2023 math student prizes

Work with people (and if you can, befriend them)!  There’s a time for solitary study, but doing stuff with people goes a long way for several reasons.  Maybe even if you don’t understand something, your friends might, and they can clarify it for you in some more helpful way.  And when you’re the one who gets it, explaining a concept can really help it stick and solidify in your mind.  Math is pretty hard, so having people to collaborate with and complain to and feel stuck with goes a long way.

Don’t be put off from doing the major just because you feel like you have less experience than your peers. Everyone comes from a different background and takes these classes at different points in their degree. I know from experience that sometimes it can feel like you are the only one struggling with a topic, or you may feel so lost that you don’t even know how to formulate the right question. At times like these (and, honestly, at all times), my main advice is to go to office hours, where you can meet other people in your class and, as cliché as it sounds, unite through your struggles. Chances are you will find someone who can guide you through that topic you had issues with, and whom you can then help with a different topic that you understood and they didn’t. 

You don’t have to be inspired all the time by what you are learning, but I recommend circling back to the bigger picture as to why you are learning mathematics. The bigger picture is allowed to change, but I find it may help to create one and keep it in your mind for an extended period of time. Also, if you are taking a course in an upcoming semester, skim through wikipedia or a textbook on the subject and “play with” (read and try to come up with examples of) the basic definitions and philosophical issues that are presented. Most of all, have fun!

• Schedule Time for Deliberate Practice: Mathematics is a discipline that benefits from active engagement. Regularly work through problem sets to cement your understanding and develop problem-solving skills.
• Embrace Challenges: Some concepts will be tough, but it’s essential to persevere and not be deterred by initial difficulty. Remember, struggling with a problem often leads to a deeper understanding.
• Seek Feedback: Don’t hesitate to ask for help during office hours from professors, tutors, or classmates. Collaborating and discussing problems can often lead to breakthroughs in understanding.
• Engage in Mathematical Communities and Have Fun: Join math clubs or societies, participate in math competitions, and attend academic seminars. They’re great ways to learn, network, and develop a broader perspective of the field. Whenever possible, have fun with what you are working on.