Hi,
I'm new here and am getting nervous about getting in anywhere. Only 2 responses (rejections) so far. Any thoughts on my chances would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Undergrad Institution: Top 50 (U.S), private. Top 75 in math.
Graduate Institution: Top 30 in math (U.S)
Major(s): BS in Mathematics
Major(s): MS in Mathematics
Undergraduate GPA: 3.81/4.0
Undergraduate math GPA:3.97/4.0
Graduate GPA:3.17/4.0 (this includes 2 Fs. Explained in SOP)
Type of Student:Domestic, Male (white)
GRE Revised General Test: None. Only applied to schools that didn't require it. Nearest testing center was 3 hours away.
Q: xxx (xx%)
V: xxx (xx%)
W: x.x (xx%)
GRE Subject Test in Mathematics: None
M: xxx (xx%)
TOEFL Score: (xx = Rxx/Lxx/Sxx/Wxx) (if applicable)
Program Applying: Pure Math (Interest in Number Theory)
Research Experience: None
Awards/Honors/Recognitions: Highest Distinction in Mathematics (undergraduate).
Pertinent Activities or Jobs: Adjunct math professor at local 4 year college for 2 years. Taught statistics, probability (with calculus), and teaching calc 1 and 2 for math majors. Also have 4+ years of tutoring work with company (for SAT, homework help, etc). Graduate teaching assistant for over 3 years. TA for abstract algebra, calc 1, calc 4. Grader for linear algebra, differential equations. Abstract algebra TA as an undergraduate.
Math Courses Taken: Graduate level: Abstract algebra, 3 commutative algebra, 2 algebraic number theory, linear algebra, measure theory, complex analysis, topology, algebraic topology, Galois cohomology. Undergraduate Level: Set theory, differential geometry, combinatorics, probability, etc.
Any Miscellaneous Points that Might Help: Passed 5 qualifying exams (1 more than necessary) while in previous PhD program. These are in algebra, linear algebra, topology, real analysis, complex analysis. I also have a solid programming/computer science background (python, java, machine learning, algorithms, data structures, theory of computation).
Any Other Info That Shows Up On Your App and Might Matter: I was in a PhD program for 4 years, but because of mental health issues (imposter syndrome), I never did research or talked much to professors. I quit with masters, failing 2 courses in my last year due to depression. In my SOP I talk extensively about these issues and my personal growth these past 5 years, including all the tutoring and teaching I've been doing. How I've changed and why I'm more mature and ready this time. I have 2 undergraduate recommenders (they may be the strongest as they knew me the most), one from grad school, and one is from chair of current school I adjunct for. For some schools, I attached a 20 page paper (more at the undergraduate level) I wrote myself (indicating it was on my own entirely, and not published). For most schools, this is just mentioned on my resume. Not sure if I should have done this.
I'm most worried about my 3.17 gpa (if they look closely at my transcript, it should look good barring the 2 Fs and a C as all other classes were mostly As, and some Bs). I'm also worried how they'd react to the whole depression thing and lack of any research despite being in a grad program for 4 years.
Applying to Where:
Top 20
U Michigan - pure math / Submitted by deadline
UT Austin - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Cornell - pure math / Rejected! 1/31
Brown - pure math / Rejected! 2/1
UPenn - pure math / Submitted by deadline
UW Madison - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Top 35
Rutgers - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Johns Hopkins - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Stony Brook - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Rice - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Ohio State - pure math / Submitted by deadline
U of Utah - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Top 75
Boston U - pure math / Submitted by deadline
U of Virginia - pure math / Submitted by deadline
U of Arizona - pure math / Submitted by deadline
U of Mass - pure math / Submitted by deadline
Emory - pure math / Submitted by deadline
UConn - pure math / Submitted by deadline