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Undergraduate Institution: Emory University Major: Applied Math BS GPA: 3.97 Cumulative, 4.0 Major GRE: Verbal 167, Quant 165, AW 5.0 Graduate Institution: N/A Important Classes: Real Analysis, Numerical Analysis (graduate), Matrix Analysis (graduate), Partial Differential Equations Research Experience: 1 summer developing image processing software, 1 year working on large scale inverse problems Publications: None Grants: None Teaching experience: Effectively none LORs: One from my advisor who is very well known in his field (I had several people during interviews comment unprompted that this letter was extremely strong. I attribute this letter to much of my success). One from the professor I was writing software for and another from a professor who just loved me. Applied: Emory (Computational Math, PhD), University of Maryland (Applied Math, PhD), Rice (Computational and Applied Math, PhD), FSU (Scientific Computing, PhD), Stony Brook (Applied Math, PhD), University of Arizona (Applied Math, PhD), Georgia Tech (Computational Science and Engineering, PhD), UT-Austin (Computational Science, Engineering and Mathematics, PhD) Accepted: Emory ($$), Rice ($$), FSU ($$), Stony Brook (no $$), University of Arizona ($$), Georgia Tech ($$), UT-Austin ($$$ extra money) Rejected: University of Maryland Attending: UT-Austin Comments: As I mentioned, I think my very strong rec letter had a lot to do with my acceptances. My GPA is good, GRE scores are acceptable, but I was a little weak in terms of research. I expected to get in to Maryland, but not Georgia Tech (screwed up the application, but ran into a faculty member at a conference and got everything cleared up). No money from Stony Brook was surprising, but not disappointing because I already had several acceptances by then. I chose UT because it is an excellent program and I got offered much more money from there than from anywhere else and I really liked the people I met when I visited. If I could go back in time, I might apply to Stanford's Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering. I intended to apply, but the application deadline was too early and I didn't think that I had much of a shot anyway. I wanted to apply to CSE at UCSD and I think a similar program at Berkeley, but all the UC schools required the math GRE for stuff like that and I never took it (my advisor said that I probably wouldn't need to).

I had three that were constantly vying for #1 in my heart, and they changed depending on where I was applying at the time, which I had most recently been accepted to and where I visited.

I've also got an offer at ICES and I'm in a somewhat similar position. However for me, UT is offering me much more money than my other choices. I don't think you should let a 3.25 or 3.5 GPA requirement influence you. If you've been accepted, you ought to be able to maintain that (grad classes can have quite a curve). ICES has a good graduation rate, if I recall correctly (although there are a few students spending way too much time there...). I think you need to figure out moe where your interests lie. I went to UT and really liked th faculty and students I met there. For this reason, I will likely choose it over Georgia Tech (and the money difference)

Is it typical to take the GRE more than once? I kind of screwed myself by not taking the subject GRE in some cases, however. I'm with you though, I would have applied for more "reach" schools if I could do it again. If only Stanford's application deadline weren't so early...

Well I was enrolled for 3 years total, missed a year in the middle, so I got my degree after 4 years, but I'm currently at the same place taking grad and undergrad classes and going elsewhere next year. So 3/4/5 depending on how you look at it.

I applied to 8. I have no idea what the average for my field is, but it didnt seem like a lot. The applications were easy (write one SOP and modify it slightl for each school) so it was really just the money that was the limiting factor.

My highest offer is $35k (12 mos) from UT Austin but and right now I'm on ~$26k (12 mos) at Emory University. My lowest offer has been $20k, but I am waiting on the University of Arizona funding which should come in pretty low as well as some decisions from other schools. I'll answer the poll using the school I'm leaning toward going to. And to answer how I make it work. I mostly make my own food, that keeps food costs down. I have a roommate which helps keep rent down and that's about it. Cable is a luxury, but not necessary. I bought my car outright about a year back, so no payments except insurance on that (I don't drive much, so gas costs aren't an issue).

I've recently been admitted to both of these programs, but I'm having a tough time deciding between these two. Part of the problem, I think, is that I'm not entirely sure what I want to research yet. Both are good schools known for engineering, but this field is unranked so I'm not sure which is better. UT is offering a good bit more money.

It seems to me that the importance of research experience really depends on the field. I have heard a lot of advice about how important it is and how it is the number one thing that admissions committees look for when reviewing applications. However, I don't have a ton of research experience and when interviewing and talking with people at the schools where I was accepted, many of them didn't even care if I knew what I wanted to do or research (this is applied math, btw). I did have, according to some of the people that I talked to, one really, really good letter of recommendation from a prominent researcher. Probably saved my ass.

Is there a way to determine how well a program is regarded if there are no rankings available for the field? Should I consider rankings for a closely related field at each school?