My chance of getting into grad school?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a senior undergraduate student seeking advice on their chances of being accepted into a Master's program at Stony Brook University. The conversation touches on various factors influencing admission, including GPA, GRE scores, recommendation letters, and the relationship between undergraduate and graduate admissions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster (OP) expresses concern about their declining GPA and lack of research experience, despite expecting a high GRE quantitative score.
  • Some participants suggest that building a relationship with a professor for potential research opportunities could improve the OP's chances.
  • There is a discussion about the acceptance rates for students applying to the same institution from which they are graduating, with some questioning why it might not be higher.
  • One participant notes that the OP should have considered taking the physics GRE, although the OP clarifies their focus is on mathematics.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the faculty at the OP's school are the best source of information regarding admission qualifications.
  • The OP acknowledges they did not directly ask faculty about their qualifications for the program, suggesting uncertainty about how their application would be viewed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the factors influencing admission chances, with some emphasizing the importance of faculty relationships and others questioning the competitiveness of the program. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the OP's specific chances of admission.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about admission criteria and the relationship between undergraduate and graduate admissions, but these assumptions are not fully explored or clarified.

zpei
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Hi.
Im a undergrad senior currently and am going to apply for grad school right after i take my GRE. I am wonder what my chances are of getting in.

Im applying for the same university where I am going to be graduating from ( stony brook ). [[ for a Masters, M.A., not a Ph.D ]]

My major is MAT, pure math.
GPA / Major GPA are aboth 3.2 ish.
No research experience.
Upper division GPA is also around 3.2 ish.
3 Letters of recommendation with 2 average and 1 above average.
GRE quantatative expected to be 100 percentile.
As I asked, admission is not competitve.

Upper division courses taken.
analysis in several dimensions, abstract algebra, dynamics and chaos, differential toplogy, complex analysis, applied analysis, geometric structures, and off course linear algebra and 1 dimensional analysis

And the part where i screwd up and worry about the most, is that my GPA has been on a steady decline with most recent semester having c+ c+ b+ for 3 of my major courses

Thank you so much for helping.
Happy new year!
 
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zpei said:
Im applying for the same university where I am going to be graduating from

What did they say when you asked them?
 
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You really should have taken the phys GRE if you wanted to get into Stony Brook. Infortunately most schools don't like to take their undergrads for grad school (it happens, but you have to be stronger than their average candidate). If you really have your heart set on SB, then you should start building a relationship with a professor that you're willing to do grad school research with... that's your best shot.

That said, you should be able to get in somewhere else... I will refrain from giving the "it's not about getting in somewhere, only go if you are going to somewhere you are excited to be" talk, but keep that in mind.
 
Hey,

i thought the acceptance rate will be a lot higher if the grad school I am applying for and where i am graduating as an undergrad are the same institution.

For one, the professors who write me recommendation letters also teach grad courses.

Why is the acceptance rate lower and not higher?
 
B-80 said:
You really should have taken the phys GRE if you wanted to get into Stony Brook.

I think he wants to go for math not physics . . .
 
zpei said:
Im applying for the same university where I am going to be graduating from

What did they say when you asked them?
 
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Sorry, forgot to mention that I am only aiming at M.A and definitely not Ph.D right now
 
zpei said:
Im applying for the same university where I am going to be graduating from

What did they say when you asked them?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
What did they say when you asked them?

Sorry vana, i didnt really asked them directly how qualified i am for their program, didnt think its the type of question they would answer. They would probably just say that its not great but still a chance.

BTW its MA program
 
  • #10
OK, so why do you think that we will have some better insight than your faculty?
 
  • #11
Hmmmm i dont, I am just wondering about something and hoping for an answer since many here i believe have deep experience in this respect.

I probably have offended you some how, you know what, sorry i bothered you and never mind about me.
 
  • #12
I don't think Vanadium is trying to be offensive. I think he or she is trying to point out that the people most qualified to answer your question are the faculty (advisor, associate chair, admissions committee members, etc.) at the school you're applying to.

The best anyone here can do is to evaluate what you've posted in relation to their own experiences in applying to or perhaps in some cases serving on admissions committees for graduate schools that likely aren't the school you're specifically interested in.

Generally when I hear "not competative" with respect to admission, I interpret it to mean that there is a minimum admission criteria and the people who meet it are generally accepted. If that's the case, the admission criteria are likely published - check the school's website.
 

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