University of California, Irvine10/21/09

Preparing for graduate school Choosing a graduate school Applying to graduate school

◦ Application form◦ Personal statement◦ Transcripts◦ GRE exams◦ Letters of recommendation

Going to graduate school

Take lots of math courses!!! Take Math 205 and 206 (Analysis & Algebra) Consider Math 147 (Complex Variables) Consider Math 210 and 230 your senior year if you

took 205 and 206 early enough

Do the Math Honors Program Find a math research opportunity Apply for REU or semester abroad in math Attend a math conference Attend math talks outside of class Get excellent grades in your math courses Talk to your professors Study for the GRE subject test in math

Do your research◦ Look at websites comparing schools◦ Look at math department websites◦ Look at AMS website materials

Apply to many schools (10+ often good) Apply to schools of varying prestige Talk to faculty about schools you are

considering Know how competitive you will be at the

schools you are considering

Things to consider◦ Size of department (faculty, grad students)◦ Areas of faculty research◦ Colloquiums and seminars◦ Degree requirements◦ Graduate funding◦ Career placement of graduates◦ Particular faculty members of interest◦ Prestige of degree◦ Average time to degree◦ Attrition rate◦ Graduate student housing◦ Location

Application form Personal statement

◦ Avoid cliches and generic statements◦ Use specific examples ◦ Talk about your accomplishments◦ Mention areas of possible research interest◦ Talk about research experience or interesting courses◦ Avoid listing courses you want to take, instead talk

about what areas of math excite you◦ Make yourself sound unique and motivated◦ Discuss why you wish to attend grad school◦ Mention your interest in department in particular◦ Get someone to proof read

Transcripts◦ Request these early◦ Make sure they contain as many A’s as possible

GRE exams◦ Take the regular GRE anytime◦ You should get a great score on math portion◦ Take the GRE subject test by the Fall of senior year (the registration deadline is early!!!)◦ Study for the GRE subject test in Mathematics (Dr. Dennis Eichhorn has a study group for this!!!)

Letters of Recommendation◦ Ask faculty members a minimum of 1 month in advance ◦ Give letter writers nicely organized information◦ Ask someone who knows you well ◦ Ask someone in whose class you did very well◦ Letter writer will be asked to rank you ◦ You can “prewrite” part of the letter by giving materials

You should receive a full scholarship plus be paid a stipend to either TA, RA or fellowship

Most students take a core set of courses the first year or two

Most schools have some sort of comprehensive or qualifying exam in the first couple of years

After year two, you begin to do research in addition to taking courses in your chosen area

You select an advisor Many schools have some sort of oral exam early on in

your dissertation research You write and defend your dissertation You may have to do foreign language exam Most PhD degrees take about 5 years You look for a job when finished!