Erin Burdwood
Year Graduated: 2012
First Job (or school):
University of Delaware, doctoral program in clinical psychology
Special Recognitions:
Louise W. Robertson, M.D. scholarship; Psi Beta Chi; Phi Beta Kappa; graduated summa cum laude.
Favorite Course:
Differential Equations, Abstract Algebra I/II.
Memorable Experiences in the Classroom:
Any of Dr. Collier’s math jokes! Classes with Dr. Chiang are always fun, too.
Memorable Experiences Outside the Classroom:
All of the late/sleepless nights studying and working on projects! It sounds unpleasant (and definitely felt unpleasant at times!), but there’s such a great sense of community and “shared suffering” among math majors that I actually miss those nights now that I have to study by myself!
Why Should Somebody Study Mathematics at UMW?
A math background really does give you an edge in virtually any field of study. What you learn in the math major is not just math – it’s how to approach problems, think critically, and work (very!) hard. Even in psychology, an area pretty far removed from mathematics, I notice my math background helping me in many ways, from getting grad school interviews to general problem solving. I really had a great experience with the math major, and couldn’t have asked for better classes, teachers, or classmates!