<p>I am an undergraduate student double majoring in Pure Mathematics and Computer Science. (I go to University of Waterloo in Canada in case anyone knows anything about it.)</p>
<p>I would like to pursue graduate studies in areas like set theory, mathematical logic, computational complexities, automaton theory, and language theory. I'm open to other areas of mathematics and computer science theory as well. </p>
<p>What I want to know is which field tends to be more competitive in terms of entering good Ph.D programs? (Assuming my qualifications are similar in both fields.)</p>
<p>My feeling is that the areas I want to end up working in is pretty much an overlap between math and CS anyway that it doesn't really matter what I go into in graduate school. </p>
<p>Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks!</p>
<p>I realized that I left my thought hanging with the second last sentence so let me clarify:</p>
<p>My feeling is that the areas I want to end up working in is pretty much an overlap between math and CS that as far as my career is concerned it doesn't really matter what I go into in graduate school. So I figure I should apply to the less competitive field. </p>
<p>You shouldn't really limit yourself to only one or the other. Look at schools that have good programs in the areas you're considering, and then see what policies the schools have. If you decide in advance only to apply to CS programs, you might miss out on a school with a math program that would really be a good match for you.</p>
<p>I agree that CS programs would be less competitive, but why limit yourself? Maybe your professors would write awesome letters and get you into some good math programs?</p>
<p>Well most of the schools I've looked at do not accept, from a single applicant, applications to multiple departments. So I figured I should probably decide on one.
Of course, I do have the option of applying to mathematics in some schools and computer science in others.
But as it stands now I'll only be able to take one GRE subject test. (Yea I missed the deadline for April. Shame on me.) So I should probably at least decide which department to apply to primarily. </p>
<p>A related question: If mathematics PhD programs are more competitive, is the prospect of obtaining a research position also better coming out of a mathematics PhD program?</p>
<p>One thing you might want to do is talk to the graduate directors of the math and CS programs at schools you're considering and just ask them which department would be better for your interests. Maybe not now, since they're extremely busy and probably don't have time for any extra communication, but sometime in April should be good because they'll be done evaluating this year's applications.</p>
<p>Additional things to consider are standby registration for an April subject test (I'm not sure how often that works, but I'd assume that they generally have an extra test laying around just to be certain that everything goes smoothly), and taking one test in November and the other in December (even though they say you should take the test by November, a lot of schools' application deadlines aren't until January and the scores generally get there pretty quickly).</p>
<p>I can't remember if you said where you go to school (and I don't have the window open now), but if your school has graduate programs in math and/or CS, you might want to talk to people in those departments about your situation. You might want to ask the graduate secretaries if scores from the December tests arrive in time to be accepted, as well ask asking professors if there's an easy general answer as to which department you should apply to if you had to choose (general = at all schools based on your interests; otherwise the hard answer is "you have to look at each schools' departments).</p>