Since he was five, Mike Rolish has loved math. With a bachelor’s and master’s in computer science from MIT, he’s spent the last two decades as a software engineer at companies like Venmo and Bloomberg, where he’s done work he calls “math adjacent.”
Why IU Online?
“Professionally and intellectually, I was in a bit of a rut. I wasn’t being challenged; I wasn’t learning. I wanted to fill in math I hadn’t gotten to, within the structure of an educational program. You can read books or do self-study, but they lack the externally imposed structure that forces you to take a variety of classes, read, do homework, meet deadlines, and other things you might not want to do. I looked for online programs that offered analysis, abstract algebra, and number theory. But online undergrad programs in advanced math are hard to come by—a real niche. IU seemed the most reputable. It’s a Big Ten university that’s made a name for itself in online education. People had good things to say about it, and the curriculum offered exactly the classes I wanted.”
Math for fun benefits career
“About a year into the BS in Mathematics program, I started a software engineering job at a cryptocurrency tech startup. It’s very mathy. One of my first projects involved review of cryptography code, which used number theory, abstract algebra, and algebraic geometry—classes I’d just finished up! So these classes were professionally relevant. What started as more of a hobby has enhanced my career and put me in better intellectual shape—that was a goal.”
Impressed by IU professors
“My professors juggle a lot of responsibilities. They prepare lecture slides, develop homework assignments and exams, participate in multiple class discussion forums, provide detailed feedback in homework assignments, manage undergraduate research, and are still accessible when you need them. Kudos to them!”
“Professor Hannah Klawa, whom I’ve had for four classes so far, is great. Her domain is pure math, one of my main motivations for this program. She puts in a lot of effort—she’s active in discussion forums, responds to email, provides detailed comments in homework, all on complex material.”
Lively interactions with fellow students
“I was also surprised by the level of interaction in a virtual student body. This program attracts students from all over the world and of varying ages and skill levels. Many of my peers are working professionals with STEM backgrounds, taking math for fun, or for a career transition, as math is foundational for all STEM fields.”
“Ryan Dau, the math club president, is a student advocate for the program. We connected when he was putting together a study group using Michael Spivak’s famous Calculus text. Given the level of interest, he spun up a Slack server. It’s been a great networking opportunity. The math club officers are engaged and act as our liaisons with the faculty.”
“Discussion forums are an important way to focus on a given week’s material and get credit for it. I’ve enjoyed connecting with other students, built my own understanding of the material, and helped other students with their questions.”
“Must haves” in online learning
“I’ve benefited greatly from accessible faculty who are available via email and Zoom-based office hours; Supplemental Instructors who help with working through material; engaging discussion forums with students; and homework assignments where I get in-depth feedback. Even the auto-graded quizzes on Canvas help me verify I’ve got a handle on basic recall and problem solving. You can also get involved in undergraduate research opportunities, which I hope to take advantage of before I graduate.”
Fitting it in
“My plate is full. I work and have a two-year-old. I can’t be a full-time student. Taking seven classes last year was a bit too much. My IU Online academic advisor, Teresa Price, made it clear I could do this program at my own pace. I entered the program as a senior (my previous degrees covered general requirements and lower-level math), so I needed only 10 to complete the degree. But I want to take my time and take every class I’m interested in—at least five more.”
Online was the only way
“I’m from the East Coast and had spent my early- to mid-career on Wall Street. Now I’m in the Minnesota suburbs to be near my partner’s family. The mathematics curriculum lends itself well to online education and I can make it work with my schedule. I fit in some classwork during the day but tend to do a lot at night after our son is in bed. This wouldn’t have been possible without the flexibility of an online asynchronous program. Even night school would be impossible.”
“To thrive online you definitely need a degree of maturity and discipline. Discussions are important. I encourage people to budget their time, network with fellow students as much as possible, and engage with faculty if you need help. It takes a lot of work, but it’s been great and more than worth it for me. The IU Online BS in Mathematics is an excellent program with a lot of future potential.”
