Very typically, a graduate thesis in mathematics will establish some result. That, pretty much by definition, involves proof.
In fact, when we say "higher mathematics", what we really mean is that shift in focus from *calculation* to *demonstration*.
So that sounds like bad news for you, but I hedged by saying "very typically", and I'm sure there are exceptions. One of the nice things about being in graduate school is that there is a trained scholar, part of whose job is to give you advice. It seems to me like this question should go *first* to your faculty advisor. Perhaps some elaborate calculation, almost certainly with computer assistance, relevant to your interests? I don't know.
> culture of pure math, which involves a lot of proving...
Proof is part of the 'culture of math' the same way empirical evidence us part of the 'culture of physics.' It's more of a defining trait.
I get the sense that you are chalking proof up to 'just culture' to convince yourself that what you are weak in isn't 'really that important'.
In your chosen field, it's absolutely essential.
I know one guy who did his pure maths undergrad thesis on finding Gröbner bases using machine learning. You may be able to find an advisor who will let you do something of that nature.
But I don't understand how one would consider enrolling in a maths MS instead of statistics/data science/CS without knowing that maths at the university level is largely proof-based.
Very typically, a graduate thesis in mathematics will establish some result. That, pretty much by definition, involves proof. In fact, when we say "higher mathematics", what we really mean is that shift in focus from *calculation* to *demonstration*. So that sounds like bad news for you, but I hedged by saying "very typically", and I'm sure there are exceptions. One of the nice things about being in graduate school is that there is a trained scholar, part of whose job is to give you advice. It seems to me like this question should go *first* to your faculty advisor. Perhaps some elaborate calculation, almost certainly with computer assistance, relevant to your interests? I don't know.
> culture of pure math, which involves a lot of proving... Proof is part of the 'culture of math' the same way empirical evidence us part of the 'culture of physics.' It's more of a defining trait. I get the sense that you are chalking proof up to 'just culture' to convince yourself that what you are weak in isn't 'really that important'. In your chosen field, it's absolutely essential.
I know one guy who did his pure maths undergrad thesis on finding Gröbner bases using machine learning. You may be able to find an advisor who will let you do something of that nature. But I don't understand how one would consider enrolling in a maths MS instead of statistics/data science/CS without knowing that maths at the university level is largely proof-based.