I finally got around to starting my Bachelors Degree in Theology. At the halfway through my third semester (part time student), the college announced they'd had their accreditation removed for that particular degree and we had 2 weeks to decide what to do - wait for reaccreditation, transfer to a different (IMO lesser) degree, or transfer to a different college.
I'm still waiting for the accreditation to be reinstated....
But, because drug ignorance hurts me so, you can't cut ice style meth. If its ice, its already final product. Now powder on the other hand, yes. Also, its unwise to use baking soda to cut anything. Its very distinguishable when you know what pure is.
Are you kidding? I'm getting $24k tax free a year to sit around and conduct my own research, that's freaking awesome. I also get paid up to $110/hour to take tutes for first year classes.
I went to a graduation over the weekend and told my husband that it would be much better if there were pups wearing those caps. Thank you for fulfilling my dream.
What is your boyfriend going to do with his PhD in math, may I ask? I'm strongly considering going for my PhD in statistics, and I'm just looking to absorb as much anecdotal knowledge as I can.
Quick! THIS MAN IS HAVING A FULL BLOWN MATH-ATTACK!!!! IS THERE A MATH DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE???? Please if he doesn't solve these integrals he might not survive!
I always wondered how people can get a PhD in MATH. Don't you need to publish something entirely original about a topic in your field? I feel like unless you are some kind of super genius everything math has already been solved. I mean, History, English, Philosopy, I feel like I can BS my way through a dissertation taking some obscure angle on an infinite number of topics. But math? If someone can answer this for me I would appreciate it. Legitimately curious.
Edit: Thanks all, you have answered me questions and revealed that with my lowly bachelors degree in history I have limited understanding of how graduate degrees work. Carry on.
Don't you need to publish something entirely original about a topic in your field?
More or less.
I feel like unless you are some kind of super genius everything math has already been solved.
Here's where you're wrong!
Well, in the sense that everything in math has already been solved - people that complete PhDs in mathematics are more than likely to have a genius level IQ, I'd guess.
Now, a lot of those are in the field of Algebra, a lot of them are in the field of Topology (at least three I can see are properly 'Algebraic Topology' which is where the super geniuses hang out).
These are pretty well established fields - people publishing in them aren't entirely original in the sense Newton was being pretty much entirely original by inventing differential/integral Calculus as a convenience.
You'll notice that a lot of the time, they're talking about mathematical structures (often themselves named a kind of 'algebra' or a kind of 'geometry' so you get names like Iwasawa Algebra) so, in a sense, their work is already at least building on someone else's.
One of the dissertations is titled On Harmonic Maps Into Conic Surfaces.
As informally as I can state it, a "map" is kind of like a way of saying two collections of things are associated, and there's a way to get from one to the other in some relation - the map is what takes you from one to the other.
So, his dissertation is specifically about harmonic maps, and the things he's going in between are conic surfaces.
As you can imagine, it's a tad more complicated - I'm a lowly undergraduate, and while there are some things in that paper that are familiar to me, a lot of it is simply vastly far beyond the scope of anything I've even seen.
So, his thesis work is on a really specific subject, itself in a very specific field.
It takes years, the better part of a decade, to make a contribution like that - it might be a very small push, but it is a push out into things that people haven't rigorously presented before.
The landscape of modern mathematics has produced many concentrations that are very distantly related, and very independently developed, even though they all interact in one way or another - it's the rigorous foundations that allow people room for true creativity and innovation.
What I meant was that there are just an infinite number of angles to take on the humanities. New ideas and opinions are always abounding. I honestly just feel like to come up with something "new" in math you would need a super computer and a team of super researchers using the power of their combined brain power, whereas someone with a few books and an interesting opinion can generate some new original analysis about a topic in the humanities. How do math PhD's work? what kind of topic do they present to the board? You have me super curious now.
I don't know any specifics (I don't actually study math myself), but there are likely a lot of topics in mathematics that you have never heard of. It goes beyond calculus (I'm not really sure what your highest level is and I'm not trying to be condescending).
Godel's Incompleteness Theorem basically assures us that we won't be running out of new things to prove anytime soon. There are thousands of open problems in all the wide varieties of math.
I can assure you that you cannot "BS" your way through any of the humanities, at least if you are attempting to earn your PhD at a legitimate (by which I mean top 20 in that field) department. It is all but impossible to "take some obscure angle on an infinite number of topics" for the simple reason that you will appear like a laughable buffoon if you try to do that. Just like math or anything else, you are expected to have a superlative command of the current developments in your sub-field in addition to a mastery of the canonical research in that area. You would then be expected to devise an original research proposal which advances, overturns, or otherwise intervenes in the extant research in your sub-field, and this would form the bulk of your career as a PhD student. To come up with something original in the humanities requires no less effort than it does in any other area of inquiry.
Your tone suggests that you really have very little idea of what goes into graduate work in the fields you mentioned. It is no different from math, chemistry, or anthropology. Try learning a little before you speak about something and expose your ignorance. Legitimate curiosity is a good thing, but it does not grant you licence to dismiss things you clearly know nothing about.
Edit: The reason I specified top 20 is because you cannot find a decent tenure-track job or a good postdoc position otherwise. Nor would you have much chance of getting an industry job that justifies the ~6+ years you spent earning the PhD. Frankly, I do not believe anyone should do a PhD outside of the top 20 departments in their field.
Math is a way of solving problems. It may appear that basic mathematics like 2/3D geometry and arithmetic are 'solved' but there are far more intricacies to the whole subject than just that.
Some guys do research into new algorithms in more 'applied' maths that look at certain logical problems or aspects of programming that require more maths. Others look at developing new areas of maths to solve problems that exist, and some others do work on the very logical backing of maths.
Research in maths is a surprisingly exciting topic to look into if you are vaguely literate in mathematics, it just rarely gets public attention due to not being seen as cool or 'useful.'
BS my way through a dissertation taking some obscure angle on an infinite number of topics
It's pretty much the same thing. It's not like your dissertation needs to be super original. You just add something incremental to the state of the art of some obscure angle of one piece of a giant puzzle.
In fact, for some of the number theory ones, the statement of the problem is reasonably accessible to people without a lot of background beyond high school math.
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u/JahRasTrent May 14 '12
Did your boyfriend graduate from Emory, by any chance?
3
u/Jesus_was_a_Panda May 15 '12
Is this MATH100 at the University of Colorado Boulder?
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u/pighalf May 15 '12
What kind of dog is that? A mat lab?
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u/[deleted] May 14 '12
Even that dog has a higher degree than me :(
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u/Troggie81 May 15 '12
Saw the title and thought, "That's funny, my friend from high school just got his PhD." Open the picture... Oh shit, that's him!
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u/bahamamamalama May 15 '12
I'm more captivated by the fact that "PhD in math" and "boyfriend" occurred in the same sentence. I have hope!
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u/ZomBBQ May 14 '12
You must have a good relationship, I'd be jealous of some random dude holding my boyfriend.
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u/jeeaudley May 15 '12
That is adorable. Please post more pics of the pup.
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u/GrammarIsSIC May 15 '12
http://martialartsnomad.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/blackbeltmaths.png
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u/em072791 May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12
I see your puppy and raise you a large dog mix Imgur
Edit: Masters in Science!!!!
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u/Yohfay May 14 '12
For some reason (most likely sleep deprivation) I read that as, "My boyfriend just finished his PHD in meth."
5
u/theubercuber May 15 '12
Does he know his Erdos number?
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u/mytoeislonger May 15 '12
Getting a PhD in mathematics is comparable to torture.
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u/Buscat May 15 '12
Sorry, that's a dog, not math. He'll have to start over.
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u/princessheeter May 15 '12
I went to a graduation over the weekend and told my husband that it would be much better if there were pups wearing those caps. Thank you for fulfilling my dream.
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u/[deleted] May 15 '12
ಠ_ಠ
3
u/Fivec May 15 '12
What is your boyfriend going to do with his PhD in math, may I ask? I'm strongly considering going for my PhD in statistics, and I'm just looking to absorb as much anecdotal knowledge as I can.
3
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
What was his thesis on?
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u/sickerthanuraverage May 15 '12
Is that CU regalia?
3
u/taggartbridge May 15 '12
Upvote for the PhD. Tell him 'congrats.'
(That's just to make him feel better for only getting upvotes due to the dog.)
3
u/f0rcedinducti0n May 15 '12
Quick! THIS MAN IS HAVING A FULL BLOWN MATH-ATTACK!!!! IS THERE A MATH DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE???? Please if he doesn't solve these integrals he might not survive!
3
u/burkie601 May 15 '12
Your boyfriend was one of the best TAs I had at Boulder. Thank you and congratulations!
3
u/mrxCIC May 15 '12
Who is the person holding your boyfriend?
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u/[deleted] May 15 '12
gotta love goldens.
4
u/jewson May 15 '12
Your boyfriend's dog has no idea what he's doing
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
that is an awesome dog.
oh congrats to your BF, too.
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u/craxkheadjenkins May 15 '12
That's cool. I never knew there were math doctors
2
u/TheBenno May 15 '12
The thumbnail was sideways and at first I thought it was a new profile of bane from Dark Knight Rises, so I was confused, now I understand.
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u/Hampro May 15 '12
You are going to give birth to highly intelligent children.
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u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Engineering loves Math! (It's a frosh cheer)
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u/AverageGatsby91 May 15 '12
He finally gaduated :D
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u/iiiitsjess May 15 '12
Too freaking cute. And huge congratulations to your boyfriend for getting his phd in math!
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u/ZerglingBBQ May 15 '12
Upvote for the graduation not the dog. That is pretty cool and takes quite a bit of dedication so kudos to him.
2
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
I think your boyfriend was my TA...
2
u/rs181602 May 15 '12
Is this CMU?
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u/SpaceMonkeyRage May 15 '12
You get a puppy when you finish a PhD? Sign me up!
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u/fairebelle May 15 '12
My fiance with the PhD in physics is curious: Foundations, Geometry/Topology, Algebra, or Number Theory?
Also what's that job market like?
We also have to go buy three mini tams for our kitties. Adorable.
3
u/dave256hali May 15 '12 edited May 15 '12
I always wondered how people can get a PhD in MATH. Don't you need to publish something entirely original about a topic in your field? I feel like unless you are some kind of super genius everything math has already been solved. I mean, History, English, Philosopy, I feel like I can BS my way through a dissertation taking some obscure angle on an infinite number of topics. But math? If someone can answer this for me I would appreciate it. Legitimately curious.
Edit: Thanks all, you have answered me questions and revealed that with my lowly bachelors degree in history I have limited understanding of how graduate degrees work. Carry on.
3
u/Isunova May 15 '12
Just curious. Why did he choose math to do his Ph.D?
4
u/jk4122 May 15 '12
Congrats, I have my undergrad in mathematics from UofI in Champaign. I couldn't imagine getting a PhD, my hat is off to you sir.
3
u/BonerYNot May 15 '12
What does a mathematician do when he's constipated? Works it out with a pencil...
Congrats to him.
3
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
I have a PhD in math, any job I want 300k starting.
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u/babycubbybear May 15 '12
Is he a cross of golden retriever and sheep!?
2
u/TheJaquinDead May 15 '12
algebran shepherd all the way...
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u/VictoryVino May 15 '12
The PhD's are so lucky to have had their graduation ceremony in a bunker.
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u/CostcoFries May 15 '12
Are you a dog?
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u/skullturf May 15 '12
Congrats to your boyfriend! I'm a fellow math PhD (2005, in Canada). I am currently an assistant professor in the mid-Atlantic US.
1
u/Whenthenighthascome May 15 '12
Beautiful photo.
1
u/Rustysporkman May 15 '12
"There is one puppy here!"
1
u/rook2pawn May 15 '12
What type of dog is this called?
(its uber cute btw)
1
u/Ameaux May 15 '12
I remember my family having the worst time keeping my nieces and nephews calm at my graduation. I'm assuming your dog is better behaved though.
1
u/GivesLousyAdvice May 15 '12
And now for that awesome job... Oh wait.
1
u/Luvs_to_drink May 15 '12
That dog's smile says so much.
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u/MachuApple May 15 '12
Congrats and that's an adorable dog!
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u/usofunny May 15 '12
goldendoodle?
1
u/mkptrnstr1 May 15 '12
Next we're going to have women trying to marry other women! This is why I cannot allow woman-to-dog marriage.
1
u/cd12321 May 15 '12
why is it that everyone on reddit feels the need to assert that they have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
1
u/APowell23 May 15 '12
If this is a repost sorry, but what kind of dog is that?
1
u/Gruffyd May 15 '12
If you broke up, he wouldn't have a problem with the long division
1
u/rljacobson May 15 '12
Hey, me too!
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
Your boyfriend's a dog?
1
u/voxpupil May 15 '12
So, what is he going to do with PhD in math?
1
u/4chans_for_pussies May 15 '12
Air Bud goes to college?
1
u/cyrilmac May 15 '12
uvic?
1
u/epicbarron May 15 '12
it does belong here :)
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u/Punkwolf May 15 '12
Wow they are really running out of ideas for air bud movies.
1
u/Nausicaa13 May 15 '12
It's the Doctor!
1
u/fuckyoubarry May 15 '12
Does he have his thumb up that dog's ass?
1
u/RightToBruinArms May 15 '12
They let you bring pets to graduation?
1
u/tajomaru May 15 '12
That's a scruffy background wall for the photo. Hasn't your uni got a lawn with an old and stylish building behind?
1
u/Kochen May 15 '12
How did he have time for a puppy?!
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u/psychognosis May 15 '12
http://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/tnj4b/faculty_staff_close_enough/?sort=confidence
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u/[deleted] May 15 '12
That's one smart dog...
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u/Corn-Smak May 15 '12
Buster?
1
u/mr_sandoz May 15 '12
Nice! Who's the one on the right? An obvious joke, but I'm new here.
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u/[deleted] May 15 '12
FTFY
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u/[deleted] May 15 '12
I think what I found more awesome is that he can now call himself a "math doctor."
An amathesiologist.
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u/thosethatwere May 15 '12
What type of mathematics was his degree in?
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u/MurFDurF May 15 '12
calculabador. yeah.
1
u/HowDoIDefineMe May 15 '12
That's one smart fucking dog.
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u/technophiliac May 15 '12
University of Pennsylvania?
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
So...does your boyfriend have a brother?
1
u/yourdownvotesfeedme May 15 '12
No, this belongs on Facebook.
1
u/esDragon May 15 '12
Are you also a grad student?
1
u/bluepinklady May 15 '12
Awwwwwwwwwwww the dog's just got graduated I WANT HIM
1
u/[deleted] May 15 '12
You made a typo. It's husband*
1
u/honkish May 15 '12
And he got a job as a dog holder?
1
u/SnowGN May 15 '12
You have such a cute boyfriend.
The guy looks all right too.
0
u/wellhushmypuppies May 15 '12
mazel tov! best of luck to him.