Am I screwed graduate admission?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a student's concerns regarding their chances of admission to graduate programs in mathematics and mathematical physics at Canadian universities, particularly in light of their academic performance over the years. The conversation includes reflections on previous challenges, improvements in grades, and strategies for enhancing their application.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • The student outlines their academic transcript, noting significant stress and mental health issues during their first two years, which impacted their performance.
  • Some participants suggest that upper division classes are more heavily weighted in admissions, and the student could justify their earlier poor performance in their application.
  • There is mention of the importance of obtaining strong letters of recommendation from professors, particularly one who awarded the student a high grade.
  • The student indicates they have conducted research in quantum information, which may enhance their application despite earlier grades.
  • Concerns are raised about the overall GPA and how it may be perceived by admissions committees, with some participants expressing optimism about the student's upward trend in grades.
  • Participants discuss the possibility that Canadian universities primarily consider the last two years of undergraduate performance, which could work in the student's favor if they maintain their current trajectory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the student's recent academic improvements are a positive sign, but there is no consensus on how much weight admissions committees will place on earlier grades or the overall GPA. Multiple views on the impact of the student's past performance and the effectiveness of their application strategy remain present.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the uncertainty around how different universities weigh GPA components and the potential variability in admissions criteria across institutions. The discussion does not resolve how much the student's earlier grades will affect their chances.

Who May Find This Useful

Students considering graduate admissions in mathematics or related fields, particularly those who have faced academic challenges or are looking to improve their applications.

Sciencer
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I am currently studying math (honours) in a university in Canada. Due to family issues that made my first and second year of very stressful,which caused problems to my mental health Anyway here is my full transcript:First Year:
Mechanics 1: 86
Calc 1: 90
C++ programming: 91
Economics: 82
Optics: 60
Statistics: 87
Calc 2: 83
Calc 3: 95
Biology: 68
Linear algebra 73
Chemistry: 87

Second year:(very bad year for me)
First semester:
Electricity and magnetism: 60
Thermodynamics: 58
Psychology: 61

Second semester:
Geometry: 66
Modern physics: 63
Mechanics 2: 67
Analysis: 87
Riemann geometry: 90
Biology: 61

Summer semester:(Now I decided I can't let anything affect me and been really good since then!)
Differential equations: 94
Programming 2: 95
Web-programming: 84
Data structures: 88

Third year:

Introduction to proofs: 90
Second analysis: 90
Abstract algebra: 84
Psychology 2: 81
Linear algebra 2: 86
Measure theory: 94
Complex analysis: 100
set theory: 95
Number theory: 96
Abstract algebra 3: 85
Advanced mechanics: 98 (highest grade the professor gave ever)
General relativity: 99
I am interested to research along mathematical physics and topology I want to apply to Canadian universities. Please let me know what chances do I stand ? My last semester is winter 2016 and I will continue my progress and improvement even more that year.
 
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You certainly didn't do yourself any favors, and you'll be competing against students who didn't have such hardships.That said, typically upper division classes generally play a much larger large in admission considerations, and you could always justify the bad year in your admissions packets. If you do similarly well your last year you should be able to graduate with an overall GPA in the low 3's.

Have you talked to your upper division professors about writing letters of recommendation for you? If you obtained the highest grade a professor had ever given, you should be able to get a glowing recommendation from that professor.

I'm not sure how the Canadian system works, have you had a chance to do any undergraduate research? Do they have graduate school entrance exams? You need to find ways to counterbalance your otherwise lack luster sophomore grades.
 
Yes I have talked to the professor in the upper division classes that I took and they said they would be happy to give me recommendation letter especially my mechanics professor. Most Canadian universities here take last two years of undergrad but I don't know since I screwed up badly in first and second year my current average is 83 % most universities here require min of 78 % average,but still having those grads will affect me for sure. I forgot to mention last summer I did research in quantum information and we don't require entrance exam no.
 
Sciencer said:
Yes I have talked to the professor in the upper division classes that I took and they said they would be happy to give me recommendation letter especially my mechanics professor. Most Canadian universities here take last two years of undergrad but I don't know since I screwed up badly in first and second year my current average is 83 % most universities here require min of 78 % average,but still having those grads will affect me for sure. I forgot to mention last summer I did research in quantum information and we don't require entrance exam no.

If they only really look at the last two years of undergrad you'll be fine if you stay the course. It sounds like your average is above the minimum and should only get better. I wouldn't sweat it too much, it sounds like you've got things worked out now and can always justify away the bad year. Get the letters, keep doing any research you can, get A's your senior year, and you should be fine.
 
Thanks a lot for your advice !
 
Your last year did show a lot of improvement, so that certainly is a good thing.
 
When I apply I explain why my performance was bad and note the improvement that I have made throughout the years so hopefully they will understand.
 

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