Top Math Grad Schools - What seems to make the cut?

Graduate School
21

<p>"Some of students don't even take the mandatory grad courses because they already took a full 2 year sequence of grad courses as an undergrad."</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure this happens at most grad schools in the top tier or two.</p>

<p>"If you aren't even the top student at your school, really, what are your chances at the top 5?"</p>

<p>Lots of the really good undergrad schools have multiple people accepted to the top 5 schools in a given year.</p>

<p>"OK, first off, I don't think people who've taken a million grad courses are necessarily "more amazing," and way above the level of people who didn't. Part of the deal is they probably had more time, decided they want to study math earlier."</p>

<p>Hush, you. My millions of grad courses are one of the good things I've got going for me =P.</p>

<p>"I think people who're in the "overall prestige mode" will automatically drop out of mathematics, and won't develop Harvard/MIT caliber applications anyway."</p>

<p>Think again. One of my friends applied for programs in math, economics, and business, and just chose the most "prestigious" one that accepted him. Even though he didn't have research experience (it's difficult for internationals to get funded REUs), he still got accepted to Chicago and waitlisted at MIT for math.</p>

<p>"Geez I'm just trying to get into Rutgers or UCSD, what do you think constitutes a good application for those maybe second tier schools?"</p>

<p>Wait a few months and I'll let you know if what I have constitutes a "good application".</p>

22

<p>Now, on to actual advice about research.</p>

<p>First of all, the AMS has a big list of summer REU programs (Research</a> Experience for Undergraduates Summer Programs). I think it's pretty much a comprehensive list of REU programs open to all students. I know Michigan has an REU program that's not listed because it's just for Michigan students, so you should check to see if your home institution has something similar. </p>

<p>Many REU programs are specialized into one area, so it's good to have an idea about what you're going to want to spend a whole summer thinking about. The best REU programs aren't always associated with the top schools, and you don't necessarily need to go to the best REU programs. For example, the University of Minnesota-Duluth's REU program on combinatorics is highly competitive, and mostly filled with people from Harvard/Princeton/MIT. My friend at Columbia did both of his at Michigan, and my friend that's at Princeton did one of his at UNC-Greensboro. </p>

<p>They can vary a lot in rigor and involvement. The time-frame is usually 6-8 weeks. For the one at UNC Greensboro, they made you come in every day from 9-5, or at least something close to that. Some programs like Penn State and Duluth have lots of outings involving all of the students. The one at Michigan is very relaxed and independent. All I had to do was meet up with my adviser once a week, and besides that I was on my own. It's worth taking some time to look through them, and find a couple to apply to that would suit you.</p>

<p>As for how to get in the research mindframe, one of the biggest things is discipline. During the semester, you have lots going on, and it forces you to adhere to a schedule and stay focused on getting things done. When you have nothing to do but research, it can be very easy to put things off. A post-doc at Minnesota told me he actually got more research work done during semesters where he had to teach as opposed to the ones where he was just doing research.</p>

<p>Another thing that's different about research is the fact that you're not always just trying to prove things, but you're also trying to find things that are worth proving. You might find yourself spending far more time guessing and checking, thinking of counterexamples, or using computers to generate data than you actually spend trying to prove things.</p>

23

<p>"Think again. One of my friends applied for programs in math, economics, and business, and just chose the most "prestigious" one that accepted him. Even though he didn't have research experience (it's difficult for internationals to get funded REUs), he still got accepted to Chicago and waitlisted at MIT for math."</p>

<p>Well, what I meant was more in terms of philosophy of studying math. Even math professors have told me to heed prestige to an extent, just because it can help carry you in the future. I was responding to the above poster, on the grounds that I think, to really MAKE IT in academic math, a small part of which is the grad school process, you need to have some strong feelings for math...OK fine, maybe you can make it to good grad schools, but I think you'll hate your life in grad school if you just went for the prestige! </p>

<p>"I'll just make one more point--the professor who told you that you should go to a top school if you can get into one is expressing one view. It is a fairly common opinion but by no means the final word on the topic. My own adviser feels very, very strongly that you should not go to the best school you can get into. Getting a job will actually be HARDER if you were at a top school and barely staying alive, than if you were a star at a weaker school, building a great CV. You've mentioned how much you want to enjoy your studies--this indicates to me that you will not be very happy at one of those insanely difficult top-tier programs."</p>

<p>Rezpane, I will hardly gloss over your reasoning. It seems well thought out, and I will remain wary of my opinion of top schools. I do hope going to a top school wouldn't preclude enjoying my work though!! Whatever, firstly I guess I have no idea what school I'll go to anyway. =]</p>

<p>And dillsky, thank you - this addresses quite a bit of what I was considering.
OK, now the only thing I have to get myself to do is DO some research. If I can manage to do something in the sort of stuff I like best, it'd be awesome. Oh and...
I'm sure your grad courses will do you plenty of good. A grad student told me that I myself should have a good application because of the classes I'm taking, just because Berkeley's grad department is already quite reputed, and the courses that appear can carry some weight (hefck, I'm just praying he's right). You know, I'm not discounting that they'll be great to look at on an application, just that the above poster seemed to be overly alarmed about them. ;)</p>