Hi, all -
I'm a high-school teacher, but trying to move towards a career in higher math at some point in the next few years. I'm currently working on an MA in Applied Math. I have a 4.0 so far. Haven't taken the GRE subject test yet, but I certainly will before I get around to PhD applications. Here are my questions, and I hope somebody will be kind enough to help:
- What are some decent programs in Applied Math, at the PhD level, that might be "safer" bets (i.e. less competitive) than MIT, Harvard, or UC Berkeley? I'm worried that some top places will see the word "teacher" on my resume and cast my application aside without a thought, especially since as an undergrad I switched my major from Math to Math Education (ah, hindsight...). I'd like to get accepted somewhere even if I may not have a great chance at the absolute best schools.
- Do you think the Applied Math MA will help? I figure it's a chance to better prepare myself for the PhD coursework and research, and it's helping me to figure out a specialization. Might that make up for not having a BA/BS in Math?