Chances at Top Math Programs

Graduate School
1

<p>My son will be applying this fall to some of the top programs in the country for pure math (algebra / number theory) - Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Stanford.</p>

<p>He has an excellent record studying pure math at Umich - 3.96 gpa, 3 summers of nsf research programs, published, spoke at a conference, high Putnam scores (39,40), Goldwater winner, Teaching assistance for Calc 295 last year and Calc 395 this year, GRE 580 verbal, 800 analytical, 5.5 writing.</p>

<p>Even with this record it sounds like it's almost impossible to get into these schools because they take so few each year. He'll get excellent recommendations, apply, and hope for the best.</p>

<p>My real question is ... Do you think schools like Chicago, UPenn, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers make good safety schools or should he have a 3rd tier of schools in mind?</p>

2

<p>I would take Chicago out of the safety column. It's math PhD program is up there with HPMS. My S is applying to math PhD programs as well. For the "safety" group he's looking at schools that have broad programs and are close to where he'd like to live.</p>