Is a Grade of B- in Analysis II the end of my aspirations .?

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A B- in Analysis II is not likely to derail aspirations for a Ph.D. in Applied Math, especially if the overall GPA remains strong. Many contributors suggest that as long as the applicant excels in other relevant courses, such as Algebra and Probability Theory, the impact of one lower grade can be mitigated. Options like changing the grade to Pass/Fail or retaking the course are discussed, but retaking may not be necessary if the applicant can demonstrate improvement in future classes. Emphasizing additional coursework or experiences in the application can also help offset the lower grade. Overall, a single B- is generally viewed as manageable within the context of a solid academic record.
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Is a Grade of B- in Analysis II the end of my aspirations...?

Hello all!

I'm hoping to apply to a Ph.D program in Applied Math. Would a B- in Analysis II be a game killer? I got a B+ in Analysis I, A in Algebra, A- in Probability Theory, and etc.

Would any here recommend that I change this to a Pass/Fail option?

Any and all helpful comments are welcome. Snarky repliers can play in traffic.
 
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Depends where you want to go. I would say that you'll be fine for most schools as long as your overall GPA is high.

Are you in a BSc program? If so, it's not a killer. You could do a MSc in Applied Math and get A's, and no one would care about your undergraduate scores when you apply for the PhD.

Another way to deal with the issue is to take the class again. Your university may not let you. But you could take it somewhere else over the summer.

Then, in your application for a PhD, you would write the following: "I was so disappointed with my score in Analysis I and Analysis II that I took it again to make sure I had a solid grounding in it."

Poodle said:
Hello all!

I'm hoping to apply to a Ph.D program in Applied Math. Would a B- in Analysis II be a game killer? I got a B+ in Analysis I, A in Algebra, A- in Probability Theory, and etc.

Would any here recommend that I change this to a Pass/Fail option?

Any and all helpful comments are welcome. Snarky repliers can play in traffic.
 


changeseeker - Thanks a bunch for your comments. What you say certainly has merit.
 


Poodle said:
changeseeker - Thanks a bunch for your comments. What you say certainly has merit.

I got a C- in one math class during undergrad. I was thinking about retaking it - my school would average the grades. My advisor asked me if I would actually learn anything new by retaking it. I wouldn't have... it was just an issue with one of the exams really. If you do well on future math classes one outlier grade isn't going to kill you. As long as you have something to talk about besides just your gpa, one bad grade will be excused (bad here is relative of course).

If you retake the course are you giving up taking an extra math class you'd actually learn something new from? I'd go for the extra class before retaking the same one. It's more impressive than retaking the same class, even if it doesn't influence your gpa as much.

Add a note: "I was disappointed with my grade in Analysis II so I took (upper level course X) as an elective to solidify my skills while expanding my depth of knowledge."
 
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kote, thanks for sharing your experience. I like your philosophy and I dig what you said.
 
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