GRE Subject Mathematics. Will that make up for Math Courses not taken?

[Arash2060]

I got so many rejections this year (Of Course the game is not over for me yet) but if I were to note why I was rejected, I would have said few math courses and not having done well in StatII.

The case is that I'm actually really good in mathematics and I have studied Thomas Calculus during high school when preparing for physiques Olympiads, However there were no available math courses to take and if there were I didn't feel any need to take those ( I didn't know that economics adcoms will be so obsessed with ones math courses back then).

SO the bottom line is do you think I can get in top schools by turning in an incredible GRE subject Math, next year? Can I finally prove to my abilities through a standardized test?

[SlowLearner38]

What is your research experience like?

[Galoisj]

Math sub requires a lot of math knowledge(real analysis, complex analysis, abstract algebra, topology, diff equations, prob&stat, and perhaps number theory and discrete math), last year it even had a problem on algebraic topology though very elementary stuff(klein bottle and torus).
If you want a decent score, say >90%, it may cost you several months to prepare given your current math background.
The test is not necessarily hard, the annoying thing is just that it covers a lot.


If you have self-studied most of the stuff, then it is another story.

[dreck]

Your letters of reference matter more than your math courses.
That said, I really don't think a GRE Math score is a quality substitute for grades in math classes. Consider a masters degree, or at least adding or math classes.

[Arash2060]

Thanks all. I'm preparing to have published a paper by September, and Apply for Masters next year. If GRE subject is going to be a substitute for the Masters I will certainly go for it. I really know enough math to crack the GRE math after 3 to 4 month of preperation(which is what I've got).

[Arash2060]

Your letters of reference matter more than your math courses.
That said, I really don't think a GRE Math score is a quality substitute for grades in math classes. Consider a masters degree, or at least adding or math classes.

My I had TOEFL 105, GRE Q 800, V 320 A 4.0 and incredible LORs as my letter writers didn't keep what they were going to submit to themselves . Under Grad GPA 3.28, Masters GPA 3.77 (Micro and Macro 92%, Metrics 95%) However all the math that I took was Calculus I and II then Stat I and II.

I didn't do good in my undergarduate for two reasons, 1. I didn't care about the grades and I used to study whatever good books I found in economics (Which didn't necessarily match with what the professor used to teach at that level and however much more beautiful) 2. I had to take an emergency leave of absence for 3 semesters as I had to make money when my family had gone broke.

[walt526]

First, the GRE Math subject test is almost certainly not a substitute for actual coursework. Second, I'm pretty sure that 3-4 months will not prove to be sufficient time for you to score well if you've only taken up to Calculus II.

No pun intended, but understanding Calculus at the level of Thomas is necessary, but far from sufficient to score well on the GRE Math subject test. Had you studied Apostol in high school, then maybe your foundation would be solid enough to master the material in a few months of self-study. But from what you've described, it doesn't sound like you've had any formal or abstract math, so mastering many of the concepts will not be fast or easy. In my opinion, your likelihood of success seems very low--and even if you succeed, I'm not sure that adcoms will necessarily reward your score.

Taking the actual proof-intensive courses sounds like a much better plan.

[Arash2060]

Walt26, My only concern is where the GRE math high score will take me. Leave scoring high to me. I'm not a genius or something. It's just that we take much more math in high school than you do in US. Specially when you go to a school called National Organization for Development of Exceptional talents and there everybody studies for Olympiads.

However I know that GRE math is much harder than all that as I know how a friend of mine who's applying for Math PhD did in that. Anybody with some real experience who's done this before. Do you think that consulting current professors will help?

[walt526]

I don't doubt that you have a very good background in plug-and-chug Calculus--that's what Thomas is good for. But that's only a small part of what is covered on the test. Again, it doesn't sound to me like you have been exposed to much abstraction (if all you've ever studied was Thomas) and that's not something that most people can learn simply by working through the exercises of several test prep books and supplemented by a couple of texts.

And again, even a strong score is NOT a substitute for doing well in actual classes.

[LameDuck]

I have taken the math subject test and can assure you that it would be very difficult to score well given your stated background. The math GRE humbles the best of aspiring mathematicians due to its very tricky and nuanced mode of questioning - not to mention that time is a HUGE constraint on the test. Albeit, the material covered is not extremely difficult, the depth of understanding you need to quickly size-up and answer questions is not easily gained in a few months.

I could be misjudging your mathematical acumen, but keep in mind that it's a test designed to measure people who have studied a lot of math.

I think Walt is giving solid advice and will second his stance to take more proof-based classes.