Graduate school possibilities

[TNE]

Hi everyone,

After stalking this site for some time, I finally thought to post and ask for some suggestions and opinions.

I'm applying to graduate programs in mathematics next year. My primary interest is in mathematical logic (model theory). I attend a relatively well-known Canadian university with a strong logic faculty.

Major: Mathematics

GPA: 3.65 (my poor grades are localized in a bad semester due to intense personal problems)

Course breakdown:

My most recent year: Real analysis 1 and 2 (A+ in both), group theory (A-), mathematical logic (A), model theory [graduate] (B+), ring and field theory (B+) -- and now the bad part: topology (B-), complex analysis 1 ©. Non-math: Philosophy of language (A+).

Previous years: Linear algebra 1,2,3 (A, A, A+), advanced calculus 1,2 (A+, A), probability theory (A+), differential equations (A-). The rest are non-math courses, distributed among physics, biology, chemistry, history, and philosophy. Mostly A-/A/A+ with one or two B's.

Will be taking: model theory 2, geometric topology [both graduate], complex analysis 2, Galois theory, algebraic topology, algebraic geometry, partial differential equations, a thesis, and some non-math courses.

Research experience: one summer of research at the Fields institute, one summer of research at my university. Worked in model theory and functional analysis.

I am planning on asking two of my supervisors and a third logician, with whom I took the graduate course and complex analysis 1 -- I have discussed the circumstances of my poor grade in that class with this professor-- for reference letters. I'm fairly confident in the quality of these letters, as I know the writers well. Also, for what it's worth they are well known in model theory.

I'm planning on taking the general GRE this September and the subject test this October.

My dream program is the Berkeley logic program, but I think I have put myself in a very difficult place with my poor semester. Other than UCB, I was told that Rutgers, UCLA, CUNY, Notre Dame, and Maryland have good programs. I'm also going to apply to some M.Sc. programs in Canada. Any feedback on schools would be most welcome, since I'm afraid that I may have disqualified my application from most of the schools I've mentioned due to my low GPA.

Feedback is most welcome. Thanks.

[bmw_math]

You attend a Canadian university? Are you thinking of applying to any schools there?

The one poor mark in Complex Analysis won't hold you back at all. If you are really worried about it, then why not retake the course and do better the next time? But based on everything else, you will have no problem getting into grad programs

[TNE]

You attend a Canadian university? Are you thinking of applying to any schools there?

The one poor mark in Complex Analysis won't hold you back at all. If you are really worried about it, then why not retake the course and do better the next time? But based on everything else, you will have no problem getting into grad programs

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I'm planning on applying for the M.Sc. to some/all of: UBC, McMaster, Waterloo, UoT, McGill. I was thinking of retaking, but I am fairly confident that it was my circumstances rather than the course itself, so I am just going to take the successor course (complex analysis 2). I figure a good mark in complex analysis 2 will at least indicate that I understood the concepts from the first course, despite doing poorly in it.

[TNE]

Update: got GRE scores back.

163V/165Q/4.5W, percentiles: 92/92/75.

With these scores, GPA/courses and REUs, any recommendations on where to apply?

Edited September 29, 2012 by TNE