math research for grad school

<p>Hey guys,
I just lined up a research gig for over the summer. I'll be doing 30 hrs/week of research for 8-10 weeks (haven't finalized the dates yet). I have a few questions about this in relation to math grad school:</p>

<p>1) Is it likely that we won't come up with something publishable at the end of our time together?</p>

<p>2) If we don't publish something, how valuable is having 300 research hours on an application to math grad school?</p>

<p>3) I've taken the calc sequence, linear algebra, and diff equations and am planning my courses for junior year. Is it true that your senior year courses/grades aren't seen by admissions committees? Having said that, I was thinking of doing the following schedule:</p>

<p>jr fall: probability, complex analysis
jr spring: stats, real analysis</p>

<p>I have to take abstract algebra for my undergrad math degree but is not having taken it before senior year a bad thing (because admissions won't see it)?</p>

<p>Thanks for any help you guys can offer,
Claymangs</p>

<p>Thats really cool that you managed to land such a gig. Congratulations!</p>

<p>I have taken all the classes you have taken + real analysis, abstract algebra and axiomatic set theory (A-all). Im in my sophomore year. I thought my math knowledge was no where near the level to do research. I guess I was wrong.</p>

<p>Well, I’m going to have to do a reasonable amount of background reading in this professor’s area of interest but he thinks there’ll be a way to close the gap.</p>

<p>Any responses to my questions?</p>

<p>i’m not the biggest expert, but i’ll bite:</p>

<p>1) it is possible, but it really depends on the type of project. from my experience and from what i gather from professors, there are no guarantees in (at least pure) math when it comes to whether a research project will produce something publishable. i am guessing that if it is more applied then that may increase your chances of getting something publishable, though i’m really not sure.</p>

<p>2) any research looks really good for grad school, even if you don’t publish. most programs (with the exception of maybe the top 5 or so) do not expect students to have published. the important thing is to work hard so that your adviser will be able to write a good letter for you.</p>

<p>3) most applications are due in january so you may have time to get your fall grades in. also, many applications ask what courses you’ll be taking in the spring of your senior year. abstract algebra is a really fundamental topic, and i think it is really important that the schools you apply to see that you did well in it. if you plan on going into pure math, abstract algebra is much more important than stats, probability, and (in my opinion at least) complex analysis, so you should have it take priority over them for your junior year courses.</p>

<p>Yeah there is time to get your fall grades to grad schools. The research experiece is a big plus for grad schools, publishing is great, but if you can even just present at a conference that would be fine.</p>