Fall 2020 Sweat Thread

[SKS2s17fa]

On his post history, he says T15.

I refuse to believe that

Dude, I took a look at your application in 2018, that is one of the strongest application I have ever seen. How did you get rejected by these schools? I really don't understand...

Feel anxious that such a guy even couldn’t get an PhD offer

[ponchan]

People here overestimate the importance of the Math subject GRE here because it is the only thing you can point to when you fail to gain admission.

Essentially this. The individual I mentioned is by far one of the best students in our department.
A big part of the application process is behind the scenes. Who you know, and who knows you, matters a lot. It's no coincidence that many of the places I've unofficially heard back from I've been in contact with over the years.

There are always exceptions to the rule, but for us plebs at lesser known schools who don't have much meaningful contact with faculty members at our dream schools, getting <800 on mGRE means top 20 is most likely a pipe dream. That's a reality we're all going to have to face sooner or later. I doubt most of the schools in the top 20 would even look at an application from an unknown student if they scored <10th percentile on the mGRE.

Really depends on what you mean by "top 20". It's always ambiguous when people refer to some mysterious linear ranking of schools. If you are referring to the rather arbitrary US News rankings (which only undergrads seem to care about), then what you've said is untrue. Last year someone got into Minnesota with a 9% mGRE (although I wouldn't consider Minnesota to be in the top 20 except for maybe analysis). Unfortunately, if you are an international (particularly Asian male), then what you've said does seem to be the case.

[wujinya1]

Essentially this. The individual I mentioned is by far one of the best students in our department.
A big part of the application process is behind the scenes. Who you know, and who knows you, matters a lot. It's no coincidence that many of the places I've unofficially heard back from I've been in contact with over the years.

There are always exceptions to the rule, but for us plebs at lesser known schools who don't have much meaningful contact with faculty members at our dream schools, getting <800 on mGRE means top 20 is most likely a pipe dream. That's a reality we're all going to have to face sooner or later. I doubt most of the schools in the top 20 would even look at an application from an unknown student if they scored <10th percentile on the mGRE.

Really depends on what you mean by "top 20". It's always ambiguous when people refer to some mysterious linear ranking of schools. If you are referring to the rather arbitrary US News rankings (which only undergrads seem to care about), then what you've said is untrue. Last year someone got into Minnesota with a 9% mGRE (although I wouldn't consider Minnesota to be in the top 20 except for maybe analysis). Unfortunately, if you are an international (particularly Asian male), then what you've said does seem to be the case.

Well, it is alot harder to get a 9% than above 90%...
That's probably why he/she get accepted...

[Integreat]

If you are referring to the rather arbitrary US News rankings (which only undergrads seem to care about), then what you've said is untrue.

Couldn't agree more. US News is bs and I only use it because it gives some kind of ordering (ironically, the same pitfall that the MGRE is used for). But it is highly dependent on subfield -- for example, I know someone who went to Stony Brook over Cornell, with comparable offers from each, despite the latter being ranked higher (overall) and being an Ivy league school.

In any case, there's nothing we can do to improve our apps anymore. It's also a very stressful time for all of us. I'm sure we'll all get in somewhere good. At the end of the day, you build your career!

Good luck to all! I think decisions will start coming in more frequently now.

[PhilippMainlander]

If you are referring to the rather arbitrary US News rankings (which only undergrads seem to care about), then what you've said is untrue.

very stressful time

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[CoronalRain]

If you are referring to the rather arbitrary US News rankings (which only undergrads seem to care about), then what you've said is untrue.

very stressful time

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

My sentiments exactly.

[wujinya1]

When does NYU give out offers?
Very little useful information on Gradcafe.

[Cyclicduck]

Does anyone know what's happening this April? In particular, is Devon Larratt facing Michael Todd? If so, who do you think will win?

[CoronalRain]

Does anyone know what's happening this April? In particular, is Devon Larratt facing Michael Todd? If so, who do you think will win?

Please tell me this is another post about arm wrestling. It might be the only thing keeping me sane.

[Cyclicduck]

Does anyone know what's happening this April? In particular, is Devon Larratt facing Michael Todd? If so, who do you think will win?

Please tell me this is another post about arm wrestling. It might be the only thing keeping me sane.

As I stated before, arm wrestling is a good way to both stay sane and improve your mathematical productivity. I'm glad we agree on this. What's your favorite type of hook?

[ahhhhmeh]

If you are referring to the rather arbitrary US News rankings (which only undergrads seem to care about), then what you've said is untrue.

very stressful time

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

That’s literally my username lol

US News Rankings: I’ve looked into how they rank graduate mathematics programs. It is nowhere as robust as their undergraduate ratings which take into account students/faculty ratios etc. The graduate ranking is based on a survey that asks faculty at each school to rate other programs. The survey has a 30% response rate! You have to use other methods to decide which schools have a good math department.

I refuse to believe that

Dude, I took a look at your application in 2018, that is one of the strongest application I have ever seen. How did you get rejected by these schools? I really don't understand...

Feel anxious that such a guy even couldn’t get an PhD offer

A bad essay will get you rejected from every school. Not saying that’s the case here, maybe they didn’t like the offers they received.

[mishania1996]

Someone is accepted to StonyBrook the next day after the deadline. That is quite strange.

[SKS2s17fa]

very stressful time

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

That’s literally my username lol

US News Rankings: I’ve looked into how they rank graduate mathematics programs. It is nowhere as robust as their undergraduate ratings which take into account students/faculty ratios etc. The graduate ranking is based on a survey that asks faculty at each school to rate other programs. The survey has a 30% response rate! You have to use other methods to decide which schools have a good math department.

Dude, I took a look at your application in 2018, that is one of the strongest application I have ever seen. How did you get rejected by these schools? I really don't understand...

Feel anxious that such a guy even couldn’t get an PhD offer

A bad essay will get you rejected from every school. Not saying that’s the case here, maybe they didn’t like the offers they received.

It seems like that I pointed out too many interests, and in fact I am not sure what to learn. I think that I also have some misunderstanding of those areas, although I only notice it after this semester started, so maybe my essay is bad.

I also had a bad GPA (about 3.4) in the first year master’s study but I got all A’s in last semester. The early-deadlined schools can’t see my new grades, will this also be a dominant issue?

[ellen_klly2020]

When can we expect to hear back from Yale, Columbia, Harvard, Berkeley and MIT? If we haven't heard back yet, is it safe to assume we've been rejected?

[mani_fold]

When can we expect to hear back from Yale, Columbia, Harvard, Berkeley and MIT? If we haven't heard back yet, is it safe to assume we've been rejected?

Yale and Columbia have been silent. The others have released sporadic offers, I wouldn’t rule out one or two more in the next couple weeks, but the outlook is grim.

[algebro]

Has Oregon sent out their initial acceptances? I thought they usually do that by end of January.

[PhilippMainlander]

Has Oregon sent out their initial acceptances? I thought they usually do that by end of January.

It seems like some schools are running slow this year?

[JK10]

It seems like John Hopkins sent out their offers. They have a short waitlist and I am in it. If anyone doesnt plan to attend it, please decline the offer .Thank you Thank you Thank you. Begging

[mani_fold]

Has Oregon sent out their initial acceptances? I thought they usually do that by end of January.

It seems like some schools are running slow this year?

We were debating that a while back. At the very least UCSD + Yale are a little late to the game, who knows if it’s a bigger trend.

[CoronalRain]

It seems like John Hopkins sent out their offers. They have a short waitlist and I am in it. If anyone doesnt plan to attend it, please decline the offer .Thank you Thank you Thank you. Begging

How were you notified about the waitlist? I haven't heard anything from Johns Hopkins yet, which is disheartening.

[JK10]

It seems like John Hopkins sent out their offers. They have a short waitlist and I am in it. If anyone doesnt plan to attend it, please decline the offer .Thank you Thank you Thank you. Begging

How were you notified about the waitlist? I haven't heard anything from Johns Hopkins yet, which is disheartening.

I received a email. They are releasing a very small number of offers this year...

[CoronalRain]

Has Oregon sent out their initial acceptances? I thought they usually do that by end of January.

It seems like some schools are running slow this year?

We were debating that a while back. At the very least UCSD + Yale are a little late to the game, who knows if it’s a bigger trend.

Just got a rejection from Yale.

[nicole2]

Called northwestern and was told to "look for an email within a week" - assuming rejections.
Cornell and Harvard basically said the same.

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

[PhilippMainlander]

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

I just play dota 2 lol.

[Integreat]

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

I watch The Bachelor... I think it’s a pretty good distraction

[PhilippMainlander]

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

I watch The Bachelor... I think it’s a pretty good distraction

Not watching anime

[asterac]

Has Oregon sent out their initial acceptances? I thought they usually do that by end of January.

Oregon has fewer spots available this year because the admitted class for 2019 was a little too large. They might take longer on decisions this year for that reason. (The first sentence I heard from a prof there who tends to be a reliable source of info. The second is my own speculation.)

[Cyclicduck]

Called northwestern and was told to "look for an email within a week" - assuming rejections.
Cornell and Harvard basically said the same.

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

you know what's a good distraction?

...

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[ahhhhmeh]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

That’s literally my username lol

US News Rankings: I’ve looked into how they rank graduate mathematics programs. It is nowhere as robust as their undergraduate ratings which take into account students/faculty ratios etc. The graduate ranking is based on a survey that asks faculty at each school to rate other programs. The survey has a 30% response rate! You have to use other methods to decide which schools have a good math department.

Feel anxious that such a guy even couldn’t get an PhD offer

A bad essay will get you rejected from every school. Not saying that’s the case here, maybe they didn’t like the offers they received.

It seems like that I pointed out too many interests, and in fact I am not sure what to learn. I think that I also have some misunderstanding of those areas, although I only notice it after this semester started, so maybe my essay is bad.

I also had a bad GPA (about 3.4) in the first year master’s study but I got all A’s in last semester. The early-deadlined schools can’t see my new grades, will this also be a dominant issue?

Really depends on how you phrased it. It’s good to show you are generally interested. But if you tell a school like NYU that is more focused on applied math/analysis that you love logic and number theory, it may be harder for them to match you to an advisor. Also rethink your recommendations if your essay isn’t bad. Not sure about the GPA, but a masters student should be less risky than an undergrad so more favorable imo.

[nicole2]

Rejection from Madison.

[algebro]

Has Oregon sent out their initial acceptances? I thought they usually do that by end of January.

Oregon has fewer spots available this year because the admitted class for 2019 was a little too large. They might take longer on decisions this year for that reason. (The first sentence I heard from a prof there who tends to be a reliable source of info. The second is my own speculation.)

Bummer. I am really hoping Oregon works out.

[Cyclicduck]

Rejection from Madison.

Are you a joke to yourself?

[nicole2]

Rejection from Madison.

Are you a joke to yourself?

Dude at this point after so many rejections, one more rejection doesn't really hurt my ego anymore.

[wujinya1]

Called northwestern and was told to "look for an email within a week" - assuming rejections.
Cornell and Harvard basically said the same.

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

you know what's a good distraction?

...

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What is this

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[/quote]
thing?

[wujinya1]

Rejection from Madison.

Are you a joke to yourself?

Dude at this point after so many rejections, one more rejection doesn't really hurt my ego anymore.

You were a MathEd major, it is still possible for you to finish this major, get a master in MathEd somehow and apply to be a highschool math teacher.
I am probably going to be in Mcdonalds for the future three or four years of my life, washing dishes or sth...

[Integreat]

You were a MathEd major, it is still possible for you to finish this major, get a master in MathEd somehow and apply to be a highschool math teacher.

Depending on the school, you might not even need a math major. At my old highschool, which is considered pretty good in the county, they recently hired a math teacher who just graduated with a B.S. in Economics.
Teaching is actually a good interim idea, in my opinion. I strongly considered becoming one before going into grad school. There’s also a grad student here who taught highschoolers for 5 years and then came back for grad school!

[SKS2s17fa]

Rejection from Madison.

Me too. A few minutes ago.

[Cyclicduck]

Called northwestern and was told to "look for an email within a week" - assuming rejections.
Cornell and Harvard basically said the same.

I really could use some distractions, the suspense is unbearable.

you know what's a good distraction?

...

Code: Select all

What is this

Code: Select all

thing?
[/quote]

I thought you would never ask! <3 <3 <3 <3

[wujinya1]

you know what's a good distraction?

...

Code: Select all

What is this

Code: Select all

thing?

I thought you would never ask! <3 <3 <3 <3
[/quote]
Right so what is it, my life is miserable enough, need some really good distraction.

Now I am on the autism waitlist.

[Cyclicduck]

...

I would tell you, but you plagiarized me...why did you make that last post with what I wrote without quoting me?

Please refer to the following passage from the Yale Poorvu Center.

But beyond the risk of penalties, there are urgent moral and intellectual reasons to avoid plagiarism. When you write for an academic audience, you’re joining an ongoing conversation. When you plagiarize, you join that conversation on false grounds, representing yourself as someone you are not. What is more, the act of stealing another’s words or ideas erases your voice. It may be difficult to think of yourself as making an original contribution in the context of a class taught by an expert. But every assignment is an invitation to add something new to the conversation sparked by the course. You cannot make an original contribution if you are not the owner of the words and ideas that you present.

[wujinya1]

...

I would tell you, but you plagiarized me...why did you make that last post with what I wrote without quoting me?

Please refer to the following passage from the Yale Poorvu Center.

But beyond the risk of penalties, there are urgent moral and intellectual reasons to avoid plagiarism. When you write for an academic audience, you’re joining an ongoing conversation. When you plagiarize, you join that conversation on false grounds, representing yourself as someone you are not. What is more, the act of stealing another’s words or ideas erases your voice. It may be difficult to think of yourself as making an original contribution in the context of a class taught by an expert. But every assignment is an invitation to add something new to the conversation sparked by the course. You cannot make an original contribution if you are not the owner of the words and ideas that you present.

I am not following, and I am pretty sure I quoted you.

[LoCelso]

Looks like UW Madison has already sent out many offers and rejections, but I still heard nothing. The same thing happens with Duke: at the time when they sent out offers and rejections I also heard nothing.
I wonder what does this mean? I think I have a complete application (otherwise they probably reject me or inform me), and I have also admitted by Ohio State so

[CoronalRain]

Looks like UW Madison has already sent out many offers and rejections, but I still heard nothing. The same thing happens with Duke: at the time when they sent out offers and rejections I also heard nothing.
I wonder what does this mean? I think I have a complete application (otherwise they probably reject me or inform me), and I have also admitted by Ohio State so

Welcome to the purgatory known as the waitlist, where you simultaneously feel both rejected and accepted despite being neither (or perhaps both?). Try not to go insane in the intervening months between now and the inevitable collapse of your quantum superposition in March or April.

[Mustela nivalis]

Any news from Notre Dame? I heard from the grad cafe some people got unofficial acceptances. One person said that Notre Dame should release official acceptances on 1st Feb. However I have received yet neither positive nor negative answer.

[Integreat]

Any news from Notre Dame? I heard from the grad cafe some people got unofficial acceptances. One person said that Notre Dame should release official acceptances on 1st Feb. However I have received yet neither positive nor negative answer.

Someone on adcom told my advisor that I'm one of their top candidates. So, I'm taking that to mean I'll be officially accepted. I'm not sure about these unofficial acceptances you've heard of. If I truly am high on their list, I probably would've received one by now, but I have not heard anything myself.

[analysister]

Someone is accepted to StonyBrook the next day after the deadline. That is quite strange.

This was chemistry so it isn’t necessarily applicable, but I had a friend get admitted the day after a deadline, and even get into a program that wasn’t advertised as “rolling” before the deadline when not all of her recommendation letters were submitted.

So I would say it is definitely possible.

[MathParent]

My kiddo just got accepted by UNC Chapel Hill, this is his first acceptance, with TA-ship and all (acceptance by official e-mail). I am happy. The kid is not talking, but then he is not much of a talker anyway.

[CoronalRain]

My kiddo just got accepted by UNC Chapel Hill, this is his first acceptance, with TA-ship and all (acceptance by official e-mail). I am happy. The kid is not talking, but then he is not much of a talker anyway.

Congrats! That is great to hear. The first acceptance is a huge relief, and I hope they keep rolling in.

[MathParent]

My kiddo just got accepted by UNC Chapel Hill, this is his first acceptance, with TA-ship and all (acceptance by official e-mail). I am happy. The kid is not talking, but then he is not much of a talker anyway.

Congrats! That is great to hear. The first acceptance is a huge relief, and I hope they keep rolling in.

Yes and thank you, I hope they do. The kid is only 16, and many Universities may assume he will not be able to handle TA-ship and reject him. It's really not logical, but what can we do... At least he got this one now, and UNC is a good place.

[CoronalRain]

My kiddo just got accepted by UNC Chapel Hill, this is his first acceptance, with TA-ship and all (acceptance by official e-mail). I am happy. The kid is not talking, but then he is not much of a talker anyway.

Congrats! That is great to hear. The first acceptance is a huge relief, and I hope they keep rolling in.

Yes and thank you, I hope they do. The kid is only 16, and many Universities may assume he will not be able to handle TA-ship and reject him. It's really not logical, but what can we do... At least he got this one now, and UNC is a good place.

The Director of Graduate Studies at UNC is very friendly and understanding, so if you have any concerns I'm sure you could talk to him about them. Even if the department is not comfortable putting him in front of a classroom, I bet there are other TA duties they'd be happy to give him (grading, leading study sessions, etc).

edit: Nevermind, Justin Sawon isn't DGS anymore. Hopefully the new one is just as nice!