- #31
bogarts21
- 27
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Read the thread by Anonymous111. https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=431445
Harvard Math Ph.D Requirements: Straight A's & Perfect SAT 800 in Math?
- Thread starter jhooper3581
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- Harvard Mathematics Ph.d
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the admissions requirements for Ph.D. programs in mathematics at Harvard, specifically addressing the importance of academic performance, standardized test scores, and other factors influencing acceptance. Participants explore various aspects of the application process, including the relevance of high school achievements, GRE scores, undergraduate research, and the competitive nature of admissions.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
- Exploratory
Main Points Raised
- Some participants question whether Harvard requires straight A's in all subjects and a perfect SAT score for Ph.D. admissions, while others assert that high school performance is largely irrelevant.
- It is suggested that Ph.D. programs prioritize GRE scores, particularly the GRE Math, over SAT scores.
- Concerns are raised about the difficulty of obtaining a Ph.D. in mathematics, emphasizing the need for originality and the challenges that may not be apparent until after completing a bachelor's degree.
- Some participants argue that graduate schools value undergraduate research, strong letters of recommendation, and challenging coursework more than mere intelligence or test scores.
- There is a mention of a website where applicants share their admissions experiences, noting that success often involves luck, high subject test scores, and a solid GPA.
- Participants express skepticism about the reliability of data from admissions experience websites, highlighting the variability across different fields and the subjective nature of rankings.
- Discussion includes differing views on the publication of undergraduate research, with some suggesting that the standards for publication vary significantly between fields.
- One participant provides context on the competitiveness of Harvard's admissions, noting the limited number of spots available and the high caliber of applicants.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the specific requirements for Harvard's Ph.D. program admissions, with multiple competing views on the importance of various factors such as test scores, research experience, and academic performance.
Contextual Notes
Participants acknowledge that the admissions criteria can vary significantly between different graduate programs and fields, and that the relevance of certain achievements may depend on individual circumstances and institutional expectations.
- #32
G037H3
- 280
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ephedyn said:
we have a winner
- #33
zpconn
- 241
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G037H3 said:
I was actually convinced that CV was a joke before finding numerous references to the person on the web. It still seems fishy to me.
- #34
G037H3
- 280
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zpconn said:
What part of it, the triple bachelors at MIT? I just accepted it as true because I've seen some of the other posts by the person who posted it and he seems like a pretty decent guy.
- #35
ephedyn
- 169
- 1
Alex Wissner-Gross really exists.
http://www.intel.com/education/sts/alumni.htm Intel STS Alumni page
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/marshalls.html MIT news page
http://www.intel.com/education/sts/alumni.htm Intel STS Alumni page
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2002/marshalls.html MIT news page
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- #36
ephedyn
- 169
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G037H3 said:What part of it, the triple bachelors at MIT? I just accepted it as true because I've seen some of the other posts by the person who posted it and he seems like a pretty decent guy.
Haha, glad to know that I'm a decent guy. *shrugs*
- #37
Anonymous217
- 355
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That resume had a lot of extraneous information though. Who puts down stuff like "National AP Scholar" and "valedictorian at high school" on their resume after grad school other than to list as many awards as possible? Not considering the graduate work/scholarships/distinctions, I'd say http://web.mit.edu/yufeiz/www/cv.pdf still has a better undergraduate resume. Three-time Putnam fellow!? That's all you really need.
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- #38
zpconn
- 241
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G037H3 said:What part of it, the triple bachelors at MIT? I just accepted it as true because I've seen some of the other posts by the person who posted it and he seems like a pretty decent guy.
No, it was the massive list of awards that made me think it was a joke, both because it's so implausible for someone to get so many awards and because it's silly to list some of the ones that were listed.
- #39
G037H3
- 280
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Wissner-Gross seems more impressive to me than Zhao, but that could be because Wissner-Gross is a fellow Germanic. 
- #40
ephedyn
- 169
- 1
Well, I'd argue that if you've managed to clinch top 5 in the Putnam competition once, you have good odds of repeating the feat (and certainly why they'd select you into the team for the next year!) and I wouldn't be surprised if you have some other mathematical publications/experiences/awards. This is a trend with IMOs as well. More classic examples (who got in the Harvard 'mathematics PhD' program, to stay on topic) if you really like the Putnam:
http://web.mit.edu/rwbarton/Public/resume.pdf
http://www.math.harvard.edu/~dankane/
http://www.claymath.org/fas/research_fellows/Manolescu/cv.pdf
On the other hand, AWG's CV is sort of like a career grand slam.
But of course, this is all in light-hearted discussion and to have some fun looking at other people's resumes. I don't mean to start a serious discussion on what awards garner most prestige, which is a rather silly endeavor.
http://web.mit.edu/rwbarton/Public/resume.pdf
http://www.math.harvard.edu/~dankane/
http://www.claymath.org/fas/research_fellows/Manolescu/cv.pdf
On the other hand, AWG's CV is sort of like a career grand slam.
But of course, this is all in light-hearted discussion and to have some fun looking at other people's resumes. I don't mean to start a serious discussion on what awards garner most prestige, which is a rather silly endeavor.
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