Accepting or applying again

[Ravo]

Hi guys,

Sorry to bother I just would appreciate opinions. This is my second time applying for phd in mathematics. This time I got accepted =)  . Problem I applied to 6 phd programs 5 pure 1 applied. I got accepted for applied mathematics. 

 

I know it sounds bad but I want to do pure mathematics, but I am afraid that if I decline next year I will not be accepted anywhere. My background is rough, as undergraduate I had 3.4 gpa and from a small school. I went and got MA in math with 4.0 gpa and soon good publication, nonetheless I cannot do well on the gre. It is hell I know calc and linear algebra to a good standard but I scored low the two times I took the exam. Please advise should I accept and do applied or try one more time for pure. I know that for med schools, the third application is not even looked at.

[Apogeee]

18 minutes ago, Ravo said:

Hi guys,

Sorry to bother I just would appreciate opinions. This is my second time applying for phd in mathematics. This time I got accepted =)  . Problem I applied to 6 phd programs 5 pure 1 applied. I got accepted for applied mathematics. 

 

I know it sounds bad but I want to do pure mathematics, but I am afraid that if I decline next year I will not be accepted anywhere. My background is rough, as undergraduate I had 3.4 gpa and from a small school. I went and got MA in math with 4.0 gpa and soon good publication, nonetheless I cannot do well on the gre. It is hell I know calc and linear algebra to a good standard but I scored low the two times I took the exam. Please advise should I accept and do applied or try one more time for pure. I know that for med schools, the third application is not even looked at.

Congratulations on your acceptance! Is it funded? If it is not, do not pass go, do not pay for a degree. If it is funded, well, what do your advisors say to do? And what is the problem with your GRE? Is it just a matter of not being a good test-taker? And how will this play out in your PhD program? Also, can you write to the new department and ask them about the possibility of a cross-over degree? Good luck, and let us know what you decide. 

[Ravo]

It is funded. I am really slow while working thus I cannot finish more than 3rd of the exam. Sadly There is no chance for cross over.

[Apogeee]

1 minute ago, Ravo said:

It is funded. I am really slow while working thus I cannot finish more than 3rd of the exam. Sadly There is no chance for cross over.

I am not trying to be nosy, but, do you know the reason for the slowness? Is it that you check and double check? Is it anything else that you can account for? Because you could learn to do the test more quickly, if this is the case.

[MathCat]

I don't think you should enter a PhD program in a field you don't want. It's 5 years of your life just for the program, and that's ignoring the question of what you will do after. In fact, I'm not even sure why you would apply for applied math if that's not what you want to do. Identify your long term goals and only apply to programs that will help you achieve them. 

Perhaps you are just aiming too high with your pure applications. Your 3.4 undergrad GPA does not help you, and unfortunately they don't always take a high master's GPA into account, so you need to be realistic. Don't keep applying to the same schools if you do choose to apply again. Perhaps you can elaborate on how you chose what schools to apply to. The advice I received was to pick 2-3 "reach" programs, 4-6 programs that are a good fit and a reasonable chance of getting in, and if applicable, 1-2 "safety" schools, i.e. programs you are confident you can get admitted to and would still be happy to attend (don't waste your money and effort applying to a program you wouldn't want to attend!). This worked well for me, but I'm not sure what you can afford.

There are some good schools that don't require the subject test if you really cannot increase your speed. Also, if you are willing to look outside the USA, the GRE is not required at all in most countries (however, as an international applicant, it will usually be harder to get admitted and funded, and your 3.4 UGPA may hinder you a lot).

[Ravo]

O it is no problem. It is an interesting question, I guess when I try to do things quickly I make algebra mistakes.  so I usually avoid rush work and that is fine for courses or research, bad for standerized examsAlso probably larger part of it is that I read very slowly, embarrassing but my reading speed is lacking. (Foreigner original, but still not a good excuse)

 

 I think  it is possible to practice over few months to improve speed. That is part of the dilemma I think I can do it, but if 3rd applications are not even looked upon..

[MathCat]

Can you please clarify what you mean by "if 3rd applications are not even looked upon"? Are you applying to the same schools again, or different ones?

[Ravo]

I was going to apply to the same schools

[Apogeee]

11 hours ago, Ravo said:

O it is no problem. It is an interesting question, I guess when I try to do things quickly I make algebra mistakes.  so I usually avoid rush work and that is fine for courses or research, bad for standerized examsAlso probably larger part of it is that I read very slowly, embarrassing but my reading speed is lacking. (Foreigner original, but still not a good excuse)

 I think  it is possible to practice over few months to improve speed. That is part of the dilemma I think I can do it, but if 3rd applications are not even looked upon..

Did the schools who rejected you give a reason, or that nice letter that says nothing about you or your qualifications but mentions "strong candidates"? Have you looked at your personal statement to see if you can make that stronger? If you can afford that test and you want to take it again, consider taking it, but first, you will need to build up your confidence. Reading comprehension can be a big part of that. Take some timed practice tests, and perhaps work with a reading tutor. You can also work to build speed in the mathematics. Things can become automatic. It is possible that you are going a little slower than you have to, just from being worried about going too fast.

But from all of this, I don't think you should apply to programs that don't interest you. 

What is your goal when you get out of grad school? What is "plan b" if for some reason you don't finish? 

I think if it were me, I would go to the school that accepted me. But you're not me. And that's important.

Good luck.

[Ravo]

Thank you!! This helped me decide. I will go for the school that accepted me. Nonetheless I will keep contact with my advisor at my current school and try to keep pushing in pure math (not large scale papers but borderline papers.) Again thank you all.