Math Grad School Chances- yet another thread

<p>Due to some medical issues, my first two years of college tanked. My overall gpa is now 3.38, and math is 3.44, with many withdraws on my record leading into a leave of absence.</p>

<p>Pre-Leave:
Intensive One-Var Calc: NCR
Multivariable Calculus: C+
Linear Algebra: B-
Number Theory: B</p>

<p>Post-Leave:
Abstract Algebra: A-
Probability and Elementary Statistics: A
Combinatorics and Graph Theory: A
Algebraic Number Theory: B+
Analysis 1: A
Advanced Combinatorics: A</p>

<p>To take:
Cryptography
Analysis 2 and/or Complex Analysis</p>

<p>Extracuricular: 3 semesters of TAing and Tutoring</p>

<p>Recs: two very good ones, one tbd</p>

<p>Research: 1 year under a moderately known prof plus this coming semester
1 summer under another prof at my college
No publications save an acknowledgement from sophomore year.</p>

<p>Awards: hopefully will graduate with honors in the math major, no other awards.</p>

<p>I’ll tell you what I tell everyone: Talk to your professors. They know more about grad school admissions than most of the people that use this website. </p>

<p>Grad school is not like undergrad. You can’t just post your statistics and have a bunch of 20-year-olds guess if you’ll get in. It’s more personal, more focused, and entirely dependent on the quality of your work - which we have no access to.</p>

<p>It’s good that you’ve improved, though, and as long as you keep that up I think you’ll get into a good graduate school for math. </p>

<p>Some advice: It would probably be a good idea to take a topology class and/or a set theory class, and I think you should take Analysis 2 AND Complex Variables/Analysis/whatever your department calls it.</p>

<p>As snickers412 suggests, the grad application process is much more personalized than undergrad and the admissions committee will look way beyond the numbers. They are far more concerned about your performance in upper-level third and fourth year courses than they are in your freshman or sophomore courses. Strong LOR’s can also help overcome your initial performance.</p>

<p>Be certain to include an explanation for your turnaround in performance in order to draw their attention to the fact that you have improved considerably. Normally this explanation would be part of your SOP, but could be included separately. Your LOR might also refer to your turnaround.</p>

<p>As long as you have a strong performance in your final year, I don’t think that your poor initial grades will substantially impair your grad school possibilities.</p>