For grad school, how much more helpful is it to have a BS?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the impact of obtaining a Bachelor of Arts (BA) versus a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree on graduate school admissions in applied mathematics. The participant, a junior at the University of Florida, is concerned about the difficulty of completing a double major in math and physics while maintaining a strong GPA. Key insights include the assertion that a BA will not significantly harm graduate school prospects, especially given the participant's impressive double major and decent GPA of 3.5. Additionally, the importance of recommendation letters and research experience is highlighted, suggesting that these factors may weigh more heavily than the specific degree title.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of graduate school admissions criteria
  • Familiarity with the differences between BA and BS degrees
  • Knowledge of the importance of GPA and recommendation letters
  • Awareness of research opportunities in academic settings
NEXT STEPS
  • Research graduate school requirements for applied mathematics programs
  • Explore strategies for obtaining strong letters of recommendation
  • Investigate research opportunities at the University of Florida
  • Learn about managing academic stress and workload effectively
USEFUL FOR

Undergraduate students considering graduate school, particularly those majoring in math or physics, academic advisors, and anyone seeking to understand the implications of degree types on graduate admissions.

tjackson3
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I want to go to grad school in applied math. Currently I'm a junior at the University of Florida, double majoring in math and physics. I'm planning out my final year, and I'm noticing that it becomes ludicrously hard to get a BS in both fields (especially because I am a transfer student, and the requirements to get the BS differ greatly between the two schools I've attended). Doing so would, I believe, hurt my GPA a lot and only contribute to the burn out I'm feeling because of the stress I'm under. I guess my question is: does it significantly hurt my chances of being accepted into grad school in the field that I like if I get the BA degree in these two fields rather than the BS?

I'm especially worried because right now, my chances of getting into grad school are somewhat dim. While my GPA is decent (3.5), having just transferred to a very large school, I have no professors who know me well enough to write me a recommendation, and due to some major issues I've been having, I haven't been able to get into any research.
 
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No one is going to really care that you got a BA rather than a BS, and a double major in math and physics is pretty impressive no matter what the degree title is. If you get overly stressed, you might consider dropping a major and then doing some sort of minor.

I don't think that your chances of getting into some graduate school somewhere are dim.
 
Very reassuring. Thanks!
 

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