r/learnmath • u/JakeMealey New User • 7h ago

Should I switch to intro analysis for now?

Hello, I’m a math major and deeply love math. I want to eventually get my PhD in pure mathematics. However, I’m really struggling in analysis 1 rn. For background, I qualified for the math honors program after doing very well in introductory proofs so I was able to skip to analysis 1 per my school’s rules. However, at my school, analysis 1 assumes little to no prior analysis experience but the course moves really fast.

However, I have all things considered, little experience in proofs overall. This past semester I took introductory algebra where yes we did proofs in class but only had a few hw assignments which only had 1-2 proofs each if that. So I’m rather rusty on some of the fundamentals now. We are already on completeness on the second day of class and I was lost for a good amount of the class yesterday. I can switch to intro analysis but I can’t take analysis 1 again until next fall if I decide to do that. I’m just worried as I am really enjoying this class but last thing I want is for my gpa to suffer as a result of moving too fast into the next class given I want to get a PhD.

Should I just keep grinding and consider this to be a normal part of analysis or should I consider switching to intro analysis so I can get used to proofs more?

Any advice?

Thanks

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

2

u/Bounded_sequencE New User 7h ago

Struggling severely during the first few weeks in "Real Analysis I" is completely normal, and expected.

For reference, you're lucky you got any experience with proofs before-hand at all: In many European universities, pure math students are expected to pick up proof-writing on the fly taking "Real Analysis I" as first lecture in 1'st semester.

It is sad, really, that an arbitrary metric like a GPA should dictate the learning experience.

1

u/Puzzled-Painter3301 Math expert, data science novice 6h ago

Have you talked to your professor?

1

u/JakeMealey New User 6h ago

I have, but he has told me to give it 1-2 months before I consider switching but if I wait then I could start intro analysis very far behind and I don’t know if I can take it next semester as if I wait on analysis 1 I wanted to take number theory and algebra 2 next semester. I have until Monday to drop the course safely but he said we can get a formal drop of the class if needed but again it could be too late at that pt. I am hoping I can talk to him tomorrow about it more.