Pure Math - Advice on developing strongest app possible

Graduate School
1

<p>Hello there,</p>

<p>Trite as it may be, I feel compelled to state the following: My circumstances are a bit unusual, and so the request for advice on how to present the strongest application for pure mathematics graduate school programs.</p>

<p>A very brief context: I'm older than the typical undergraduate student; currently 26, and it will likely be another couple of years before I'm actually applying to graduate school. The reason being that I obtained a B.A. in English Literature at the "typical" undergrad age, and recently returned to school with a desire to study math. The aforementioned "couple of years" will be finishing a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics (at a state institution that does have a graduate school, but no real reputation to speak of). </p>

<p>Now, I've read Dr. Krantz's A Mathematician's Survival Guide, and Dr. Stewart's *Letters To A Young Mathematician<a href="though%20I%20was%20a%20bit%20hyper-conscious%20of%20the%20glaring%20'Young'%20in%20the%20title">/i</a>. I have a decent idea of what is required of a strong application to grad school but, even so, I'd very much appreciate some suggestions.</p>

<p>I realize that good grades and test scores are simply the first tier of a strong application. From what I've read, letters of recommendation and research can be incredibly important factors. I'm a little bit apprehensive about this because one (LOR) seems to frequently follow another (research experience), and often research experience comes from REUs. I am concerned that, both because of my age and the fact that I already have an undergraduate degree, I would either not be welcomed by any REU programs or, if accepted, I would be alarmingly out of place. </p>

<p>So, a synopsis in the form of a barrage of questions:</p>

<ul>
<li>Would I (possibly) be welcome by any REUs?</li>
<li>If not, are there any good alternatives to obtaining research experience? (Working with a willing professor at my UG institution, senior thesis, etc.?)</li>
<li>What is the best way to go about getting strong letters of recommendation?</li>
<li>How do graduate courses factor into an application? If I were to take some graduate courses prior to applying, would that significanly strengthen an application? If so, would it be worth delaying my application by a semester or two to allow for the completion of more of those courses?</li>
<li>Are there any other less traditional methods of strengthening an application that I've neglected to mention? (Legal and moral methods, of course.)</li>
</ul>

<p>Thanks, in advance, very much.</p>

2

<p>I’m not an expert, but as I understand it:</p>

<p>1) Take as many graduate classes as possible and get A’s in them. Lots of people who go to great PhD programs start graduate course sophomore/junior year or so. You’re not going to be able to do much meaningful research in pure math, so graduate classes and your peformance in them is important.
2) Do as many REU programs as you can. You can e-mail some to make sure you’re eligible.
3) Talk to your professors about your goals and how you can get to where you want to be. The only way to get good LORs is to develop relationships with professors–office hours, independent study, research, etc.</p>

3

<p>Treat yourself like any other undergrad math major. Age doesn’t matter- you’re still young as well. Definitely study calculus for the math GRE when the time comes- note the high percentage of questions in this area of math.</p>

4

<p>You would not qualify for NSF-funded REUs because you have already finished an undergraduate degree (albeit in a different subject). You can probably find professors at your own university who are happy to supervise a summer research project.</p>

5

<p>My sincere thanks to those of you that responded to this. It’s a bit disappointing to find that I am not eligible for NSF REUs, and it makes me slightly anxious to think that my LORs and any research experience I get will have to come exclusively from my undergraduate institution. I’d be less concerned if it had any reputation to speak of, but I’m afraid that it does not. Nevertheless, it’s good to know this now so that I can try to make the best of the situation.</p>

<p>Will the duration of my undergraduate studies be a factor? I know that’s a difficult question to answer (unless you happen to be on a graduate admission committee), but I’m wondering specifically as it pertains to taking graduate classes while still an undergraduate. When I read Steven Krantz’s A Mathematician’s Survival Guide: Graduate School and Early Career Development he offered similar advice regarding graduate classes. He downplayed, slightly, the importance of undergraduate research for students interested in pure mathematics graduate school, due to the unlikelihood of developing publishable results, and instead advocated the taking of graduate classes. </p>

<p>My question, then, would be this: would it be wise to extend my undergraduate studies to complete some graduate classes? Having those courses on my transcript would certainly be a help, but how does it appear if one’s undergraduate studies are extended past the typical duration? Is that even a consideration?</p>