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Budapest Semester in Math and Math in Moscow

Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:16 pm
by deekin
I've been thinking about applying for both of these programs, but compared to the cost/semester of my school, they are both quite expensive, so my normal financial aid won't cover it. For those that did go, how did you pay for this? Do you have any suggestions for scholarships to apply for?

Also, how competitive are they to get in? I'm shooting for Fall 2014, and by then I will have taken a year of analysis (baby Rudin), a year of linear algebra, intro to PDEs (Strauss), and an independent study on knot theory and Khovanov homology (a precursor to a research project). I currently have a 4.0 in math. My school's math department is fairly small and tends to cater to math education people, so classes like abstract algebra 1 & 2, topology, and complex analysis are only offered every two years (hence, I haven't had a chance to take them yet). However, because of the small size, I think I can get good letters of recommendation.

Does anyone know of any other good study abroad programs for math? Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Budapest Semester in Math and Math in Moscow

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:45 am
by longtm1989
I have been to both. They are quite good, and strong in some particular areas:

BSM: combinatorics, number theory. They also have good courses in measure theory (the book we used is big Rudin chapter I+II), intro to topology (the first half of the course is in point set topology, and second half is in fundamental group), functional analysis.

Math in Moscow: algebra, number theory, topology, knot theory, algebraic geometry. You can easily have independent studies in any subject. In my opinion, the courses in Moscow are harder than in the BSM program. People live together in 1 floor, cook in the same kitchen (even go to the same toilet :)) ), so for me, there was more fun.

I don't know how hard to get in, but I suppose it's quite easy. People I met varied a lot in their background. There were first courses in algebra/analysis in both programs, and there is a number of people taking those classes. There's another study abroad program in Germany, tuition is cheap, but the cost of living is high.

There's a scholarship for the Math in Moscow from the AMS. (for students studying in the United States), and also a scholarship for students studying in Canada.

Re: Budapest Semester in Math and Math in Moscow

Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:14 am
by deekin
Thanks for your input longtm1989, that definitely helps. I had heard that the courses in Moscow are harder than the one's in Budapest, but Budapest is still very challenging and helps you grow in your math abilities. I'm just going to apply to both and see what happens. The fact that other people had varying math backgrounds definitely leaves me some hope of getting in. How recently were you there (Moscow or Budapest)?

Do you remember the name or website of the program in Germany?