jmfateh

Hey all,

I'm currently declared a math major at my current college, but need to transfer for financial reasons; the closest major to math at where I plan on transferring is Biometry & Statistics. The major, there, reaches up to calc III / linear algebra and then goes into statistical analysis courses. I'm personally not a fan of the statistics concentration, but it's the best I'm gonna get.

If applying to grad school for mathematics, will I be screwed because of the "biometry and statistics" major?

ucbalumnus

Can you transfer to a lower cost school where you can major in math?

To prepare for math graduate school, you will likely need advanced undergraduate math courses like the following:

advanced linear algebra (proof-oriented)
abstract algebra (proof-oriented)
real analysis or advanced calculus (proof-oriented)
complex analysis
logic and/or set theory
geometry and/or topology
numerical analysis
elective pure and/or applied math topics

Undergraduate research in math is also very helpful. Math majors aiming for graduate school in math often take graduate level math courses as undergraduates as well.

Blobof

ucbalumnus is correct. Though you could see the light and learn to love statistics . Actually to go to grad school in statistics, it's good (practically essential) to have a decent amount of mathematical theory (i.e. about half the list ucbalumnus mentioned).

jmfateh

Unfortunately, I am at the lowest I can go right now (SUNY). Where I would transfer would award me with tuition and rooming all paid for.

ucbalumnus

Assuming that you are a New York resident, is there a local SUNY or CUNY that you can commute to that has a decent math major degree program? (If you are a resident of another state, what about that state's public universities?)

Large scholarships for transfer students are less common than for freshmen, though you can ask on the financial aid and scholarships forum.

GLOBALTRAVELER

Piggybacking on UCBAlumnus' post.....

It's gonna be hard to get into most graduate mathematics programs without the real analysis and abstract algebra sequences (both proof-based). You might have to try some "applied mathematics" or "mathematical sciences" graduate programs, but something tells me that they will AT LEAST ask for real analysis.

jmfateh

@ucbalumnus
At a SUNY now. After doing a spreadsheet, if I were to commute from home, federal/state grants and a scholarship would cover most of my tuition and fees. I will look into nearby CUNYs with a decent math program. Not sure if my aid would change if I transfer.

jmfateh

Let's say I went into that Biometry/statistics major...

Do you NEED a mathematics degree to get into a math program in grad school? I could possibly take the higher level courses (real analysis, abstract algebra, etc.) while in that stats major. My degree would emphasize statistics, though, rather than mathematics.

It's such a complicated situation for me... I either continue in SUNY and total up to $22k in loans when I graduate, or transfer and finish my last two years tuition-free (the deal for low-income students).

ucbalumnus

What school are you considering transferring to?

Does it offer the needed math courses on a regular basis? It seems odd for those courses to be offered on a regular basis without there being a math major.

GLOBALTRAVELER

You probably would have to be a statistics major. Usually bio-whatever (including bio-statistics) and statistics are in 2 different department with statistics being under the math department (UNLESS the school has a separate statistics department).

Another thing you will run into is that your primary major would require a certain number of courses in that major to obtain the degree. Generally speaking, for a

M.A./M.S in Math
- Analysis (regular or real)
- Abstract Algebra
- Linear Algebra
+ 7 other courses with 5 being Math

Now there is another option. More and more schools are offering an Industrial Mathematics graduate degree with mixes applied math and statistics courses. I don't know if any of the SUNY/CUNY schools offer it though.

jmfateh

ucbalumnus: Cornell University, specifically the college of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

There is a mathematics major in the school of Arts and Sciences, but my chances of acceptance there are much smaller, unfortunately. I will still apply, though.

GLOBALTRAVELER

Try SUNY Stony Brook. There is a M.A. Math program through Arts & Sciences and a M.S. Applied Mathematics through Engineering & Applied Science. Real Analysis nor Abstract Algebra is required nor is asked for at the grad level.

ucbalumnus

In that case, the math courses should exist... the questions you need to ask are:

a. Can you fit the needed math courses as electives into your schedule as a biometry major? Looks like there are 6 biometry courses and 3 advanced electives you need to take, plus some science, humanities, and social studies. Depending on what you are taking that will transfer to cover those requirements, you may have room to fit enough math courses as electives into your schedule (especially if any can double up on the advanced electives).

b. Are there restrictions against CALS students enrolling in the needed upper division math courses, or do those courses tend to be full with low priority for enrollment by CALS students?

jmfateh

Not sure about the restrictions of CALS students, but the major, itself, does not require many courses (in fact, the suggested four-year schedule finishes off with two courses in the first semester of senior year). If permitted, I could definitely fit the courses into my schedule.

It's just a matter of whether or not a graduate school would look at the statistics degree and say "nope" to me entering their math program.

And I've got those science, humanities, social studies requirements covered already, as they require for transferring.


I'm also going to try for Columbia University, going straight for mathematics. I don't have the best shot with my 3.34 gpa, though. Columbia has about 5% transfer rate, but CALS at Cornell has about a 50% transfer rate.

ucbalumnus

If you are able to fit a math major's courses around some other major, check to see if you can just add a second major in math. Even if you cannot, you may want to ask some math departments you are considering for graduate school if not having an official math major is any problem if you have taken all of the needed math major courses.