<p>I'll be applying to graduate school for mathematics next fall and am trying to get some advice and hopefully someone whose gone through this process recently (Math/CS/Physics) could offer wisdom. First I've heard a few things from a few sources and perhaps someone could let me know if these are fact or fiction:</p>
<p>1) GPA is not as important as letters of rec, GPA in MATH courses, and statement of purpose.
2) GRE isn't used for much beyond simply ruling out very low scores and pushing ahead high scores, i.e average scores aren't going to help or hurt you.
3) A high score on the Putnam is much better than a high GRE</p>
<p>Also, I know schools like Princeton, MIT, etc only accept 5 or so applicants a year so they are pretty much off the list for me. I've been looking seriously into NYU however. Does anyone know about their Math PhD admissions standards are? How many do they admit versus how many applicants? Is it geared toward discrete or applied math? </p>
<p>I've also heard City University of New York has a good PhD program (I'm a bit hung on NYC grad programs :), but I can't figure out much from their website. Anyone?</p>
<p>I'm in my third year at Georgia Tech, my overall GPA is 3.25 but my major GPA (MATH/CS/ECE) is a 3.67, I haven't taken GRE yet. I'm pretty set in doing work in Analysis and some coding theory. I'm a US citizen which I've heard helps as they do not recieve a big number of PhD applicants who are citizens and are looking to increase that number.</p>
<p>1) They're both important, but if you had to choose just one, it's better to have the other stuff and a low GPA. Research experience is also a must for top programs - they get so many applicants that they can afford to admit people with top GPAs on top of everything else.
2) Yes, GRE scores are just used for cutoffs, and a high score won't help you, but a score lower than 780-800Q will hurt you, since 800Q = 91st percentile overall and 80th percentile for math/science/engineering applicants.
3) Yes, since GRE scores aren't very important. The Math subject GRE would also be helpful to distinguish yourself.</p>
<p>NYU's math PhD program is very selective; in fact their applied math program is widely considered #1 along with MIT. US News ranks the NYC math programs as follows: NYU #10, Columbia #13 (applied math #33), CUNY #34 (applied math #47).</p>
<p>What kind of schools do you think I'd have a chance at? I am doing an honors major in math at Wisconsin. I will graduate having taken:
2 semesters algebra
2 semesters analysis
2 semesters topology
2 grad classes in algebra</p>
<p>I don't have much research experience yet but I just got involved in a project this semester.
I am getting a 2nd major in CS.
Will graduate with about a 3.5</p>
<p>Hi, James. Well, it depends on your strengths if you ask me. For instance, if algebra and algebraic geometry is your area (and you can demonstrate that), then I think applying for schools like Berkeley and Harvard makes more sense than, say, going to colleges like Purdue or UIUC (more known for analysis, I think). Anyway, best of luck for your application to grad sch.</p>
<p>HI .
I am a computer science graduate . I wish to do PHD in mathematics ( analyis ) .I would be writing gre in sep and apply for the next fall(2006) . From the previous messages, i could make out the importance of projects to get admission . Can u provide the information related to how a project in math is taken ?.Means do i need to work with a prof or take a problem and submit to someone ( if so , to whom ) ?.I am a software engineer and so i have no connection with the academia.</p>
<p>Hi, Kishore, since you are a computer science graduate, I am not sure whether is it still possible for you to work on a math project under the supervision of a prof. Did you write a senior honors thesis for your computer science degree? And if so, what's the topic and how's is it related to Analysis? If there's a strong connection, you might want to highlight that in your application. If you are still in your senior year, check with the math department in your university to see if cross-disciplines research projects can be submitted in place of modules (check with the admin office). Best of luck!</p>
<p>Ask your advisor or someone distinguished in your field to call the departments you are applying to and convince them to accept you. One phone call opens the door for you.</p>
<p>I'm a 2nd year math major at GaTech (gt06 ...I think I know you)...and I'm in a dilema:</p>
<p>Abstract (my philosophy):</p>
<p>I think... that doing research by yourself is much more potent than doing organized research with a professor because you have more autonomy to fluctuate between various disciplines and improve yourself because YOU want to, and not to impress the MIT grad school admission guy (or girl nowdays). Furthermore, only recently have we seen 'team' fields medalists and I do believe in teamwork but not at this level (undergrad), because professors are more concerned with themselves and the people with whom they publish their papers. </p>
<p>My case:</p>
<p>I'm thinking of working on several unsolved problems next summer rather than do undergrad research. I think that I could crack at least one. But that would require absolute concentration and no distractions.</p>
<p>I know about this Junior at MIT of Romanian origin that cracked a couple of unsolved problems (some were proposed around 50 years ago) and he is getting international recognition for his accomplishments. </p>
<p>My goal would be to have my solutions published by the AMS or in math Journals (like Duke...). I heard that they also publish interesting propositions.
I'm sick of learning the tarditional way. I want to be like Grothendieck...independent and determined.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, there is a risk associated with this endeavor. If I don't succeed, then I'll be left with only one semester of research experience (freshman year in Graph Theory) for my grad school application before graduating. I'll be taking classes this summer and so I won't be able to do much "traditional" research because I need to concentrate on getting good grades. </p>
<p>I was admitted for a grad program at Baylor University in Texas for Fall 2005. They offered me a TA with 18K stipend. Since this university is not best in math, I am thinking about transfering to some better school since I heard that a grad school ranking is important. Do you think it is worth it? I am curious what is important when transferring? What can you do to transfer better?</p>
<p>I'm going to be a freshman in college next fall and I was wondering how hard it is to get involved in research as an undergrad, how early you can start, and how exactly to start. can anyone help?</p>
<p>If you're looking to do research in math, you should take real analysis as soon as possible to get the theoretical proofs background you need. If you're a typical math major who took AP Calculus BC in high school, this can easily be done during your freshman year. You can start by approaching professors whose classes you aced, and asking them to supervise an independent study project for you. After you take more math classes, you will start to get an idea of what area interests you more, and you may choose to switch professors.</p>
<p>what would the independent study project be like?</p>
<p>and i wouldn't think it would be easy to real analysis your freshman year? don't most people still have to go through calc 3 and diff eq? i did those this year in high school.. but i think i'd still like to repeat diff eq and linear algebra because i didn't learn much...</p>
<p>would real analysis be necessary for those?</p>
<p>Real analysis typically has a prerequisite of calc 3, so you could take it spring of freshman year along with diff eq. Technically, you only need calc 2 to do real analysis, since all you're doing is proving the theorems found in single-variable calculus, but a certain mathematical maturity is appropriate.</p>
<p>I would not recommend taking real analysis your first semester, because it would be good to get a feel for college classes first. I'd say you could take linear algebra and differential equations in the fall, then take real analysis (and perhaps abstract algebra also) in the spring. Then you could start doing research sophomore year.</p>
<ol>
<li>Basic Analysis I. (M, QID) QS, W Topology of Rn, continuous functions, uniform
convergence, compactness, infinite series, theory of differentiation, and integration. Not
open to students who have had Mathematics 139. Prerequisite: Mathematics 104.
Instructor: Staff. One course.</li>
<li>Basic Analysis II. (M, QID) QS Differential and integral calculus in Rn. Inverse and
implicit function theorems. Further topics in multivariable analysis. Prerequisite:
Mathematics 104; Mathematics 203, or 139 and consent of instructor. Instructor: Staff.
One course.</li>
</ol>
<p>Is that what you mean when you say real analysis?</p>
<p>I didn't see anything in the math handbook about that rule, only that the prerequisite is four semesters of calculus and linear algebra. If you really can't take 203, you could take 139 instead.</p>