We have annually interviewed recent graduates from our department and found that nearly every one (there were some we could not contact) is working in an area where mathematics is used, is teaching mathematics, or is in a graduate program.  Opportunities in all areas, and in the national shortage of mathematic teachers in particular, make a UI mathematics degree very valuable.

If you are brilliant, you can afford to be narrowly specialized; people will accept many limitations in a person who offers some spectacular talent. But for most of us, breadth is an important companion to strength. In addition to building your mathematical knowledge and abilities, you should work to be an excellent writer and speaker. And you should develop several interests: For someone seeking a job, that probably means taking courses in some other area(s) that you like and where mathematics us used; for someone aiming at graduate school in mathematics, that means taking (and doing well in) some of our senior/masters level courses.

For all future directions, the following are important:

• Faculty Recommendations
• A transcript showing a good program and respectable grades
• The ability to communicate in speech and writing

If at all possible, get to know the faculty members teaching your courses. Most faculty members welcome genuine interest and are quite willing to discuss your academic situation. Our professors are expected to be accomplished and active scholars. They went into Math for the same reasons you are: they liked it and they're good at it; so they are bound to respond well to your interests. An important bonus is that getting better acquainted with faculty members will make it easier for them to write informed and individualized letters of recommendation for you when they are needed.

It's also important to develop your communication skills. You will almost certainly be using mathematics in a research team, teaching, or selling position, and your fitness for employment or graduate school will be partly evaluated through interview or essay.

But who hires you, and what will you be doing? Some answers are obvious, such as high school or (with advanced degrees) college teaching. Insurance companies hire Math majors (as well as Stats. majors) for jobs in actuarial science. Many math majors work in the computer industry. Government agencies such as the Commerce Department, Agriculture Department and National Security Agency hire mathematicians, the first two for data analysis, the latter for theoretical cryptography research. Investment firms hire math majors to analyze trends and optimize portfolios.  Airlines hire math majors to analyze routing and scheduling.  Large consulting companies welcome mathematics as one of several good pregarations.  A corporation may welcome a math major to a job that doesn't really involve mathematics, but just because that person has demonstrated the ability to understand complicated situations and solve problems.  Also, check out the AMS website at www.ams.org/careers-edu/undergrad.html#jobs