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Graduate Schools for Future Positions

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:16 am
by Bottomology
Hi all,

I just started my third year as an undergraduate math major intending on attending graduate school, so I've started to think more and more about grad admissions.

Though I am satisfied with my math transcript and GPA so far, I am concerned about various other factors of the application (recommendations, mGRE, etc). I had originally wanted to shoot for the very top schools, but realistically I know that I can't guarantee that.

So I'm wondering - how much harder would it be to secure postdoc positions, professorships, etc. if I attend a less prestigious program?

Thanks.

Re: Graduate Schools for Future Positions

Posted: Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:20 pm
by whatstheprobability
I've recently met with one of my professors who is a very well-known topologist. We were talking about graduate programs that would be good choices for me to apply to. The thing he said that really stuck with me is that you don't have to go to a top 10 school to secure a position in academia, whether it be a postdoc or professor position. He said that you could go to UConn for example, publish great work for your dissertation and have solid connections within the university. Or you can go to Yale, publish great work for your dissertation but not have those solid connections that you may go to for recommendations in the future. The moral of the story is, it's about who you know and what they can say about the work you've done. I know other students may or may not agree with me on this, but this comes from a recent conversation I had with a professor who has a lot of experience in the field.