Gap year ideas

[mathmollusk]

Does anyone have any good ideas on what a 2020 math grad could do during one gap year while awaiting the next (2021) application cycle (starting statistics grad school the year after next)?
 

Edited June 16, 2020 by insupliquitous

[Stat Assistant Professor]

Some math PhD programs like UCLA and UC Berkeley require incoming PhD students to take a "preliminary exam" or "basic exam" upon arrival that covers upper division undergrad material like proof-based linear algebra, real analysis (e.g.at the level of Rudin's "Principles of Mathematical Analysis"), complex analysis, abstract algebra, etc. You could spend some time practicing the publicly released prelim exams from different departmental webpages to make sure you will be able to pass these exams.

Other (usually mid-ranked or lower-ranked) math PhD programs basically re-teach you undergrad abstract algebra and analysis in the first year of the program before covering measure theoretic analysis and graduate-level abstract algebra and Galois theory. In that case, I think it is still worth it to review linear algebra, real analysis, complex analysis, and abstract algebra and practice the prelim exams from departmental webpages -- that way, you will be very well prepared for the first year of the PhD program, and that always makes the transition from undergrad to grad school a bit smoother.

This is what I did the summer before I began my PhD (though I'm in Statistics). Although I had previously taken Casella & Berger Mathematical Statistics, applied regression, etc. it had been almost two years since I finished a Masters, so I was a bit rusty. So I did every single past first year exam that was released on my department's website, and that helped a lot. I also reviewed real analysis and linear algebra before beginning.

[bayessays]

What are you looking for ideas for?

To improve your application?  If you're not in school or doing research, not much you can do.

To be more prepared when you get in?  There's not much needed.  Review a couple math concepts for a week. Learn R.

To enjoy the year off?  Whatever you'd like.  Make some money, take a vacation.

[Stat Assistant Professor]

Oh oops, I somehow missed that the OP is applying to Statistics PhD programs rather than math PhD programs. In that case, disregard what I had written earlier. In that case, I would just review some Calculus, linear algebra, and maybe upper division undergrad-level probability and statistics and undergrad-level real analysis (these latter topics aren't as essential as having finesse with Calculus or LA, but basic familiarity with them might make the Casella & Berger mathematical statistics sequence a bit easier).

Edited June 16, 2020 by Stat Assistant Professor

[mathmollusk]

Thanks guys. I definitely will be reviewing some undergrad math at the bare minimum.

1 hour ago, bayessays said:

What are you looking for ideas for?

To improve your application?  If you're not in school or doing research, not much you can do.

To be more prepared when you get in?  There's not much needed.  Review a couple math concepts for a week. Learn R.

To enjoy the year off?  Whatever you'd like.  Make some money, take a vacation.

I guess I was mainly thinking of if there are any jobs that people typically do for a year before grad school, espeically in stats. For example, is there such a thing as interning as a data analyst for a year etc. ? Some sort of post-bac, part time research? Or is this generally not a thing/wouldn't really impact my application?

Would a year without some sort of steady employment be frowned upon by admissions committees?

Edited June 16, 2020 by insupliquitous

[bayessays]

I wouldn't worry about any gap less than five years. It's grad school, not a job interview, so nobody is going to get super worried about a year off - it's totally understandable given the circumstances.  The type of job you can get with a bachelor's degree won't be a big benefit to an application. If you could find a professor to work with from your undergrad institution to do some statistics stuff and get a better recommendation letter, you could try.  Since your grades and test scores are the main factors, unless you can do something to improve your recommendation letters with professors there isn't a whole lot to do.  I'd prioritize whatever job you can get to make some money which will make graduate school more enjoyable, or if money is not a concern, I'd do whatever you'd like to enjoy the next year the most. 

[StatsG0d]

You can look for research analyst / research assistant jobs at consulting firms, think tanks, international organizations, etc. that might at least give your application a small boost, while allowing you to make some money. Unfortunately, it's not really the best time to be looking for a job.

[mathmollusk]

Great, thanks to all.

[Sigaba]

1 hour ago, StatsG0d said:

Unfortunately, it's not really the best time to be looking for a job.

I am an analyst at a consultancy.

One may have a better chance of getting a job if one looks for opportunities at firms addressing the impact of COVID-19 on various industries that do not have a significant public sector component. 

You will likely benefit from demonstrating the ability to work effectively with limited training.