Abstract Algebra during final year?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the timing of taking abstract algebra and analysis courses in relation to applying for graduate school in mathematics. Participants explore the implications of course scheduling on competitiveness for admissions, as well as personal experiences and strategies for managing coursework.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about taking abstract algebra during their final year while applying to graduate school, questioning if it would disadvantage them due to grades not being available.
  • Another participant suggests that having only one analysis and one algebra class may not be competitive for graduate school applications.
  • Some participants share their course plans, indicating a sequence of analysis and algebra courses, and express interest in topics like geometric analysis.
  • There is mention of the expectation for graduate programs to require knowledge in topology, complex analysis, and geometry, which may not be covered if only analysis and algebra are taken.
  • One participant shares their experience considering taking multiple challenging courses simultaneously, noting a professor's warning about the difficulty.
  • Another participant suggests that taking courses concurrently may not be a disadvantage as long as the courses are being taken, but raises concerns about the Math GRE.
  • Some participants mention summer courses as a potential solution to lighten the load during the final year.
  • There is a shared sentiment that many students manage to take real analysis and algebra together, indicating that it is possible to succeed in multiple difficult courses.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying opinions on the timing of taking abstract algebra and analysis, with some believing it could be a disadvantage while others argue it may not significantly impact graduate school applications. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to course scheduling.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific course requirements and expectations from their respective schools, which may vary. There is uncertainty about the implications of course timing on graduate school admissions.

lus1450
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Good morning everyone. So I've been thinking quite a bit about it and recently switched from applied math to pure math, and I wish to attend grad school, if not PhD then at least a master's with thesis. I'm in the middle of my 2nd year, so next Fall I plan on taking Analysis, and then the fall after (final year) I would take abstract algebra. However, I would be applying to school in the fall while taking algebra. Since it's a very necessary core course, would it put me at a disadvantage since my grade for the courses would not be readily available?
I'm considering taking both at the same time (bad idea most likely), and then my other course would be a GE that doesn't take up too much time. Plus, it would allow me to take gradute analysis and/or graduate algebra the following year. I may be getting a little ahead of myself, but I like to plan for best/worst case scenarios.
Thanks! Have a nice day
 
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So by that time, you will only have taken one analysis and one algebra class. That doesn't sound very competitive...

What topic do you want to pursue in grad school?? What classes did you take up to now?
 
Sorry, I was a bit tired when writing that. Next year in the Fall is when I START the analysis line. So I'll have analysis I and II (which according to some old outline on my department's site goes up to multivariable chain rule, but that may not be correct) and a topics in analysis course next to round it off, and then the year after I was going to start the algebra line of algebra I (groups), algebra II (rings), and topics in Algebra. So I'll have a full year's worth of both, sorry for not making that explicit in my original post.

As for topics, I've been looking up different schools and what they offer, and geometric analysis seems rather interesting, but I'll hopefully get into something related to geometry or analysis, which may be a little vague now, but I'm sure will become a little more clear once I take more courses
 
Zaculus said:
Sorry, I was a bit tired when writing that. Next year in the Fall is when I START the analysis line. So I'll have analysis I and II (which according to some old outline on my department's site goes up to multivariable chain rule, but that may not be correct) and a topics in analysis course next to round it off, and then the year after I was going to start the algebra line of algebra I (groups), algebra II (rings), and topics in Algebra. So I'll have a full year's worth of both, sorry for not making that explicit in my original post.

As for topics, I've been looking up different schools and what they offer, and geometric analysis seems rather interesting, but I'll hopefully get into something related to geometry or analysis, which may be a little vague now, but I'm sure will become a little more clear once I take more courses

I think what Micromass meant was that if you have only taken analysis and algebra, you might have a tough time getting into grad school. Most places also expect you to know topology, complex, geometry, etc. Of course every school is different so you should look into that.
 
Oh okay I see now. My school requires for the major:
Linear Algebra (with proofs)
Analysis I
Analysis II
Algebra I
Algebra II
Complex Analysis
Differential Geometry I
And 5 electives. I already took linear algebra and this quarter I'm taking a linear/non linear DEs class and complex analysis, and next quarter will be ODEs and PDEs. So next year I'm definitely doing Analysis I/II/Topics and was just wondering if people have had experience taking it concurrently with algebra.
 
I haven't done it before but I have considered doing it. In my case, I was hoping to do the honors abstract algebra sequence, honors combinatorics and graduate level real analysis. I believe the term my professor used was "suicidal". Hope that helps somehow.
 
Yeah I thought so lol
So you don't think I'd be too much at a disadvantage taking it senior year as I'm applying? I assume I can at least learn a little bit of the algebra that'll appear on the subject test, which was my other concern for taking it "late"
 
I hope we won't be disadvantaged lol. I don't think it would be much of a disadvantage as long as you are taking it. The only problem I can see is the Math GRE.
 
Some schools offer real analysis and abstract algebra over the summer. You could knock at least one of them out then. Some schools even have two summer terms, so you could take out two terms of the course!
 
  • #10
Yeah mine offers the first two, but I think the honors sequence would be most beneficial
 
  • #11
At my school most people took real analysis and algebra at the same time, plus another math course - sometimes two.

Analysis is challenging, but you should be able to succeed in two difficult math courses at once if your aim is graduate school in math.
 
  • #12
Zaculus said:
Yeah mine offers the first two, but I think the honors sequence would be most beneficial

If your concern is the subject test, you could always audit the courses over the summer (that you way get credit for the honors sequence)... plus it will prepare you more for the hard load in your final year!
 

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