Honest Opinions..

[m4thguYY]

I went to SUNY Binghamton undergrad, 3.1 GPA, Math Major

Then SUNY Binghamton graduate, masters in math & math education, 3.7 GPA

Then SUNY Buffalo graduate, masters in math, 3.7 GPA, 3.95 GPA in my concentration of pure math, probability & stochastic processes. I have a thesis in stochastic & Poisson processes in economics.

GRE Scores (revised/old version):

Q: Pending

V: Pending

W: Pending

P:

My GRE scores: When I first took them, I got an 800 on Q, 510 on V. I am re-taking them, and I will guarantee at least 95th percentile. If I didn't get a 170, id be very shocked. My verbal will improve significantly, but that is still pending. I will not be sending my old scores.

I didn't do too well in undergrad but my grades weren't really bad. I got a few C marks in math classes, but not many. Calc II was my major stupidity moment, got a C, making it up this summer more for myself than anything but it couldn't hurt, so ill have an A with that. My other major C was Dynamical Systems with the worst professor EVER (which will come up later).

Anyway, I did well in my Math & Math Ed program. I will make the argument, which is true, that this program severely helped me gain un understanding of conceptual methods of teaching subject matter and how to interact more effectively with students, which will help with a PhD. (You are teaching for them, so they need to know you can)

My 2nd masters in math I did well. 2 B's, a B+, and 5 A's. My concentration GPA (made of 7 specific classes) is a 3.95 (6 A's, 1 A-). (Of those 2 B 1 B+ from before, 2 were grad physics classes and i have no background in physics and still got a good grade).

Anyway, I have read a million textbooks to see what my interests are and come a long way since my quasi-lethargic undergrad days. I have 3 really good LOR from professors that say i am top 5-10% (one of them is exceptional, amazing professor and my thesis advisor, in which i was rank 1 of 80 students in graduate probability theory).

By FAR my weakest asset is my undergrad grades. Although I messed up 4 classes, I have taken about 10-12 graduate classes, which I believe more than makes up for any old mistakes.

This year, I will be working in a teaching-related job (teacher, instructor, lecturer, adjunct, or a combination of these)

I will be applying to a bunch of applied math programs. Yet, I wanted to apply to Columbia EES department. Considering my background and STRONG interest in astronomy, I am really interested in atmospheric dynamics, planetary dynamics, and especially 3D dynamics of gas giants. I have read plenty of research on this and it always gets me excited to find a new piece to be able to read and analyze. I have even followed alongside a Rutgers course on planetary dynamics and it was awesome, to say the least. Yet, I did get a bad grade years ago in Dynamical Systems, so that could be a determining factor.

I e-mailed the chair and he was nice. he said my math degrees were a fine pre-requisite. only 3 physics courses, 2 geology, and no chemistry. chemistry is not essential in this research area, so i don't think thats an issue. he encouraged me that the department is enthused about my research interests. (columbia seems to have a broad research base)

I am just curious if I have a shot at all. I put effort into my grad programs and know what i want, and i just want to know what to expect. i see their graduate students and they seem to only have bachelor's, and a lot of them only in geology or earth science. either way i am going to apply, but some advice or feedback would be appreciated.

thanks a lot

[hope4fall2012]

I don't really think you should be worried about your undergrad grades, especially because you've done well in your subsequent masters degrees..

Do the normal stuff, scope out schools and professors, write to them, meet them, come up with a few good ideas on what you would like to do and form a good application package.. Nobody can really tell you if you'll get into a particular school or not, but it seems like you have a good shot..

Talk to professors definitely and see what they make of your research experience, as well as your ideas for the future..