Help me rank my Applied Math PhD school list!

Forum for the GRE subject test in mathematics.
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ParsleyX
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:46 pm

Help me rank my Applied Math PhD school list!

Post by ParsleyX » Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:49 am

I know that graduate school decisions depend on a multitude of variables beyond scholastic rank, but I was wondering if you could help me sort my application list:

1. Northwestern - ESAM
2. University of Maryland – AMSC
3. UC Davis
4. University of Arizona
5. University of Colorado – Boulder
6. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
7. University of Delaware
8. Drexel

This order comes after looking at several Applied Math rankings (US News and Wolrd , PhDs.org, The Chronicle), and I tried to lump them as an average. A few things I've been told:

* RPI is roughly equivalent to Drexel (not sure if that's a slight towards RPI or compliment to Drexel)
* UC Boulder is a fantastic program
* Northwestern and UMD are more competitive, and roughly equal.

Can I get some feedback on these statements and my ranking?

ParsleyX
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:46 pm

Re: Help me rank my Applied Math PhD school list!

Post by ParsleyX » Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:51 am

Bump

coral
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:50 am

Re: Help me rank my Applied Math PhD school list!

Post by coral » Sat Feb 16, 2013 12:12 pm

A couple of comments. Please take with a grain of salt, as these are based on my own perceptions after talking with some other students and professors.

1. Re: Northwestern and UMD are roughly equal: it seems to me that for admissions, Northwestern ESAM is more competitive, as their enrollment per year is in the single digits, where as UMD AMSC enroll more people each year. In terms of program strength, I agree that they are roughly equal (and out of the programs you've listed, at the top).
2. Re: UC Boulder is a fantastic program: I agree, and I would say in terms of program strength they should be ahead of Arizona and possibly (?) Davis. Though of course it depends on what area of applied math you are studying...

ParsleyX
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:46 pm

Re: Help me rank my Applied Math PhD school list!

Post by ParsleyX » Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:00 pm

Thanks for your input, coral. I am mostly interested in scientific computing, so UMD's program might be my top choice as they have a PhD track for that specific study.

I was accepted to UC-Boulder, but have yet to hear back from everyone else. I'm trying to sort things so I can make appropriate comparisons if/when other offers come through.

IIIII
Posts: 71
Joined: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:33 pm

Re: Help me rank my Applied Math PhD school list!

Post by IIIII » Tue Feb 19, 2013 10:59 am

Applied Math Rankings:

US News & World Report:
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandr ... s-rankings

Regression Rankings based on National Research Council Surveys:
http://graduate-school.phds.org/ranking ... rank/basic

I believe both are from 2010 data.

My perception off the top of my head (without consulting the above links):

1. University of Maryland – AMSC
2. Northwestern - ESAM
3. University of Colorado – Boulder
4. UC Davis
5T. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
5T. University of Arizona
7. Drexel
8. University of Delaware

Though I think Northwestern may be (slightly) more difficult to get into than Maryland.



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