Math Grad School Prep and Chance of Acceptance

Graduate School
1

<p>Considering there is not a chances forum for grad school...</p>

<p>Would I be able to get into a grad school for applied math?</p>

<p>By the time I graduate, I would must likely have a 3.4-3.5 gpa in my upper div math classes (around 3.5-3.6 if lower div classes are included) and a 3.6 overall. Currently, I have a 3.1 gpa in my upper div math classes (around 3.2 if lower div math classes are included) and a 3.38 overall. My university is a top 25 undergrad and in the top 50 of math grad schools.</p>

<p>Classes I've taken so far:
Lower Div:
Calculus II A-
Calculus III B+
Linear Algebra B</p>

<p>Upper Div:
Intro to Probability Theory: C
Number Theory (Withdrew)
Statistics B+
Ordinary Differential Equations (Dynamical Systems) A</p>

<p>I will take Analysis I, Analysis II, Advanced Linear Algebra, a reading course on Dynamical Systems using a grad text (Guckenheimer and Holmes), Abstract Algebra (on my last semester), and possibly 1-3 grad courses (such as grad Numerical Analysis, grad Real Analysis, or another grad courses). If possible, I might be taking Complex Analysis online through University of Wisconsin and an Engineering Math Course (on PDEs) at my university.</p>

<p>Research Experience:
Summer 2010 REU in Mathematical Biology- created research project, which was presented in undergrad research poster presentation at the Joint Math Meetings
Planned- Undergrad senior thesis on ODEs/Dynamical Systems (either applied or theoretical based) with professor during Spring 2012
Planned- Hopefully, will participate in Summer 2012 REU or taking grad courses through SMI in Italy or through AARMS in Canada.
Hopefully, I can publish my senior thesis in an undergrad research journal and present a potential, future REU project at a research conference.</p>

<p>Awards:
Bank of America Scholarship Recipient
Scholarship through my university
Received travel funding from the MAA to fly to the Joint Math Meetings</p>

<p>Currently, I will be taking Analysis I P/NP at Berkeley during the summer to prepare for Analysis at my university during the Fall. The professor teaching Analysis I at my university during the Fall gave me my lowest math grade. I'm a bit rusty at writing proofs, so that is why I will be Analysis I at Berkeley during the summer.</p>

<p>I am mainly interested in Mathematical Biology and Ordinary Differential Equations, but I am open to other subfields of applied math.</p>

<p>Do I have a chance of getting into an Applied Math PhD program at universities, such as Boston University, Texas A&M, or even Duke and Utah for Fall 2013 admission?</p>

2

<p>Any opinions or suggestions on my chances of getting into the grad schools I listed? Is there anything I should do to prepare for grad school? Should I take Topology?</p>

<p>By the way, the Ordinary Differential Equations class I took was upper division leveled and it used an advanced undergrad/first year graduate textbook. It analyzed nonlinear differential equations through phase planes, bifurcations, limit cycles, the Poincare-Bendixson Theorem, etc. The class also covered Symbolic Dynamics and the Smale Horseshoe.</p>

3

<p>Based on your actual applied math grades your projections seem a tad generous.</p>

<p>You’ve finished fairly easy applied math upper level courses. (ODE’s and stats are fairly easy courses)</p>

<p>PDE’s, Complex analysis, Analysis I and II, and Advanced Linear Algebra are all much harder than the courses you have taken. Getting A’s in those courses is a lot harder.</p>

<p>I would try to re-take probability theory to get rid of the C grade. Because that is going to hurt your major GPA.</p>

4

<p>A lot of math schools also ask for the subject specific Math GRE, so you also have to worry about that.</p>

5

<p>Math graduate school admissions basically comes down to three things: the quality of your letters of recommendation, grades in upper-level courses and the math subject GRE. You have a full year to work on each of those areas. Good luck!</p>

<p>

It wouldn’t hurt, but it’s not pivotal for applied math. Real analysis touches on the same concepts (in the “special case” of subsets of Euclidean space) and you probably won’t need the full abstract theory for applied math. Focus on real analysis and linear + abstract algebra first. </p>

<p>If you haven’t already, I would strongly encourage you to take a few computer science classes. Basic programming skills are indispensible, and you might benefit from upper-level courses on algorithms or scientific/high-speed/parallel computing.</p>

6

<p>Is abstract algebra really that important for applied math? It’s hard to find substantiated opinions on these types of things.</p>

7

<p>No, not really. That class would be an elective.</p>

<p>Normally for upper level applied you do:</p>

<p>Vector Analysis
PDE’s
Complex Analysis
ODE’s
Linear Algebra
Stats course
Numerical Analysis (This is normally the Math computer course w/ Matlab)
Analysis Class</p>

<ul>
<li>electives (Topology, Abstract Algebra, non-linear ODE’s/PDE’s etc…)</li>
</ul>

8

<p>There are areas of applied math that build on abstract algebra (coding theory or cryptography come to mind), others where it doesn’t seem to be used, and just about anything in between. We have an applied mathematician in our department who doesn’t know what a cyclic group is and it doesn’t seem to hold him back. On the other hand, it won’t hurt to think about permutations and the group isomorphism theorems for a little while - they seem to crop up all over the place! A semester-long abstract algebra course won’t go into too much depth and some exposure to algebraic concepts might be good for general mathematical maturity.</p>

<p>For a more pragmatic reason, applied math programs seem to be rather fond of students with a pure math background.</p>

9

<p>I go to a quarter school, and each quarter of the Algebra sequence covers one of Groups, Rings and Fields (using Dummit and Foote if that matters). There’s also an “Algebra for Applications” class, but it looks like it’s as much a cryptography/computing class as an Algebra survey course. This is probably something I should ask a professor about.</p>