Geometry & Topology REU Programs - Williams, Cornell, Tennessee, Indiana?

[jgm340]

I applied to the UIUC REU, but I have not heard back yet.

I anticipate a rejection, but I would think it would take at least a week for decisions to be made.

 

[zpconn]

I got an offer to participate in MASS at Penn State yesterday and I'm having a rough time figuring out whether I should do it or not.

I have no doubt it would be an extremely rewarding and worthwhile experience. It seems like a great and one-of-a-kind program.

But going would basically mess up my plans here at my home institution. I'm currently planning on finishing the graduate sequences in algebra, topology, and real analysis (measure theory) next year. If I go to MASS, all of that--and that is a lot of really significant material--will have to be delayed an entire year and I don't think there would really be any math classes for me to take next spring semester (the ones I would take have as prerequisites classes I would need to take next semester).

Deep down, I think I should stay here and finish the standard graduate sequences next year, but it's super hard to turn down MASS. Any thoughts on what I should do?

 

[jgm340]

zpconn, I think that graduate schools care most about:
1) Solid coursework demonstrating your preparadness and ability
2) Good recommendations to speak to your character

You need to look at whether MASS will help or hurt you with regard to those two factors.

There is a third factor, which has an indirect effect on the other two: a program like that may provide a lot more support in terms of your academic development than your home university. However, this is an uncertainty. You should try to separate this factor from the definite factors as you make your decision.

 

[zpconn]

Thank you for the advice.

MASS certainly appears to have solid coursework. The graduate coursework here is also very solid, though. I have three years left as an undergraduate, so there's something really appealing about maybe finishing the standard graduate sequences next year and then having two remaining years to focus on more specialized topics and maybe study abroad in Moscow (which I was planning on applying for next year, in fact, but have recently decided against it in favor of taking the graduate courses here first).

 

[sutupidmath]

Thank you for the advice.

MASS certainly appears to have solid coursework. The graduate coursework here is also very solid, though. I have three years left as an undergraduate, so there's something really appealing about maybe finishing the standard graduate sequences next year and then having two remaining years to focus on more specialized topics and maybe study abroad in Moscow (which I was planning on applying for next year, in fact, but have recently decided against it in favor of taking the graduate courses here first).

If i were you i would defenitely stay at your home institution and finish up the standard graduate sequence. You could then, like you said, go either to Moscow or Budapest. From what I've heard, they are both equally challenging if not more than MASS.

 

[PieceOfPi]

Has anyone heard anything from UC Santa Barbara and UNC Asheville?

 

[W_M069]

Still waiting to hear from UNC-Asheville and WPI...

 

[W_M069]

UNC-A has now updated its REU webpage:

"At this time we have nearly completed our selection process. Students who will be taking part in the program this summer will be notified soon."

 

[PieceOfPi]

UNC-A has now updated its REU webpage:

"At this time we have nearly completed our selection process. Students who will be taking part in the program this summer will be notified soon."

Thanks for letting me know about that. I wonder how "soon" they will notify those people. I also wonder if they will ever notify those who are not taking part in the program.

 

[algebraicgeom]

I know of people who have been accepted to UNC asheville...they found out a few weeks ago if I recall correctly

 

[lilli]

Got an offer from Mt Holyoke!
Anyone done this REU last year / knows anything about it?

 

[algebraicgeom]

Got an offer from Mt Holyoke!
Anyone done this REU last year / knows anything about it?

Which group did you get into? I had received an offer a few weeks ago and ended up choosing a different program as it more closely fit my personal research interests.

Everyone I had spoken to who did that program last summer all had very high recommendations, however they did make it clear that it was different adviser and topic. One of the main drawbacks to me, aside from the mathematics, to be completely honest, was the lack of a/c in the dormitories.

 

[lilli]

I got into the "Partition Regular Matrices from a Linear Algebraic Perspective" group.
Still waiting to hear back from a couple others (Pennstate, UNC Asheville, Clemson) but since it's gotten so late I'm pretty sure I'll get rejected from them.
Haha it is 8 weeks in Summer, so that is indeed a major drawback!

 

[belle]

Is anyone going to NAU?

 

[lilli]

Got into Clemson (Computational Number Theory and combinatorics).
Anyone got any views on this REU? and perhaps how it would compare with Mount Holyoke?

Also, Pennstate haven't finished giving out offers apparently. The committee is still meeting to decide the fate of my application...