gravityapples

Another thing that concerns me is that if I asked for recommendations from professors now they would probably be pretty mediocre. I got top grades in most of my classes but no relationship with the profs. Lol like what is a professor supposed to say in the recommendation, "gravityapples got an A in this class. He's probably decent at math?" So I'm thinking of working on building relationships with the professors whose classes I take next semester. Does this seem like a valid concern?

I'm not trolling at all. I've heard about how ridiculously competitive these programs can be and I have no research experience so I'm genuinely unsure.

Hello, new member here. I don't like posting these "chance" threads but since I've been just recently thinking of applying to grad school, I am completely in the dark about my chances. Any input appreciated! - - - - - Background: Rising senior at an ivy league school majoring in math. Was not thinking about graduate school at all so my first 3 summers were spent doing random things (consulting, finance). gpa: 3.94/4.0 other stuff: top 500 scores on putnam, academic prizes for math gre: haven't taken yet, expect to do well on quantitative portion though completed math coursework includes: linear algbera, set theory, multivariable calculus, 2 semesters of real analysis, abstract algebra, complex analysis, topology, probability and statistics, stochastic processes, research: none... - - - - - Ok I assume that if I applied with just that next year I'd be screwed, but I'm getting genuinely very interested in probability and statistics. I have been thinking of working for a year and then applying, so I get the full senior year to prepare. Here's my rough plan for senior year: coursework: measure theory, functional analysis, data analysis, machine learning, quantum mechanics, galois theory (yeah I know the last two aren't relevant but I just want to) research: spend the year working on an independent research project with prof supervision LOR: get letter of rec from prof I work with and some others, hopefully would be decent? Thanks!