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Graduate School
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Grad Life
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By Mike85621
Posted Wed Nov 16, 2005 at 09:44:46 PM PDT
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Hi. I am a fourth year Math/CS double major (with a German minor, although I guess that's irrelevant) at Rutgers University. I was strongly considering applying for graduate school (PhD I suppose) and was wondering if perhaps people around here could help me with regard to what type of school I have a chance at making it into. My biggest worry is that I didn't start my major till pretty late, so while I can finish the standard math major requirements plus a few more courses, I don't think that I am really that competitive compared to some grad-bound people I know.
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| My overall GPA is pretty decent I suppose (as of end of junior year, since I don't have fall grades yet, I have a 3.855, with a math major GPA of 3.93, albeit I have taken only 6 upper division math classes coming into senior year (5 or so lower division if you count AP credit) - this fall semester I am taking two, and next spring I will take >= 3, along with a CS class to finish up that major too. Since it is related to math, I will also state my CS major GPA of about 3.85 or so. So although my grades are decent, I was rejected from our research program over the summer, and I fear that getting math research now may be hard, Plus, I still need to prepare for the math GRE - I don't necessarily want to go to grad school immediately after undergrad, so I guess I can take the GREs later than this December, as if I took them now I'd probably get like a 300! :-) Anyway, I was told that I actually shouldn't hope for much, since by the time I graduate I will only have about 11 upper division math courses, and thus not that strong of an undergrad experience. If it matters, here are those (upper division only) courses, notice especially how I have no experience in areas like topology or differential geometry - so my knowledge definitely has some big gaps.....
Foundations of Math
Advanced Calculus (standard real analysis I)
Cryptography
Intro Abstract Algebra I
Numerical Analysis I
Graph Theory
Theory of Probability
Advanced Abstract Algebra I (i.e. a lot deeper than the intro course)
So I know nothing of topology, geometry, and the like, and my analysis and probability is weak too. Should I stay an extra semester or more to take more courses, like advanced linear algebra and advanced real analysis (I guess multivariate analysis)and maybe diff geometry and topology and pde's? I have been told that staying over 4 years does not reflect negatively if it is for enrichment, but still, I am worried. Is there also maybe a post-bacc program or the like in math? I am very confused on what I should do. Any advice or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Sorry this was so long-winded - I guess I can't help it. Even my proofs can be long-winded at times! :-)
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