Fall 2018 Sweat Thread

ximonk · Post by **ximonk** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 9:49 pm

For purposes of anonymity I won't divulge too many details, but the graduate courses were taken at a top 20 math school. These do not include reading courses, but I do have a few of those as well.

Peregrine · Post by **Peregrine** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:43 pm

Anybody know if Nebraska-Lincoln decisions are coming out any time soon? On average (from previous years' posts and thegradcafe), it looks like early-mid February, but does anybody have any specifics?

djysyed · Post by **djysyed** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:05 pm

Honest question. I'm really strongly considering taking up a 4th year of undergrad to develop mathematically. How much of a difference does one year make in terms of mathematical growth?

petrokov · Post by **petrokov** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:09 pm

djysyed wrote:Honest question. I'm really strongly considering taking up a 4th year of undergrad to develop mathematically. How much of a difference does one year make in terms of mathematical growth?

For me, a lot. My 4th year was when I got all the boring stuff out of the way and could take all of the high level classes that I wanted. It really helped me develop.

ximonk · Post by **ximonk** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:19 pm

I mean for admissions they will have your third year results, but it depends on what else you do before applying again. Better gpa/test scores/research? Also they have an order of precedence for who to accept. 4th year undergrads applying tend to have priority. Then masters students and then 3rd year and earlier. The biggest issue with applying as a third year is that they think your just applying and rolling the dice so to speak. If you don't get in then no big deal you have another year to try is probably the attitude; however, you have to take a look at your application and realistically put into perspective what would improve by applying in your fourth year. I would say if you decide to stay a fourth year see if you can start to do research immediately with a professor.

At the current moment your GPA is quite low for the top 10 programs. The verbal GRE is also a bit low and subject gre score is below the cutoff for some of the top 10 programs(+80% is the baseline typically). With publications(in a good journal not just frivolous articles) or letters of recommendation speaking highly of your ability to do research then this could possibly be overlooked. Also being a minority or having some extraordinary life circumstance could help with a top 10 program at a public school, but this is a case by case basis. These need to be extraordinary things that have effected your undergraduate education.

ximonk · Post by **ximonk** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:20 pm

Also I might be speaking prematurely, I only have what I see on Gradecafe. The admissions season is far from over.

biomath18 · Post by **biomath18** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:21 pm

djysyed wrote:Honest question. I'm really strongly considering taking up a 4th year of undergrad to develop mathematically. How much of a difference does one year make in terms of mathematical growth?

I've also grown a lot mathematically in my 4th year. Part of this is from taking the graduate analysis sequence, and part is from the REU last summer (which motivated me to take those analysis courses). I have also really developed in my research, from needing a lot of guidance from my advisor to now being much more independent. I would not have been prepared for graduate school without this final year, and I don't think graduate schools would have accepted me either (at minimum, my SoP would have been much worse and I would only have 2 good LoRs).

Another year of undergrad is an opportunity to take more classes You may as well take more time to explore the whole subject (if you can afford it). Also, it gives you another opportunity to do research over the summer!

EGA · Post by **EGA** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:29 pm

djysyed wrote:Honest question. I'm really strongly considering taking up a 4th year of undergrad to develop mathematically. How much of a difference does one year make in terms of mathematical growth?

A ton. It's actually pretty incredible how fast you can progress at this stage of your career if you put in enough time and effort. A year ago, the most sophisticated math I knew was like covering spaces/basic representation theory. I am now comfortable with some pretty non-trivial mathematics.

Not only would an extra year help you get into a better graduate school, but you'd simply be way better prepared once you got there. A successful transition into research is crucially important if you're planning a career in academia, and if it makes sense to stay another year - I wouldn't hesitate to do it if I were you. Especially at a good school like yours, where your growth won't be limited due to a lack of mathematical community.

Also, if you can do an REU this summer (or research with a prof at your school), that would be a nice addition to your profile.

ximonk · Post by **ximonk** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:39 pm

Also please don't take my post as saying you shouldn't do a 4th year. What I am saying is carefully evaluate what you will be doing the extra 4th year. Don't just do a 4th year without making improvements to yourself as a student and mathematician. If your stats remain the same and just hoping for better outcomes in your 4th year is not ideal and outcomes will likely not change, but if your really focused and take more advanced coursework, get all As from now on, and do research then you have a better chance. Again its all up to you.

ximonk · Post by **ximonk** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:46 pm

If you do take a fourth year I would definitely recommend you improve the GRE subject score. +95% is the optimal range for top 10 schools if the GPA isn't up to par based on the data on Gradcafe.

ximonk · Post by **ximonk** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:30 am

I would hesitate against doing an REU. It gives you an experience of doing something independent, but most REUs don't actually have you do research that amounts to anything. And any letter of recommendation you get from there is very limited in what they can say, most REUs are 8-12 weeks long. Unless you get into an REU like SMALL at Williams College, the one at Duluth, or even the Cornell one, I would say that doing research at your school with a professor is more optimal. This way you can get a letter of rec which can speak more accurately of your research potential. Do apply for a few REUs, but ask around to see if people actually get anything significant results out of the particular REU programs you want to go to.

zzhang222 · Post by **zzhang222** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:38 am

kayiilu wrote:
zzhang222 wrote:Duke has sent out all the offers and there will not be a next round according to a professor there
Is that for both pure math and applied math or for pure math?

For both. He said they would only take 30 students this year.

MathCat · Post by **MathCat** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:05 am

Mandelbrot wrote:
EGA wrote:
On what basis have you deduced that those offered acceptance to these schools are 'less qualified' than you? The applicant profiles here are extremely superficial, and obviously cannot be used to make direct comparisons between yourself and others.

For example, nearly everyone here has completed a fair bit of research. But there's no information offered as to the quality of the research that was performed. Nor the quality of recommendation letters - and these are likely deciding factors in the admissions process. Whereas the aspects of a profile that you actually can compare from this forum (e.g. gpa, test scores, etc...) are either good enough or not. Once you're past a certain threshold, nobody cares.
Well this is kinda the point I was trying to make. I’m obviously not the most qualified overall. But reasons I haven’t been accepted are surely beyond these superficial ones. I’d like to know what. Are my recommendations not exciting enough, did I need to do two research projects not one, did I need to have published already?
Because I cant imagine what else it was and I want to know which after spending so much time and money on this.

Sometimes it is just a matter of fit. You can be very qualified, but if your research interests don't appear to align well with professors looking for students, or in the direction a department may be trying to develop, you sometimes won't be accepted.

You can of course ask why you were rejected, but I would expect a generic canned response that doesn't actually say anything. There are tons of applicants and nobody is really invested in spending time talking about these things to those they have rejected.

jxwatmg · Post by **jxwatmg** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:06 am

I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!

lothiriell · Post by **lothiriell** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:30 am

jxwatmg wrote:I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!

Congrats!

korobeiniki · Post by **korobeiniki** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:32 am

jxwatmg wrote:I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!

Congrats! Berkeley's a great school and now you don't need to worry about your application (this is such a nice feeling)!

gradapps2017 · Post by **gradapps2017** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:55 am

jxwatmg wrote:I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!

Congrats! How did you hear?

jxwatmg · Post by **jxwatmg** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:02 am

gradapps2017 wrote:
jxwatmg wrote:I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!
Congrats! How did you hear?

It was an unofficial email.

rfz · Post by **rfz** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:28 am

jxwatmg wrote:
gradapps2017 wrote:
jxwatmg wrote:I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!
Congrats! How did you hear?
It was an unofficial email.

Congrats! I am happy for you:) your profile is strong

djysyed · Post by **djysyed** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:09 am

jxwatmg wrote:I’m admitted by Berkeley just now!!!

That's really great news!!! Which professors were you interested in working under?

rfz · Post by **rfz** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:17 am

I've checked out thegradcafe and found that two more people are accepted to Berkeley. I am waiting too

extremely nervous

lambert · Post by **lambert** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:12 pm

Seems Columbia has posted results on the application site too

cross_action · Post by **cross_action** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:15 pm

lambert wrote:Seems Columbia has posted results on the application site too

My Columbia page shows the same status page as before, hope it's just asynchronously updated...

yon3da · Post by **yon3da** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:31 pm

cross_action wrote:
lambert wrote:Seems Columbia has posted results on the application site too
My Columbia page shows the same status page as before, hope it's just asynchronously updated...

Same here, can't tell if this is a good or bad sign lol

EquationSlayer · Post by **EquationSlayer** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:16 pm

[Post Deleted]

silentdepression · Post by **silentdepression** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:18 pm

I tried searching for my application status in Columbia's website, but I did not find any place which shows decisions. Can anyone give me the link of the page or tell me how to find application status rather decision status? My application management page shows my application status is "submitted".

mishania1996 · Post by **mishania1996** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:21 pm

silentdepression wrote:I tried searching for my application status in Columbia's website, but I did not find any place which shows decisions. Can anyone give me the link of the page or tell me how to find application status rather decision status? My application management page shows my application status is "submitted".

The same here. I guess, we need to wait.

gragragra · Post by **gragragra** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 4:16 pm

Will we get anything back from Columbia today?

It seems that last year Columbia announced all in one day.

pamkoo · Post by **pamkoo** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 4:35 pm

silentdepression wrote:I tried searching for my application status in Columbia's website, but I did not find any place which shows decisions. Can anyone give me the link of the page or tell me how to find application status rather decision status? My application management page shows my application status is "submitted".

I guess we should wait for an email notification first?

keith · Post by **keith** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:11 pm

Do not really think that Columbia is going to send out any more offer, since there are already several people waitlisted on gradcafe.

keith · Post by **keith** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:11 pm

Do not really think that Columbia is going to send out any more offer, since there are already several people waitlisted on gradcafe.

ArtinWedderburn · Post by **ArtinWedderburn** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:41 pm

According to Gradcafe, Cornell has sent out offers for pure math. I didn’t receive anything so probably I am rejected...

EGA · Post by **EGA** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 8:53 pm

ArtinWedderburn wrote:According to Gradcafe, Cornell has sent out offers for pure math. I didn’t receive anything so probably I am rejected...

Same here haha. But there's only one offer out on gradcafe! Maybe more tomorrow?

ArtinWedderburn · Post by **ArtinWedderburn** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:18 pm

EGA wrote:
ArtinWedderburn wrote:According to Gradcafe, Cornell has sent out offers for pure math. I didn’t receive anything so probably I am rejected...
Same here haha. But there's only one offer out on gradcafe! Maybe more tomorrow?

I wish...I don't want to study German...

djysyed · Post by **djysyed** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 10:45 pm

Seems like Brown is sending out acceptances now.

Singularity · Post by **Singularity** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:11 pm

zzhang222 · Post by **zzhang222** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:17 pm

Has anyone received acceptance from applied math program of Brown? Seems there is only pure math on gradcafe.

jeffliao1 · Post by **jeffliao1** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 11:21 pm

How do people know they are in the waitlist? The deparment send a mail to inform the applicants who are in the waitlist? Or you need to send a mail to ask the deparment directly?

Singularity · Post by **Singularity** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:19 am

For those who applied to Harvard. You can email mark kisin to ask your standing. I did that and he told me... bad news of course.

gradapps2017 · Post by **gradapps2017** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 2:43 am

Singularity wrote:For those who applied to Harvard. You can email mark kisin to ask your standing. I did that and he told me... bad news of course.

How did you know to email him?

asacgeom · Post by **asacgeom** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:39 am

Does anybody know if Berkeley and Brown sent out mostly acceptances for domestic applicants yet? The majority of admission posts on gradcafe for those schools seem to be written by domestic applicants

mooooo · Post by **mooooo** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:50 am

Still no word from any of the 9 schools I applied to

jeffliao1 · Post by **jeffliao1** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 10:36 am

asacgeom wrote:Does anybody know if Berkeley and Brown sent out mostly acceptances for domestic applicants yet? The majority of admission posts on gradcafe for those schools seem to be written by domestic applicants

So Berkeley haven't sent out the acceptances of international applicants yet? I am so anxious since I haven't heard anything from any schools yet. Berkeley on the top of my list.

Singularity · Post by **Singularity** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 10:43 am

jeffliao1 wrote:
asacgeom wrote:Does anybody know if Berkeley and Brown sent out mostly acceptances for domestic applicants yet? The majority of admission posts on gradcafe for those schools seem to be written by domestic applicants
So Berkeley haven't sent out the acceptance of international applicants yet? I am so anxious since I haven't heard anything from any schools yet. Berkeley on the top of my list.

I know three international who got accepted. All study outside US.

password · Post by **password** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 12:25 pm

mooooo wrote:Still no word from any of the 9 schools I applied to

Same here

Bl250604 · Post by **Bl250604** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 5:17 pm

Is anyone here someone who got into NC State for statistics on gradcafe? If so, what were your stats?

Thanks@!

EGA · Post by **EGA** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 6:06 pm

UIUC just asked for my fall grades (which I forgot to include in my application

). That can't be a bad sign though, right?

ArtinWedderburn · Post by **ArtinWedderburn** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 6:11 pm

EGA wrote:UIUC just asked for my fall grades (which I forgot to include in my application ). That can't be a bad sign though, right?

It at least shows that the school is still interested in you otherwise they wouldn’t bother notifying you.

djysyed · Post by **djysyed** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 7:54 pm

ArtinWedderburn wrote:
EGA wrote:UIUC just asked for my fall grades (which I forgot to include in my application ). That can't be a bad sign though, right?
It at least shows that the school is still interested in you otherwise they wouldn’t bother notifying you.

Agreed. However, if schools are still interested in you, why would they not just tell you that you're in? It seems as if they like to play games with us...

lambert · Post by **lambert** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:07 pm

ArtinWedderburn wrote:
EGA wrote:UIUC just asked for my fall grades (which I forgot to include in my application ). That can't be a bad sign though, right?
It at least shows that the school is still interested in you otherwise they wouldn’t bother notifying you.

Unlike me, no school contacts me and no school wants me

Is there a reason you're being so pessimistic all the time?

Heck you already were admitted at a good place, got an interview somewhere else and UIUC contacted you as well, so your statement is just plain false dude lol.

Not to mention you seem to have a strong profile (good grades in advanced courses) and an 85% on the mGRE, which for some reason you think is horrible lmao. Obviously you'll get in some good places but you think you will be rejected everywhere. I don't know if you're doing this on purpose or really don't have a clue but you're making everyone else look bad