Graduate Programs in Mathematics

Graduate School Information

Graduate School Guides
Graduate School Lists
Application Timeline
  • The Princeton Review has a Graduate School Application Timeline.
  • Kaplan has an article about When to Take the GRE.
  • Things to Think About:
    • If applying next fall: start preparing for GREs, register for advanced math courses (400 or 800 level) for the next semesters and apply for an REU, UCARE or an internship for next summer. External recommendation letters will greatly strengthen your subsequent grad school application.
    • If applying now: you should make arrangements to take the GRE and possibly registered for the Subject GRE (though not all schools require it). At this point you will need to:
      • ask faculty and other people you have worked with (REU advisers or internship mentors) for letters of recommendation.
      • Request official transcripts.
      • Work on your personal statement. It really helps to have another person (one of your letter writers, for example) look over your application.
    • Masters or PhD? In mathematical sciences, your application may be more competitive for PhD a program, since doctoral graduates are automatically considered for teaching/research assistantships which cover tuition and provide a stipend. You can later decide to stop at the Master's degree, if you wish, but at least during the application process and in your first year, you should aim for a doctoral degree.
Additional Resources
  • If you have an area of math that you know you want to specialize in, talk to some faculty whose research is in that area or to your reference letter writers and ask them what programs they recommend. If you are unsure what area you are interested in apply to large schools that have a good variety of faculty research interests.
  • Visit the The Grad Cafe for a compendium of blogs and posts from people who have heard back from graduate schools: what school, program, year, whether they've been accepted, and when they found out. Helpful for those playing the waiting game.
  • Visit the The Pathways to Science webpage about programs and resources for prospective and current STEM graduate students -- including funding opportunities and professional development programs and resources.
  • FYI: many graduate schools are signatory to an agreement sponsored by the Council of Graduate Schools where graduate schools will not require acceptances of offers until April 15.

Fellowships & Other Scholarship Opportunities

Besides support from the institutions you are applying to, there are many national fellowship programs, notably those listed below. Note that most of these opportunities are limited to US Citizens and Permanent Residents.