Take Graduate Courses Now for Grad School: Benefits & Resume Impact

[ForMyThunder]

Does taking them as an undergraduate look good on an application for grad school? Undoubtedly, I would say yes. But the problem is that the school I'm at will only let me use 12 hours of graduate credit for undergraduate credit. Also, does the more courses (and the more advanced those courses are) I take (as long as I make As) help to build up my resume or am I just wasting my time. (Well, the guy I was supposed to talk to called it "wasting my time" if I take a graduate course and it doesn't look good on a resume, but I really don't care, I just want to learn.)

So my question is whether a mathematics department would consider someone more for admission if they had already taken a good bit of graduate coursework? The more the better, right?

 

[fss]

So my question is whether a mathematics department would consider someone more for admission if they had already taken a good bit of graduate coursework? The more the better, right?

Generally yes, unless you are getting C or lower in them.

 

[Msh1]

Yes, specially in mathematics because graduate courses in mathematics usually require a much higher level of "mathematical maturity" and that can look really good on resume. But remember it only looks good if you actually get a decent grade, if you take a graduate course and pass with a 55% it is better not to take it. I actually took 2 math graduate courses last semester and I found them both much more difficult than any undergrad courses I had taken.
BTW, some courses are "cross-listed" so technically they are not really graduate courses. Try to take the ones that are meant for graduate students only.

 

[ForMyThunder]

I have to get permission from a man outside the math department in order to take grad level classes, the "Dean of Graduate School." Even though every one of my professors say it would be the right decision for me to do so I think he may not let me. Are most math departments structured like that?

 

[Msh1]

Well, my school was exactly the same. However, I first talked to the professor of the course and asked him to write a letter confirming that I am eligible to take the course, then I gave the letter to dean of graduate school. I am sure if you do that it won't be a problem.

 

[Choppy]

I would have a few reservations about it - not that I wouldn't do it completely.

(1) Have you run out of undergraduate courses to take? I would think really long and hard about 'skipping' undergraduate classes, even if you are able to fenagle a professor into saying that it's okay. Some people can do this I suppose, but you can some necessary foundational-type stuff. There's time for graduate courses in graduate school.

(2) What courses are you going to take in graduate school if you take them in your undergrad? You will generally need to take courses to graduate and it would not be pleasant to have to sit through the same course again.

(3) Graduate courses tend to be more challenging than undergraduate courses. In my experience, two graduate courses courses were the rough equivalent of about five undergraduate courses. By taking them as just another undergraduate course, you run the risk of getting in over your head.

(4) What about expanding your horizons a little bit? Let's say you've taken all the undergrad courses in your subject that you feel you need and are looking for something to fill up those last hours. Sometimes taking something completely out of context with your major can provide you with some really valuable experiences.

(5) As others have said, stellar marks on undergraduate courses will trump mediocre marks on graduate courses.

 

[diligence]

I'm under the impression that if you want to have even a remotely infinitesimal chance of gaining admittance to the top-tier grad programs (MIT, Harvard, Princeton, etc, etc), you need to take the most challenging and ambitious course-load as is possible.

Many undergraduate courses are designed for students who don't intend to go to graduate school. These should be avoided. For example, at my university (major well-known public) there are two linear algebra courses and two abstract algebra courses. One set is for the "real" math majors, and the others are for the people who have decided to major in math. Furthermore, there are really only a couple undergrad courses for the serious maths student. Most undergrad courses have a counterpart grad-level course that could be taken w/out the undergrad version as a prerequisite. For example, my school offers two different complex analysis courses. The higher level one has real analysis as a prereq.

Even FURTHER, these so-called "grad courses" are equivalent to honors undergrad courses at the best schools (Harvard, etc...). So they are not REALLLY grad courses. It all depends on your perspective... and by perspective, I mean your ambitions.

I'm trying to get admitted to the best school possible. I think it all depends on how hungry you are, but my opinion is that once you get to Analysis, you should be taking strictly grad courses.

Long story short, yes, take as many graduate classes as you possibly can (and get A's).

 

[diligence]

But the problem is that the school I'm at will only let me use 12 hours of graduate credit for undergraduate credit.

Beyond not being able to apply the credits to your degree, I don't see why this is a problem. You can still enroll in the course, right? If you want to learn the math, then take the course.

 

[diligence]

I would have a few reservations about it - not that I wouldn't do it completely.

(1) Have you run out of undergraduate courses to take? I would think really long and hard about 'skipping' undergraduate classes, even if you are able to fenagle a professor into saying that it's okay. Some people can do this I suppose, but you can some necessary foundational-type stuff. There's time for graduate courses in graduate school.

no offense, but i think this is horrible advice for a serious math student. many undergraduate courses are just watered down introductions to a subject. intro grad courses start at the beginning and cover everything that was covered in undergrad, just at an accelerated pace.

So why not just take the grad course if you're serious about math?

 

[negru]

no offense, but i think this is horrible advice for a serious math student. many undergraduate courses are just watered down introductions to a subject. intro grad courses start at the beginning and cover everything that was covered in undergrad, just at an accelerated pace.

So why not just take the grad course if you're serious about math?

Yeah I agree most grad courses start at zero - you surely won't be missing anything by skipping the undergrad ones.