially active and you talk too much then there is a huge probability that your ideas get stolen. The example of Perelman is terrible!!!...he spoke too much about his proof before getting it completely right.

Mathematical community is a small 'social club' but not all good mathematicians are affiliated to it.

Out of time video. Looks like a dub

Great advice!

Excellent advice!

Yeah, Friday. A group of us STEMmers would have dinner at Rosita's Mexican restaurant -- and then get back to the books. Your "weekend" was when you tried to get out of the study-homework hole you'd been thrown into during the week.

Great content and subscribed! Would love to hear what you think of our grad school channel. Thank you.

Maybe another weird topic might be, how social life has been changing. When I attended in the 2010s i felt things were becoming very odd towards the end. It almost felt the dept made things very childish and had the woke vibe for lack of a better term. Now when I talk to my friends who remained in academia they agree things got a little weird. That being said I agree I had the best time of life.

If I may ask, what schools did you do your undergrad and grad? What are your majors?

very valuable hint

I think these are very wise words. I didnt socialise at University (UK), and despite academically succeeding, I regret the stance I took. There was also no internet in the early 90s !

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Hope I can apply this later on🙏🙏

Great advice

If you go to a grad school that doesn't assign advisors, schedule your class load where the advisors you want are your teachers. Most, if not all, of these professors will refuse to be your advisor unless you've taken a class with them (or have published a paper). But taking a class with them does not guarantee they'll take you on, so make sure you have a variety of options and schedule your classes accordingly.

On this topic, when you ask the question of if they would be your advisor, many professors will suggest a reading class or offer to give you material to gauge your capability in their field. Don't take them up on this offer. At the end of the reading class or you independently reading up on their general area of expertise, they'll be too "busy" to take you on. Both of these suggestions are their way of saying a polite "No". If the answer is Yes, they will say "Yes".

Secondarily, if you take a class with a prospective professor and if they agree to take you on, you must do exactly what they say regardless of the impact on your grades. If taking on work that will force you to fail a class is what they ask, refusing to do so will likely end up with them dropping you with a variety of implausible excuses.

Thirdly, if you haven't procured an advisor by the end of your second year, take a tutorial Masters and get out. Any advisors saying they will take you after that are just looking to squeeze you for money, even after the fellowship runs out, and you're never going to get a doctorate at that school. Go to a different school with your Masters and a few good recommendations, and you'll have much better chances at securing an early advisor.

Or, better yet, go to a grad school that automatically assigns advisors.

There's something that I've heard you talk about since a long time in your videos and I've always wanted to ask you about what exactly it is. So, when you say 'grad school' what exactly is it that you are referring to - undergraduate (Bachelors) or postgraduate (Masters) or doctorate (PhD). Please excuse my ignorance since I am uninitiated in such matters.

I'm still working on being social. There are just so many rules for interacting with people, but I've definitely improved. YAY!!!

I'm starting graduate school in Fall this year and I'm extremely introverted. I'll take your advice to heart.

The fastest way to terminate your graduate studies and receive no PhD is to be an excellent teacher.

Hey, did you know that Luis Leithold the guy who wrote the calculus book you reviewed also wrote college algebra and trigonometry/precalculus books. You may want to check them out.

can you do a book review about lie theory ?

Greetings Mr.Math Sorcerer,
Thanks for kind Share. Knowledge interlinked with Good Social behaviour makes memorable moments in Grad school. Take Care.
With regards,
RanjithJoseph (R.J)

Me too, dude. I made my schedule so that I could go up "into the stacks" of the library to work my problems. I suppose we all are a little OCD or a little autistic. Who else gets degrees in math?

Good morning, it's almost 7am in UAE

Sir, thank ye fer all these videos. I have a really really important and I think an interesting question, and that might conceivably be a good topic of a video: if we wanna learn and go deeper at many academic/intellectual fields, how should we study them? One by one, or all at the same time? Let's say, would doing like: reading philosophy at 1/3 of the study time in the day, reading novels at the other 1/3, then doing math at the remaining 1/3 be okay? Or, we better go book by book maybe? Like, after finishing a history book, we proceed to a physics book, then to a math book, then to an economics book etc.... Or should we divide our time by weeks, maybe? Like, philosophy week, math week, sociology week etc?? Or maybe 2-3 months periods? I've been struggling on this issue fer a couple of years now and couldn't figure out a proper solution. Yer opinions on this is so important to me... Much respect and admiration from Turkey...

never new you'd be isolated as what you solved for. Of all places.

5+ years of gap in my studies how I get started learning maths again from basics ND from where

It's easy for me to be social with other people who share the same interests, like math. Sometimes I find it very difficult to connect with people who don't enjoy mathematics at a high level. Beer does seem to help though!

Morning sir love from India

I'm glad I found this great channel!

Good morning sir