University of California, Irvine
10/21/09
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Preparing for graduate school
Choosing a graduate school
Applying to graduate school
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Application form
Personal statement
Transcripts
GRE exams
Letters of recommendation
Going to graduate school
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Take lots of math courses!!!
Take Math 205 and 206 (Analysis & Algebra)
Consider Math 147 (Complex Variables)
Consider Math 210 and 230 your senior year if you
took 205 and 206 early enough
Do the Math Honors Program
Find a math research opportunity
Apply for REU or semester abroad in math
Attend a math conference
Attend math talks outside of class
Get excellent grades in your math courses
Talk to your professors
Study for the GRE subject test in math
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Do your research
◦ Look at websites comparing schools
◦ Look at math department websites
◦ Look at AMS website materials
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Apply to many schools (10+ often good)
Apply to schools of varying prestige
Talk to faculty about schools you are
considering
Know how competitive you will be at the
schools you are considering
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Things to consider
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Size of department (faculty, grad students)
Areas of faculty research
Colloquiums and seminars
Degree requirements
Graduate funding
Career placement of graduates
Particular faculty members of interest
Prestige of degree
Average time to degree
Attrition rate
Graduate student housing
Location
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Application form
Personal statement
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Avoid cliches and generic statements
Use specific examples
Talk about your accomplishments
Mention areas of possible research interest
Talk about research experience or interesting courses
Avoid listing courses you want to take, instead talk
about what areas of math excite you
Make yourself sound unique and motivated
Discuss why you wish to attend grad school
Mention your interest in department in particular
Get someone to proof read
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Transcripts
◦ Request these early
◦ Make sure they contain as many A’s as possible
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GRE exams
◦ Take the regular GRE anytime
◦ You should get a great score on math portion
◦ Take the GRE subject test by the Fall of senior year
(the registration deadline is early!!!)
◦ Study for the GRE subject test in Mathematics
(Dr. Dennis Eichhorn has a study group for this!!!)
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Letters of Recommendation
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Ask faculty members a minimum of 1 month in advance
Give letter writers nicely organized information
Ask someone who knows you well
Ask someone in whose class you did very well
Letter writer will be asked to rank you
You can “prewrite” part of the letter by giving materials
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You should receive a full scholarship plus be paid a
stipend to either TA, RA or fellowship
Most students take a core set of courses the first year or
two
Most schools have some sort of comprehensive or
qualifying exam in the first couple of years
After year two, you begin to do research in addition to
taking courses in your chosen area
You select an advisor
Many schools have some sort of oral exam early on in your
dissertation research
You write and defend your dissertation
You may have to do foreign language exam
Most PhD degrees take about 5 years
You look for a job when finished!