Brandon Lunk

is there much point in majoring in math, now that the computers are better than us at math

If you want to major in math at an elite university, but all the knowledge you show up with is high school math and AP Calculus, and you’re not a genius, then you’re probably going to get your ass handed to you. High school math – even the “honors” track, even getting a 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam – often doesn’t accurately depict the level of background knowledge (especially proof-writing ability) that is assumed in serious math-major courses. It is not uncommon for elite university admits who are serious about majoring in math to graduate high school -- having already taken linear algebra & multivariable calculus and -- having already received plenty of exposure to proofs including inklings of real analysis (e.g., epsilon-delta limit proofs) and abstract algebra (e.g., structure of the additive & multiplicative groups of integers). These students make up such a tiny slice of the overall student population that you’re unlikely to encounter them as classmates in high school, but they do exist, and they’re going to be concentrated in the math-major classes at elite universities. Much of the content – or, at least, the overall way of thinking about it – will be familiar to them, and as a result, they'll have a far outsized ability to keep up with fast-paced, poorly-scaffolded instruction, even if they're not geniuses. If you’re not able to do the same, then the class is not going to slow down just for you. Not to mention, you’re going to feel dumb, which is going to severely impact your motivation.

Are men maybe too emotional for positions of leadership?

A lot of people seem to be treating this as if it were just a beef. But the underlying allegation is a very serious one. If it's true, Trump is surely going to have to resign.