Choosing a major and self study

[Jack Golding]

Hi

I'm currently a first year Bachelor of Computer and Mathematical Sciences student at the University of Western Australia hoping to pursue a career within computational mathematics. Basically I can chose between a heavy mathematics degree and a combination of mathematics and computer science. I've been given conflicting information regarding the importance of computer science at an undergraduate level regarding quantitative finance - Mark Joshi said that it can be gained easily during post grad while the co-ordinator of the Master of Financial Mathematics here states I should pick up a language ASAP.

The problem is that the CS department here teachs ALL of the units required for the 'computation' major in Java (apart from one in C and one is F#) however I think I'd find machine learning, algorithms and AI more interesting than geometry and topology. That being said programming is my weakness at this stage and I'm not preforming too well in the introductionary programming units (I may be denied the ability to major in computer science due to poor marks.) If I chose not to do a computer science major I will probably learn C++ at home along with most high-end computer science topics I am interested in.

I'd like to do some self-study or research in to computational mathematics/finance - should I start reading a book like Hull's or just work on learning C++ over summer (keeping in mind I only have completed one linear algebra, calculus, probability/statistics and discrete mathematics unit)?

Thanks for reading,

Jack

EDIT: Quick question - is there any specific OS that I should learn? I currently am dual-botting ubuntu and windows 7 though want to buy a new computer soon.

 

[chaoticrambler]

You have plenty of time to pick and choose courses later on.
Right now, your focus should be on doing well in your chosen courses rather than any kind of self study.
If your university is any good, you should be having hard time absorbing all the courses you are taking already (and having any kind of life..).
Learning C++ over the summer though is not a bad idea.

Regarding choosing a major: A combination of math and CS will make you more employable in any industry imaginable.
Even if you don't chose the CS path, make sure you know at least ONE programming language very well. I find it hard to imagine that some people graduate college in "hard sciences/math/engineering" without doing any intensive programming work.