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2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:26 am
by LordWiki
I made a similar thread on r/math already, but since it's so early, the thread could get buried. I'm remaking the thread here so that people can talk about REUs and their offers.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 2:21 pm
by djysyed
I've applied to the UChicago, Umich, and about 4-5 unknown REUs. Really hoping to get into at least one of them.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 2:41 pm
by MMDE
Is it too late to apply for any REUs? Got really busy this past two months and think I missed most of the deadlines.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:55 pm
by djysyed
MMDE wrote:Is it too late to apply for any REUs? Got really busy this past two months and think I missed most of the deadlines.
Hurry! Some REUs are accepting applications till March 7th.

Do most REUs prefer students from liberal arts colleges? What are the general backgrounds of students who were accepted to REUs?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:27 am
by MMDE
djysyed wrote:
MMDE wrote:Is it too late to apply for any REUs? Got really busy this past two months and think I missed most of the deadlines.
Hurry! Some REUs are accepting applications till March 7th.

Do most REUs prefer students from liberal arts colleges? What are the general backgrounds of students who were accepted to REUs?
Really?! Do you know where I can find a list of such schools? Thank you!

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:36 am
by Rise
djysyed wrote:
MMDE wrote:Is it too late to apply for any REUs? Got really busy this past two months and think I missed most of the deadlines.
Hurry! Some REUs are accepting applications till March 7th.

Do most REUs prefer students from liberal arts colleges? What are the general backgrounds of students who were accepted to REUs?
I attended an REU at a liberal arts college. There were nine students (this is pretty standard as far as I know). Five were from research universities, and four from liberal arts. Almost everybody was an incoming senior, but we also had some incoming juniors. There were some students who had not done the core series yet (Real Analysis, Algebra, Linear Algebra), so I don't think background is a huge requirement for REUs.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:45 am
by Bottomology
Does anyone know about the SMALL knot theory group? I was shortlisted and did a phone interview with the professor running the group a week ago and haven’t heard back since. Praying this doesn’t mean a rejection.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 4:42 pm
by EGA
Bottomology wrote:Does anyone know about the SMALL knot theory groip? I was shortlisted and did a phone interview with the professor running the group a week ago and haven’t heard back since. Praying this doesn’t mean a rejection.
I'm not sure about the knot theory group, but a friend of mine got an offer for the ergodic theory group the day after the interview.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:20 pm
by Rise
Bottomology wrote:Does anyone know about the SMALL knot theory groip? I was shortlisted and did a phone interview with the professor running the group a week ago and haven’t heard back since. Praying this doesn’t mean a rejection.
I was shortlisted for Number Theory and rejected within the week. I think most people get admitted within a few days...sorry :( I do hope it turns out better for you.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 8:45 pm
by anonperson15
Anyone that applied to UC Berkeley's geometry and topology REU heard back yet?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:57 am
by Bottomology
Rise wrote:
Bottomology wrote:Does anyone know about the SMALL knot theory groip? I was shortlisted and did a phone interview with the professor running the group a week ago and haven’t heard back since. Praying this doesn’t mean a rejection.
I was shortlisted for Number Theory and rejected within the week. I think most people get admitted within a few days...sorry :( I do hope it turns out better for you.
Oh jeez, that’s not good. Sorry :( I guess all I can do is wait and hope for the best.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 1:21 pm
by Sparky
Has anyone heard back from UChicago?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:38 pm
by djysyed
The deadline for applications was today so I don't think we'll hear back until March.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:39 pm
by Bottomology
anonperson15 wrote:Anyone that applied to UC Berkeley's geometry and topology REU heard back yet?
I applied to Berkeley’s REU as well and have not heard back.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:49 pm
by Sparky
EGA wrote:
Bottomology wrote:Does anyone know about the SMALL knot theory groip? I was shortlisted and did a phone interview with the professor running the group a week ago and haven’t heard back since. Praying this doesn’t mean a rejection.
I'm not sure about the knot theory group, but a friend of mine got an offer for the ergodic theory group the day after the interview.
Is your friend going to accept the offer? I got admitted to that group too.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Tue Feb 20, 2018 2:25 am
by djysyed
I'm applying to a project that uses complex analysis and I haven't touched complex analysis in a few years. Would it be possible to review it within a few weeks in order to get up to pace with the REU project or should I go for something that I'm not entirely interested in? The REU is at a small no-name school.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 8:24 am
by OPBM6578
Has anyone heard anything from the Tropical Geometry group at SMALL?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:25 am
by ya
Anyone heard back from SMALL Number Theory group? I know I was short-listed but haven't heard back yet...

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:27 am
by jjk23
djysyed wrote:I'm applying to a project that uses complex analysis and I haven't touched complex analysis in a few years. Would it be possible to review it within a few weeks in order to get up to pace with the REU project or should I go for something that I'm not entirely interested in? The REU is at a small no-name school.
I think you could review the most important parts of undergrad complex analysis really quickly. I'm sure you'd be fine just knowing how to use the Cauchy-Riemann equations, Cauchy's integral formula, the residue theorem, Liouville's theorem, and maybe like the maximum modulus principle.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 12:30 am
by jjk23
ya wrote:Anyone heard back from SMALL Number Theory group? I know I was short-listed but haven't heard back yet...
I got an email from Steven Miller saying he's talking to other groups and trying to get more funding so that he can take all the students he wants to. I didn't hear anything after that.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 2:38 am
by ya
Sparky wrote:Has anyone heard back from UChicago?
No, haven't heard from them but it's still too early.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 2:39 am
by ya
Anyone applied to MIT MSRP general?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:32 am
by starlord37
ya wrote:Anyone heard back from SMALL Number Theory group? I know I was short-listed but haven't heard back yet...
I was shortlisted and admitted a week ago. I'm not sure how recent the email about getting more funding that another poster mentions, but hopefully there is still a chance

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:39 am
by starlord37
ya wrote:Anyone applied to MIT MSRP general?
I was going to apply but there's not a good history of math projects. however I talked to a guy at MIT's math Dept at a conference who said they have new faculty who would advise projects if there are students requesting math. If I recall correctly he said they give decisions in like April

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:25 am
by Bottomology
Ugh, I still haven't heard from anywhere except a shortlist and likely rejection from SMALL, and a rejection from Duluth. When do results generally start pouring in?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 2:42 am
by ya
Bottomology wrote:Ugh, I still haven't heard from anywhere except a shortlist and likely rejection from SMALL, and a rejection from Duluth. When do results generally start pouring in?
I only have gotten an acceptance from Twin Cities so far and haven't heard from anyone else. I think it's still quite early, the general REU deadline is March 8th, I believe, but some REUs don't conform and send late acceptances/rejections :(

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 8:36 am
by djysyed
jjk23 wrote: I think you could review the most important parts of undergrad complex analysis really quickly. I'm sure you'd be fine just knowing how to use the Cauchy-Riemann equations, Cauchy's integral formula, the residue theorem, Liouville's theorem, and maybe like the maximum modulus principle.
Sweet thanks. I'm guessing most students haven't learned complex analysis at the level of Gamelin or Ahlfors?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:20 am
by jjk23
djysyed wrote:
jjk23 wrote: I think you could review the most important parts of undergrad complex analysis really quickly. I'm sure you'd be fine just knowing how to use the Cauchy-Riemann equations, Cauchy's integral formula, the residue theorem, Liouville's theorem, and maybe like the maximum modulus principle.
Sweet thanks. I'm guessing most students haven't learned complex analysis at the level of Gamelin or Ahlfors?
I think you'd want to be comfortable with a lot of the first part of Gamelin but I don't have the impression many undergrads learn much of the other material.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 1:56 pm
by rickrockroll
anonperson15 wrote:Anyone that applied to UC Berkeley's geometry and topology REU heard back yet?
I just got an email saying I was accepted to the group studying hyperbolic 3-manifolds so looks like acceptances are rolling out

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:46 pm
by anonperson15
rickrockroll wrote:
anonperson15 wrote:Anyone that applied to UC Berkeley's geometry and topology REU heard back yet?
I just got an email saying I was accepted to the group studying hyperbolic 3-manifolds so looks like acceptances are rolling out
Aw that was my top choice... hopefully they didn't completely send out all the acceptances yet.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 1:50 am
by Special K
Does anyone know whether Duluth has sent out acceptances yet? I know some people have been rejected, but I haven't heard back yet.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 2:28 am
by Bottomology
anonperson15 wrote:
rickrockroll wrote:
anonperson15 wrote:Anyone that applied to UC Berkeley's geometry and topology REU heard back yet?
I just got an email saying I was accepted to the group studying hyperbolic 3-manifolds so looks like acceptances are rolling out
Aw that was my top choice... hopefully they didn't completely send out all the acceptances yet.
This was one of my top choices too, so bummer for us. Do programs generally send out all their decisions at once, or a few at a time?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:16 am
by ya
Special K wrote:Does anyone know whether Duluth has sent out acceptances yet? I know some people have been rejected, but I haven't heard back yet.
Same here. I take it as a good sign for now.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 3:46 am
by OPBM6578
ya wrote:
Bottomology wrote:Ugh, I still haven't heard from anywhere except a shortlist and likely rejection from SMALL, and a rejection from Duluth. When do results generally start pouring in?
I only have gotten an acceptance from Twin Cities so far and haven't heard from anyone else. I think it's still quite early, the general REU deadline is March 8th, I believe, but some REUs don't conform and send late acceptances/rejections :(
Are you going to attend Twin Cities?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:04 am
by ya
OPBM6578 wrote:
ya wrote:
Bottomology wrote:Ugh, I still haven't heard from anywhere except a shortlist and likely rejection from SMALL, and a rejection from Duluth. When do results generally start pouring in?
I only have gotten an acceptance from Twin Cities so far and haven't heard from anyone else. I think it's still quite early, the general REU deadline is March 8th, I believe, but some REUs don't conform and send late acceptances/rejections :(
Are you going to attend Twin Cities?
I am not 100% sure yet, still waiting on other places to make the final decision!

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 3:41 pm
by etianss
Y'all are ambitious :) I applied to one REU, Clemson (Coding, Cryptography, and Number Theory) and I got accepted, so I was pretty happy. I think I'll be in the cryptography group.

What kind of stats do you guys have to be applying to the top programs? My GPA is in the 3.7 - 3.8 range, from a small school, one good and one very good LOR. Math major, CS minor, lots of personal projects / programming competitions and I talked about those a lot in my personal statement.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:12 pm
by OPBM6578
Anyone hear from UChicago today? They're announcement says they respond by today.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 4:44 pm
by jjk23
OPBM6578 wrote:Anyone hear from UChicago today? They're announcement says they respond by today.
I haven't heard anything, it's been stressing me out a little.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 5:43 pm
by djysyed
jjk23 wrote:
OPBM6578 wrote:Anyone hear from UChicago today? They're announcement says they respond by today.
I haven't heard anything, it's been stressing me out a little.
It's also sunday so I would assume we will hear back in a few days.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:55 pm
by starlord37
etianss wrote:Y'all are ambitious :) I applied to one REU, Clemson (Coding, Cryptography, and Number Theory) and I got accepted, so I was pretty happy. I think I'll be in the cryptography group.

What kind of stats do you guys have to be applying to the top programs? My GPA is in the 3.7 - 3.8 range, from a small school, one good and one very good LOR. Math major, CS minor, lots of personal projects / programming competitions and I talked about those a lot in my personal statement.
Congrats on Clemson! I don't think it's that any of us are especially ambitious, I think it's just applying to one REU or like < 5 even, is really dangerous because they're so competitive to get into. Of course this doesn't apply as much if you have research at your home institution as a "backup". Also, Clemson is a great program! Perhaps you are even more ambitious, or rather confident, for having only applied to them. :P

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:01 pm
by lapislazur
etianss wrote:Y'all are ambitious :) I applied to one REU, Clemson (Coding, Cryptography, and Number Theory) and I got accepted, so I was pretty happy. I think I'll be in the cryptography group.

What kind of stats do you guys have to be applying to the top programs? My GPA is in the 3.7 - 3.8 range, from a small school, one good and one very good LOR. Math major, CS minor, lots of personal projects / programming competitions and I talked about those a lot in my personal statement.
Congarts on Clemson! I applied to Clemson as well though haven’t heard back from them, probably not good sign haha.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:27 pm
by etianss
starlord37 wrote:
etianss wrote:Y'all are ambitious :) I applied to one REU, Clemson (Coding, Cryptography, and Number Theory) and I got accepted, so I was pretty happy. I think I'll be in the cryptography group.

What kind of stats do you guys have to be applying to the top programs? My GPA is in the 3.7 - 3.8 range, from a small school, one good and one very good LOR. Math major, CS minor, lots of personal projects / programming competitions and I talked about those a lot in my personal statement.
Congrats on Clemson! I don't think it's that any of us are especially ambitious, I think it's just applying to one REU or like < 5 even, is really dangerous because they're so competitive to get into. Of course this doesn't apply as much if you have research at your home institution as a "backup". Also, Clemson is a great program! Perhaps you are even more ambitious, or rather confident, for having only applied to them. :P
Thanks! Basically, I spent a lot of time on the application and I figured I wouldn't have a better chance of getting in any where else, so I just submitted and hoped for the best. (Clearly, it's not a stats REU :P)

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:49 pm
by ya
djysyed wrote:
jjk23 wrote:
OPBM6578 wrote:Anyone hear from UChicago today? They're announcement says they respond by today.
I haven't heard anything, it's been stressing me out a little.
It's also sunday so I would assume we will hear back in a few days.
I just got an acceptance, so looks like they are rolling out!

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:46 pm
by relicant
What is your profile? Are you from UChicago?

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:20 am
by djysyed
ya wrote:
I just got an acceptance, so looks like they are rolling out!
Congrats!!! I just got this email from Dr. May saying, "I am very sorry that we cannot accept you to our 2018 REU. Most unexpectedly, we had 450 applicants, up from under 300 last year (not counting University of Chicago applicants) and that has forced us to be ridiculously selective even with respect to unfunded non US participants."

Just to play it safe, I asked if I could participate as an unfunded student since I live close by so I'm quite surprised that they would have 450 students.

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:32 am
by Rise
djysyed wrote:
ya wrote:
I just got an acceptance, so looks like they are rolling out!
Congrats!!! I just got this email from Dr. May saying, "I am very sorry that we cannot accept you to our 2018 REU. Most unexpectedly, we had 450 applicants, up from under 300 last year (not counting University of Chicago applicants) and that has forced us to be ridiculously selective even with respect to unfunded non US participants."

Just to play it safe, I asked if I could participate as an unfunded student since I live close by so I'm quite surprised that they would have 450 students.
I'm sorry to hear you weren't admitted. If it's any consolation, they thought about you enough to let you know. Most of the REU's that rejected me didn't bother to write me a rejection email :evil:

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:34 am
by ya
relicant wrote:What is your profile? Are you from UChicago?
No, I am from a Liberal Arts College, dwf, 4.0. I am a non-graduating senior, so probably took a few more classes than most sophomores and juniors. Some grad classes and senior thesis in progress. I think my rec letters were pretty strong. I also applied last year, but was rejected. My top choice is MIT MSRP, though, so I am waiting on that one with fingers crossed :roll:

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:34 am
by ya
Rise wrote:
djysyed wrote:
ya wrote:
I just got an acceptance, so looks like they are rolling out!
Congrats!!! I just got this email from Dr. May saying, "I am very sorry that we cannot accept you to our 2018 REU. Most unexpectedly, we had 450 applicants, up from under 300 last year (not counting University of Chicago applicants) and that has forced us to be ridiculously selective even with respect to unfunded non US participants."

Just to play it safe, I asked if I could participate as an unfunded student since I live close by so I'm quite surprised that they would have 450 students.
I'm sorry to hear you weren't admitted. If it's any consolation, they thought about you enough to let you know. Most of the REU's that rejected me didn't bother to write me a rejection email :evil:
Same! This is so annoying :x

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 1:45 am
by relicant
Didn't get a reply from any REU yet, applied to 10, including Chicago. Guess that's a bad sign then :/

Re: 2018 Math REU Thread

Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2018 1:46 pm
by Bottomology
relicant wrote:Didn't get a reply from any REU yet, applied to 10, including Chicago. Guess that's a bad sign then :/
I also have not heard from Chicago. Have no idea if that’s a good thing or not...