General Enquiry
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:58 am
Hi all,
Here's some boring background about me -
I've just graduated with a Master in Mathematics (MSci) in a.. top UK uni other than oxbridge with First class honours. Using the wiki conversion scale between marks & GPA (and assuming the scale is somewhat linear) I'd say I have a GPA of around 3.8 or so. I'm interested in doing a PhD in number theory, and originally I was planning to stay in the UK; as such I have only applied for PhD in the UK so far. I've received an offer from a not-so-top university (though with a good supervisor - a former student of Richard Taylor). As for other related things I've done a supposedly master's thesis on class field theory (nothing original to be honest) as well as a research assistant over 2 summers in an Asian uni (top-ish in terms of ranking but not really that good at all; besides I was doing TA-stuff more than real research...) - I'm an Asian if that matters.
Here's my question -
Recently I've spoken to a couple of professors (yes yes I should've done that ages ago ) and they all pointed out that the US system for postgraduate is more complete than the UK one (and you get much more funding), so I'm just wondering if it's worth it to take a year off (whence turning down my offer in the UK) and apply to the states for entry in 2015. To be more precise:
- With my grades (I know I haven't taken GRE..) roughly which tier of grad schools would I be looking at if I apply to the states? For example I'm sure with my grades/CV places like Princeton is way beyond. What would be possible reach? safety?
- What would be most beneficial for me to do should I take a gap year that will help with my application? TA? RA?
- Any other general remarks regarding US vs UK for PhD?
Thanks!
Here's some boring background about me -
I've just graduated with a Master in Mathematics (MSci) in a.. top UK uni other than oxbridge with First class honours. Using the wiki conversion scale between marks & GPA (and assuming the scale is somewhat linear) I'd say I have a GPA of around 3.8 or so. I'm interested in doing a PhD in number theory, and originally I was planning to stay in the UK; as such I have only applied for PhD in the UK so far. I've received an offer from a not-so-top university (though with a good supervisor - a former student of Richard Taylor). As for other related things I've done a supposedly master's thesis on class field theory (nothing original to be honest) as well as a research assistant over 2 summers in an Asian uni (top-ish in terms of ranking but not really that good at all; besides I was doing TA-stuff more than real research...) - I'm an Asian if that matters.
Here's my question -
Recently I've spoken to a couple of professors (yes yes I should've done that ages ago ) and they all pointed out that the US system for postgraduate is more complete than the UK one (and you get much more funding), so I'm just wondering if it's worth it to take a year off (whence turning down my offer in the UK) and apply to the states for entry in 2015. To be more precise:
- With my grades (I know I haven't taken GRE..) roughly which tier of grad schools would I be looking at if I apply to the states? For example I'm sure with my grades/CV places like Princeton is way beyond. What would be possible reach? safety?
- What would be most beneficial for me to do should I take a gap year that will help with my application? TA? RA?
- Any other general remarks regarding US vs UK for PhD?
Thanks!