Realistic options - M.S. Applied Math

[makiten]

I don't have a degree in math (my university only has a pure and an education option--I'm an applied person), but upon graduation I will have enough hours and have taken enough courses to qualify for a B.S./B.A. in Applied Math at some other more reputable universities. My grades in my math and stat courses are either A or B, but my overall GPA is low (3.08-3.13ish) due to raising a family and being full-time student and employee (I am a software/web "engineer").

Since I was forced to take another semester, I will be taking my GRE next year in the Spring, and sending out applications. I'm strictly interested in applied math for a terminal MS degree. I'm particularly interested in programs with distance options, but I don't think my GPA is high enough for UW Seattle, and I imagine I'll be paying out of pocket or through my employer, so my choices right now are Texas A & M, University of Houston, and Texas State University - San Marcos (which is not an online program, but I like the department, and they are a match in terms of research interests).

I've taken the 3-semester calculus sequence, elementary linear algebra, ODE, and intro to proofs, intro to analysis, numerical analysis (currently taking), abstract algebra, and (single-variable) Analysis I (I took but dropped the multi-variable Analysis II course) as well as a horde of statistics courses. My university's math dept. consists of mostly professors of math ed, DE or functional analysis, so we have very little to offer outside of analysis and math ed courses. To enroll in any program, Texas State is the only course that requires I take Analysis II again (it's not the same as our Analysis II), UH would require me to take an upper level linear algebra course that my university doesn't offer, and I would not need to make up for any deficiencies at TAMU.

But my concern, firstly, in my GPA and getting LORs. The only school I'm certain I could enroll in (pending all other parts of my application) with my GPA is Texas State. Alternately, I could stay at my current university for a Masters in Applied Math (curiously enough, this program doesn't require Analysis II for admission), but I have no common interest with faculty members at my current university, and a do not want to take another course with any of them again. For LORs, I'm sure I could get at least two good LORs, but I'm not all that sure I could get a good third LOR from there. And I doubt I could get one from work.

My second concern is faculty members. I think each of these schools have good math departments, but I haven't been completely sold on any. When it comes to me asking questions, either about the department, the program, or just the application procedure, I can't get a decent answer. Either they don't answer the question I ask or dodge the question (one in particular dodges the question of alumni success, which I don't understand because the program's been around for awhile). Texas State is the only one that doesn't avoid my question.

Lastly, my concern is with each program itself. I haven't found many resources or feedback (online, anyway) on these programs from students and alumni. Given all the unnecessary conflict/disagreements I have with the math dept. at my current university, the last thing I want to do is choose a program where I have to deal with more whining, complaining, and general discord in a department, and most importantly, I do not want to sit through classes where the majority are sit-and-memorize-proofs-verbatim-from-instructor-and-not-learn. I enjoy reading on subjects, especially abstract algebra, numerical analysis, discrete math, etc. and learning them and trying to understand the material, preferably with feedback from the instructor. Most classes, especially my recent courses on analysis, have been about memorization over trying to understand the concepts/proofs in your own words in your own style. Texas State overall seems like the best choice, but I'd very much prefer an online option over commuting.

Also, I'm obviously focused on places where I don't have to spend a lot of money, and I think it's realistic that I could get admitted, but are these 3 schools really all that reasonable? I've seen people get rejected from UH with slightly lower GPAs, and it seemed like the main reason there was simply that the GPA was 3.0 instead of 3.5 or higher.

[ANDS!]

I do not want to sit through classes where the majority are sit-and-memorize-proofs-verbatim-from-instructor-and-not-learn.

And yet you want to go into Applied Math? I mean it's more than likely a good number of your courses are going to be just that simply by design (not the memorize proofs bit, but definitely the sit and be taught at). I mean depending on what you are interested in long term (career wise), the classes might be more interactive and applicable than something exposed in say a topology course, but it's not like grad. school all of a sudden becomes a Math drum circle (ESPECIALLY if your cohort is a lot of international students).

[makiten]

Although I don't remember saying I had an issue sitting and being "taught at," or that I expected "hands on" courses (especially given my preference for distance courses), the concern I had was that most courses I took were essentially "I'm the instructor. Here's my proof. Do it this way." If there were an alternate, correct, and verified proof, it won't matter because it's either memorize it the instructor's way or waste your time.

 

Either way, since a few weeks have passed since I made this post, I've already made a decision about what I should do.

[33andathirdRPM]

... the classes might be more interactive and applicable than something exposed in say a topology course, but it's not like grad. school all of a sudden becomes a Math drum circle (ESPECIALLY if your cohort is a lot of international students).

 

This made me chuckle. It's very true though - once you get to the graduate classes things can become very lonely.