Turning Math Passion into a Career: High School Drop-Out's Story

[HayleySarg]

I wasn't a graduate student, but for my duration of my senior year where I worked along-side grad students in my project, I was treated as such.

My adviser was not my friend, but she was also one of the best teachers I had. During my weekly presentation, she would grill me on my work, and she'd give me 5-10 related papers afterwards. They push you hard, but they *generally* don't hate you. They just want you to publish and be the best you can be. After all, to some extent, you're a reflection of them.

Good luck

 

[TMFKAN64]

If you love mathematics, there is no reason you can't study up on it and learn more about it in your free time. Self-study can be a very rewarding hobby, and I'd never discourage anyone from trying to learn more out of curiosity.

However, if you want to work in the field and do serious research, plan on getting a Ph.D.. I don't like to say "never"... but anyone who is potentially brilliant enough to succeed without one would already be busy publishing research papers.

As for being a lapdog, I hope you enjoy subsistence farming. Because that, or being born independently wealthy, are just about the only ways you can get out of having to do what someone else tells you.

 

[dipole]

I got my GED and am going to graduate school for physics. Getting your GED isn't that bad... your school probably offers some preparation program that should take you a few weeks, then you just have to take the exam and you're set.

Once you have the GED, you can go to a community college for two years, take the basic math courses you'll need like calculus 1-3, and then transfer to a full university. This is essentially what I did, but with physics.

The upside is you can start early since you don't have to finish high school, and at the community college you can get most of your gen-ed requirements done with so you don't have to waste time with them at the full university.

I think this is a very viable option for you.

 

[Tenshou]

Thank you every one for the encouraging words, and the not so encouraging words, I think you all have helped me make my decision on what must be done.

 

[Jorriss]

Thank you every one for the encouraging words, and the not so encouraging words, I think you all have helped me make my decision on what must be done.

What did you decide?

Hopefully to go to college.