When I first entered Harvard, I did not know what I wanted to study. 

I thought I would study something in the biological sciences because I have always been interested in the sciences. So during my first semester at Harvard, I took all biology and chemistry courses. In fact, I even took a Statistics for Psychology course to fulfill my quantitative requirement at Harvard because I did not want to take any math courses here.  

However, as much as I enjoyed my science courses that semester, there was something missing. I wasn’t completely fulfilled and I could not see myself pursuing science for my post-grad studies. So I pivoted completely and took math and computer science courses during my second semester here. I took Harvard’s infamous Introduction to Computer Science course, CS50, and Multivariable Calculus and instantly fell in love with the content. 

This was my first time taking a computer science course and to say it was difficult was an understatement. I remember spending hours trying to debug my code and completing my assignments. It definitely was a learning curve trying to think like a coder and a computer scientist. But every time I successfully finished an assignment, there was an instant gratification; a sense of accomplishment. A coder’s high, if you will. 

I also loved my Multivariable Calculus course. In high school, I used to hate math because I thought I was not good at it. But after coming to Harvard and taking math courses again, I fell back in love with math. Harvard taught me to appreciate math and the various ways it can be applied to learn more about the world around us. 

Now with sophomore year around the corner, I was faced with the decision of declaring my major. What would I study? What was I most passionate about? What do I want to do with my degree after I graduate? 

Unfortunately, I did not have answers to any of these questions. One thing I did know from exploring a wide range of courses my first year was that I really enjoyed math and computer science. So I just had to figure out how I was going to bring together my two interests into one concentration. 

And that’s when I discovered Applied Math. Applied Math is one of the 50 concentrations Harvard College offers. Pursuing a degree in Applied Math means becoming a mathematician and a practitioner at once. 

The unique thing about this concentration is that it allows you to combine mathematics with a subject area of your interest. There are over 15 areas of application you can select from.  

Since I was interested in computer science, I declared my concentration as Applied Math with a focus in Computer Science. And I have not looked back since. 

Applied Math gave me the flexibility to explore the theoretical math courses while applying my mathematical knowledge to my field of interest. It allowed me to take courses in math, computer science, and statistics, giving me a well rounded education and a fulfilling learning experience. 

So if you are someone who is interested in math and enjoys flexibility when it comes to concentration requirements, make sure to check out the Applied Mathematics department at Harvard!