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I just don't see the level of performance in math synonymous with what I experienced at the undergraduate level. I'm making a lot more errors on my assignments (which are worth more than exams here). My grades look like its all in the low B range (which honestly SUCKS at the grad level). I understand the material, after I made some mistake on my assignment (should be before, right). I do have deep interest in the material, and review it regularly. But a lot of the material is explained in such an abstract manner that I have no way of understanding or visualizing what the professor is trying to say. He is also not appreciative of answering questions worded in a non mathematical way. I feel like a doll in class, TBH. I just don't know how to deal with this . I'm a mechanical engineering grad student, but my department requires me to take this graduate math class.
In a graduate level math course (as with most graduate level courses in general) the idea is not that you get the answer right but that you have the ability to formulate a logical approach to solving the problem--even if your answer is technically wrong. Most real-life mathematicians do not bust out some old tried-and-true formula only to plug and chug. They think about the problem for days, weeks, or sometimes months-contemplating how to approach the problem not how to "solve" the problem. This makes more sense if you keep in mind that the answer itself is usually unknown. There is a lot of trial and error, too.
To be honest, I would be concerned about the graduate student taking a graduate level math course who is flying through it with ease. The fact that you are struggling is a good thing.
In a graduate level math course (as with most graduate level courses in general) the idea is not that you get the answer right but that you have the ability to formulate a logical approach to solving the problem--even if your answer is technically wrong.
When you go to work as an engineer, Adi, you'd better get this idea out of your head PDQ. If you don't get the correct answers, you're worse than useless.
Well, I know its hard. I'm not surprised about the difficulty, but level of abstractness. Thing is, many concepts have a bunch of statements and equations which follow a logical order, and all of a sudden he introduces a "then there exists a variable for all time".
However, the methodology to solve for that variable remains unclear, and he does not get into details of explaining that. I typically try & search for documentation outlining the procedure. Sometimes, I'm able to find a way to do it. But at other times I go around in circles and can't decipher how to find the variable of interest .
When you are in graduate school sometimes they cover more material each week than can be fully explained during class, and the expectation is you will learn it yourself before the next class. You need to rely on your fellow students or seek help outside the classroom, whatever you have to do teach it to yourself. Look at it as he's going to give you an overview of the concepts you need to master that week. He's not going to give you the step by step version because there is no time for that. And he's going to be way more focused on explaining the theory or concept behind things, than giving you formulas to memorize.
Often once you understand the internal logic in a discipline the rest flows more naturally anyway.
You were admitted because someone assessed you had the capacity to go this deep at this pace. It may take you a minute to get the hang of it but you will.
In graduate school, you don't need to fully understand everything, unless they are fundamental.
Sometimes, you can also start doing homework/project before you understand everything, and gradually you may see it.
I'm slowly starting to get a hang of it, but have not nailed down the concepts entirely. I'm doing non linear differential equations right now, and the qualitative analysis involved is insane.
OTOH, linear DE's are easy to characterize and very easy for me to understand. But most real life systems belong to the non linear case.
Youre in grad school at GA Tech and worried cause its hard?! Id hope so!! You aren't at some measly un accredited degree mill!
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. I'm a mechanical engineering grad student, but my department requires me to take this graduate math class.
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