Any opinions on which mathematics course is the "best"?

I know that there may be threads on this already, but it can't hurt starting a new one.

I'm a repeat student, and CAO time is coming around again. I've decided on theoretical physics in TCD as my number one, and that my other nine choices are going to be a mix of maths, theoretical physics and possibly astrophysics. Basically, if you could choose, which mathematics course would you pick? Which is the best? And I know best is very subjective, but, I just want your opinions. Preferably I would like to do it in or around the Dublin area, i.e TCD, UCD, Maynooth etc. Ideally, I would like the maths course to lead me onto the physics side of things, so I guess application is important. But, out of application and pure maths, pure is what i'd like to do.

So, basically, which college course would you pick for your number two CAO choice?

Thanks.

Just saw the thread two posts below me, 'Where to do an undergraduate maths degree????'. Can't believe I didn't spot that before I posted this, shows how hard I was looking I suppose (I even posted in it a few weeks ago!). So this thread is redundant, and can be deleted or whatever. If I've any questions I'll post them in the one below.

Fremen

TCD is better known internationally, that might be a help if you want to work abroad some day. In the end, it's not the quality of the college, it's the quality of the student. The very best students just get on with it and learn stuff themselves, besides what they're taught. I did this to some extent in computer science, though not in maths (which I'm regretting now).

Slightly off-topic, but the best course in the *world* is this:
http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/postgrad/casm/

Get a first in yer undergrad and you have a chance...

LeixlipRed

The range of courses there is frightening. I wish I had a posh enough scarf to go to Cambridge :P

Thanks for your replies. I'd say Cambridge, and even a first, might be a bit of a long shot! Four years to try and get it though I suppose!

So TCD would be the recommendation? I guess that'll be my choice so!

antiselfdual

Bear in mind that if Theoretical Physics in Trinity is your first choice that you can do most of the Theoretical Physics degree (or at least all the best bits anyway) through Mathematics in Trinity...

antiselfdual

antiselfdual wrote: »

Bear in mind that if Theoretical Physics in Trinity is your first choice that you can do most of the Theoretical Physics degree (or at least all the best bits anyway) through Mathematics in Trinity...

Really? Are there options in the maths course for studying the maths behind, say, relativity or quantum physics? I mean, would it be better for a would be theoretical physicist to get a maths degree, then maybe add the required knowledge of physics with a physics degree? Once the maths of advanced physical ideas such as relativity are understood, it surely can't be too hard to gain an understanding of the concepts behind them, can it? I'm probably not making much sense, but which would be a better option to choose? TP or maths? Obviously, if you wish to be a theoretical physicist TP seems like the better option, but in truth is it? If you weren't afraid of adding a year or two of physics knowledge on top of a maths degree.

It's late, and I'm tired. But, what I'm basically trying to ask is: Anyone who has done TP or is in the field of theoretical physics, would you consider the trinity TP degree to be adequate, or would you recommend a maths degree, then maybe an add on physics degree?

(I know that a masters and/or PhD would also be added on top of your degree eventually, but I'm just meerly talking about the base degree).

PurpleFistMixer

Perhaps take a look here to see what sort of courses are on offer between maths and physics (Should clarify just in case, TP is run jointly between the two departments, so it's got a mixture. More maths than physics for the first 2 years, then 50:50 for the last two). I've been told (mostly by TPs who are migrating to Maths) that a lot of the interesting quantum stuff is done via maths anyway... I've only done a term of TP so I can't say how it is in later years, but atm we're doing basically the same as the maths people, except no Abstract Algebra or Statistics/Some other option possibly, and ... well, physics. There's been complaining about having to do labs in Physics (mostly from people migrating too, not a coincidence), but tbh I don't think they're that bad. I don't feel like I'm being deprived of maths learnings by doing TP, either.

It's a question of personal preference, IMO. Pure maths would have been just a bit too abstract for me, so TP was a natural choice.

antiselfdual

Oh I wasn't trying to say you should do Maths instead of TP, I was just trying to point out that Maths in Trinity would be the best second choice because you can do more than half the TP degree and all the maths courses aimed at them (Mechanics, Advanced Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Classical Fields, Statistical Physics, Quantum Field Theory, General Relativity) in the Maths degree. However the downside would be that there's a chance you'll find yourself doing some Maths courses that are too pure (=abstract) for your liking at some stage.

Do TP if that's what you're interested in as then you'll get the best of both worlds, and always have the option of switching to Maths... It's really a personal decision about whether you're better off doing TP via TP or TP via Maths, depending on what you're interested in and what you feel will benefit you most in doing future study or whatever, and you really won't be able to make a decision like that until you've done some TP and seen what courses are covered and how well they're taught etc etc.

PurpleFistMixer

PurpleFistMixer wrote: »

Perhaps take a look here to see what sort of courses are on offer between maths and physics (Should clarify just in case, TP is run jointly between the two departments, so it's got a mixture. More maths than physics for the first 2 years, then 50:50 for the last two).

Thanks for the comment. If it's run between two schools does that make it somewhat like a TSM, as in would you have a degree split between maths and physics? Or would you have a degree in theoretical physics? If you get what I mean.

antiselfdual wrote: »

Oh I wasn't trying to say you should do Maths instead of TP, I was just trying to point out that Maths in Trinity would be the best second choice because you can do more than half the TP degree and all the maths courses aimed at them (Mechanics, Advanced Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Classical Fields, Statistical Physics, Quantum Field Theory, General Relativity) in the Maths degree.

Oh right right, I see what you were saying now. Thank's for clarifying.

antiselfdual wrote: »

...and you really won't be able to make a decision like that until you've done some TP and seen what courses are covered and how well they're taught etc etc.

Yah that's what I thought alright, I guess it's impossible to know at this stage which I'd prefer. And as you said, it's possible to change between TP and maths at any stage during first year, isn't it (I know that you'd miss some modules like statistics)?


And if you don't mind me asking antiselfdual, are you doing theoretical physics or maths in college? I know that PFM is a TP anyway.

antiselfdual

In TP you get a B.A. (Mod) in Theoretical Physics, and no, it's not like a TSM at all. Though in some respects it can be like a degree split between maths and physics as the two Schools do seem to do their own thing to a certain extent and occasionally aren't very informed about what the other is doing.

I did TP for two years then dropped into Maths at the start of 3rd year (this year) basically so that I could do more theoretical physics. (I felt doing additional maths courses would be more helpful for me than doing courses in solid state physics/other material-y crap I'm not that interested in...)

You'll notice though that if you ask anyone who's done TP about the degree they tend to bring up the things which annoy them most about it (such as labs); it is actually a great course to be in and is very enjoyable, we just like complaining, so don't let that put you off!

antiselfdual

antiselfdual wrote: »

In TP you get a B.A. (Mod) in Theoretical Physics, and no, it's not like a TSM at all. Though in some respects it can be like a degree split between maths and physics as the two Schools do seem to do their own thing to a certain extent and occasionally aren't very informed about what the other is doing.

Yah, sorry I didn't really a TSM, I meant more that'd it'd be a moderatorship (mod) degree. Thanks for clearing that up.

antiselfdual wrote: »

I did TP for two years then dropped into Maths at the start of 3rd year (this year) basically so that I could do more theoretical physics. (I felt doing additional maths courses would be more helpful for me than doing courses in solid state physics/other material-y crap I'm not that interested in...)

You'll notice though that if you ask anyone who's done TP about the degree they tend to bring up the things which annoy them most about it (such as labs); it is actually a great course to be in and is very enjoyable, we just like complaining, so don't let that put you off!

That's why I was considering doing just maths, I thought courses in maths would be more benefitial to a theoretical physicist than mainly physics courses. Changing to maths at a later stage sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for all your advice anyway, I'll be sure to listen to it!

lovingmaths

-JammyDodger- wrote: »

I know that there may be threads on this already, but it can't hurt starting a new one.

I'm a repeat student, and CAO time is coming around again. I've decided on theoretical physics in TCD as my number one, and that my other nine choices are going to be a mix of maths, theoretical physics and possibly astrophysics. Basically, if you could choose, which mathematics course would you pick? Which is the best? And I know best is very subjective, but, I just want your opinions. Preferably I would like to do it in or around the Dublin area, i.e TCD, UCD, Maynooth etc. Ideally, I would like the maths course to lead me onto the physics side of things, so I guess application is important. But, out of application and pure maths, pure is what i'd like to do.

So, basically, which college course would you pick for your number two CAO choice?

Thanks.

i would most definitely recommend general science in nuig, you could pick option A and study maths, maths physics, physics and chem in 1st year. You have alot of options to go into in 2nd year. Theoretical physics in trinity is meant to be fairly tough, many of the modules in the later years are done at masters level elsewhere, many students have to repeat exams in August, and alot of the lecturers are Russian who are part of the old school,and were the cream of the crop when they were selected to study for their undergrad degrees in Russia, it's hard for them to understand students difficulties and tutorials aren't always offered to help students, so it's not very good for students who'd fare better in a more moderate system. In saying that it's a very good degree, if u get it!That is what I've heard about that degree in trinity anyway, but if you are well motivated and work hard you will be okay