I am a senior math major and my goal is to get into a top 20 PhD program. Right now I do not feel competitive enough to get into those schools, so I am pursuing a masters degree first.
I'm applying to these schools:
-University of Washington
-Texas A&M - College Station
-University of California - Irvine
-UNC - Chapel Hill
-Georgia Tech
-Purdue
-University of Southern California
-Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
I picked those schools because they are ranked in the top 30-50 and do not require the math subject test. I'm not prepared to take that test right now and do well on it. And coming from such a small program, I don't think I'm prepared anyways to succeed in a top 20 school.
Here are my stats:
School: Unranked, unknown state university
GPA: 3.86
Classes:
-20 college math classes total (from Calculus II and beyond)
-2 semesters of algebra, 2 semester of analysis, 2 semesters of geometry, 3 independent studies, complex, actuarial science, combinatorics, differential equations, graph theory.
Letters:
-1 would be a very strong one from a professor I've taken several classes with and did research with
-1 would be from a professor I've had several classes with including an independent study
-1 would be from my REU advisor.
Research:
-REU
-Two papers in the process of being published, one from REU, one from summer research with a professor
Talks:
-Gave talks at two conferences at separate universities
-Gave special sessions talk at the AMS/MAA joint meeting in San Diego
GRE scores: Unknown, but assume at least good, if not excellent
Extracurricular:
-Math club president
-Pi Mu Epsilon vice president
-Putnam team member for 2 years (scored a 0...)
-Honors program
-Eagle Scout (2009 Eagle Scout of the Year)
Those are my stats. How would you rate my chances if you could quantify it?