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Comprehensive outline covering preparation, choosing schools, application details, and navigating the process of pursuing a mathematics graduate degree. Tips on academics, GRE exams, personal statements, transcripts, and letters of recommendation are provided.
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Applying to Graduate School in Mathematics University of California, Irvine 10/21/09
Outline • Preparing for graduate school • Choosing a graduate school • Applying to graduate school • Application form • Personal statement • Transcripts • GRE exams • Letters of recommendation • Going to graduate school
Preparing for Graduate School • Take lots of math courses!!! • Take Math 205 and 206 (Analysis & Algebra) • Consider Math 147 (Complex Variables) • Consider Math 210 and 230 your senior year if you took 205 and 206 early enough • Do the Math Honors Program • Find a math research opportunity • Apply for REU or semester abroad in math • Attend a math conference • Attend math talks outside of class • Get excellent grades in your math courses • Talk to your professors • Study for the GRE subject test in math
Choosing a Graduate School • Do your research • Look at websites comparing schools • Look at math department websites • Look at AMS website materials • Apply to many schools (10+ often good) • Apply to schools of varying prestige • Talk to faculty about schools you are considering • Know how competitive you will be at the schools you are considering
Things to consider • Size of department (faculty, grad students) • Areas of faculty research • Colloquiums and seminars • Degree requirements • Graduate funding • Career placement of graduates • Particular faculty members of interest • Prestige of degree • Average time to degree • Attrition rate • Graduate student housing • Location
Applying to Graduate School • Application form • Personal statement • Avoid cliches and generic statements • Use specific examples • Talk about your accomplishments • Mention areas of possible research interest • Talk about research experience or interesting courses • Avoid listing courses you want to take, instead talk about what areas of math excite you • Make yourself sound unique and motivated • Discuss why you wish to attend grad school • Mention your interest in department in particular • Get someone to proof read
Transcripts • Request these early • Make sure they contain as many A’s as possible • GRE exams • Take the regular GRE anytime • You should get a great score on math portion • Take the GRE subject test by the Fall of senior year (the registration deadline is early!!!) • Study for the GRE subject test in Mathematics (Dr. Dennis Eichhorn has a study group for this!!!) • Letters of Recommendation • Ask faculty members a minimum of 1 month in advance • Give letter writers nicely organized information • Ask someone who knows you well • Ask someone in whose class you did very well • Letter writer will be asked to rank you • You can “prewrite” part of the letter by giving materials
Going to Graduate School • You should receive a full scholarship plus be paid a stipend to either TA, RA or fellowship • Most students take a core set of courses the first year or two • Most schools have some sort of comprehensive or qualifying exam in the first couple of years • After year two, you begin to do research in addition to taking courses in your chosen area • You select an advisor • Many schools have some sort of oral exam early on in your dissertation research • You write and defend your dissertation • You may have to do foreign language exam • Most PhD degrees take about 5 years • You look for a job when finished!
