Graduate degree in Math from an Undergraduate degree in another discipline

<p>I'm currently in an undergraduate program in Canada (Health Sciences) and I was wondering if I have a chance at graduate programs in math if I have enough math electives, a decent gpa, and (possibly) research experience.</p>

<p>I'm currently thinking of applying to an applied math program, although I'm interested in pure math too. What would I need to do to become competitive in order to get into the top 20 programs (at Ivy league universities)? What would the ideal applicant be, and would an undergraduate degree in another discipline be a detriment or a plus? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance for the input!</p>

<p>First of all, the best math programs aren’t all at Ivy Leagues. #1 is MIT. In the top 20 are also Stanford, Berkeley, Chicago, Caltech, UCLA, Michigan, NYU, Brown, Texas-Austin, Northwestern, Wisconsin-Madison, Minnesota, Rutgers, UCSD, UIUC, and UMD-College Park. So look outside the Ivy Leagues for math.</p>

<p>Second of all, you have better chances if you are looking at applied mathematics. Pure mathematics programs are extremely competitive and probably won’t look very favorably upon candidates who don’t have a math major, UNLESS they have the equivalent of a math major taken in courses after college OR unless that major was very heavily related to math (computer science for example). That’s usually about 10 courses, at least. Pure math isn’t the kind of field you can just walk into with a few post-college classes. Pure math would also require some research experience, as well, and some experience doing proofs or theory.</p>

<p>However, applied math is an entirely different story. There are many applied math programs that are tailored towards people who don’t have extensive math backgrounds, especially if you are interested primarily in an MS program. Usually they’ll require you to have take multivariable calculus and linear algebra, and perhaps a few other classes.</p>

<p>Depending on your needs, you may not need to go to a top 20 or Ivy League program, though. Math is in high demand right now and math MS holders can pretty easily find jobs as long as the program is reputable. You should explore inexpensive options for the degree, as well. For example, there is a public program in my home state in the top 25 (SUNY Stony Brook) as well as one in the top 40 (CUNY).</p>

<p>With a major in health sciences, you may also be interested in biostatistics programs.</p>

<p>Juillet, I want to go into a top 20 school because I want a future in academia. As well, can you elaborate on those “applied math programs”? You mentioned biostatistics, but what else can an individual with a strong background in Health Sciences pursue? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Well of course the best math programs aren’t all at Ivies - there are only so many of them. But they are ALL represented and highly. </p>

<p>Applied math the game gets a little more diverse where you start mixing the races, but the Ivies are still there. </p>

<p>As for what math you should pursue, what do you actually want to do? Do you want to do anything with your HEALTH SCIENCE degree? Doubtful you’d gain any entrance going the pure math route unless you’ve taking several upper division courses and have done well on the Math GRE (required). This all assumes you still want to stay within the Top 20 (which should NOT be precipitated on going into Academia - a degree from an "Ivy"ish school isn’t a prereq for a top teaching posting).</p>

<p>I second everyone that you will have a hard time applying to pure math programs without the equivalent of a math major as an undergraduate. Here’s what all of the successful applicants to top 20 math programs I have met have taken:</p>

<ul>
<li>the standard lower-level math sequence (single- and multivariable calculus, linear algebra)</li>
<li>the core courses for the major (real analysis, abstract algebra, topology)</li>
<li>a few undergraduate electives (e.g. complex analysis, PDEs, algebraic number theory, probability theory)</li>
<li>a few graduate-level courses concentrated in their main area of interest</li>
</ul>

<p>Alas, pure math isn’t terribly friendly to career changers…</p>