- #31
bogarts21
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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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SUMMARY
Harvard's Ph.D. program in mathematics does not prioritize high school achievements such as straight A's or perfect SAT scores, focusing instead on GRE scores, undergraduate research, and strong letters of recommendation. Applicants should excel in their bachelor's and master's programs, with a particular emphasis on research experience and challenging coursework to avoid burnout during the Ph.D. process. Admission criteria vary significantly between institutions, and factors like luck and the ability to solve problems quickly are crucial. A competitive application often includes first-author publications and a solid academic background from a top institution.
PREREQUISITES- Understanding of GRE requirements for graduate school admissions
- Familiarity with undergraduate research practices in mathematics
- Knowledge of the importance of letters of recommendation in Ph.D. applications
- Awareness of the differences in admission criteria across various graduate programs
- Research GRE preparation strategies and resources
- Explore opportunities for undergraduate research in mathematics
- Learn about effective letter of recommendation writing for graduate school
- Investigate the varying admission standards of different Ph.D. programs in mathematics
Prospective Ph.D. candidates in mathematics, undergraduate students seeking to strengthen their graduate applications, and academic advisors guiding students through the admissions process.
- #32
G037H3
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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