Where to Apply for Math PhD: Advice and Considerations

[ralphhumacho]

I was wondering if any of you can give me some advice as to what "level" Math grad schools I should apply to. I will be applying for Fall 2009 admission in a few months. Here is my basic info:

College: Small liberal arts college (unknown to the greater Math world basically)

Mathematics/Statistics GPA: 3.85
Cumulative GPA: 3.65

Course I will have taken before graduation:
Calculus I – III + Differential Equations
Linear Algebra, Advanced Linear Algebra
Probability and Statistics I + II (For Majors)
Modern Algebra, Advanced Modern Algebra, Intro to Number Theory
Introduction to Analysis I + II
Measure Theory, Functional Analysis (Graduate Analysis)
Combinatorics

Course I will be lacking (due to scheduling conflicts): Complex Analysis + Topology

The fact that I will not be able to take Topology/Complex before grad school worries me quite a bit, seeing as how most schools strongly recommend it. Although, maybe with a great deal of scheduling-acrobatics I may be able to squeeze Complex in there.

I hope to score >70%ile on the GRE subject test and can definitely procure 2 strong Math letters and 1 decent Math letter.


My plan was originally to apply to about 4 top-25 Schools, 5 mid-tier (top 25-50) schools, and 2-3 safety schools. Does this breakdown look good? Any comments or critiques about my record? My dream school would probably be either U of Wisc (Madison) of U of IL (Urbana).

 

[ice109]

yea this is a good question. any answers?

 

[mattmns]

Ask the professors at your school: What kinds of schools have recent graduates been accepted to?

Do you have any research you plan on doing? Summer REU? Honors Thesis?

My opinion: Top 25 will be tough. I think somewhere in the 40-60 range is realistic.

 

[ralphhumacho]

Ask the professors at your school: What kinds of schools have recent graduates been accepted to?

Do you have any research you plan on doing? Summer REU? Honors Thesis?

My opinion: Top 25 will be tough. I think somewhere in the 40-60 range is realistic.

Thanks for the reply. I have done some research, but it wasn't in Math. I basically did all the statistical analysis for an chemistry professor and will be published. However, this wasn't actual research in Math, just some number crunching/analyzing data. As for other students, we've had recent grads get in all over the place. Any other advice?

Also, do you have any information on Stats PhD programs? I definitely wanted to get a concentration in Stats, but am now considering applying to Stat PhD programs as well as Math.

Thanks again.