kamer

mir_d, yes, frankly, 730 is low for a math-related major...especially for a guy who has a 3.9 GPA !! Anyway, you have mentioned both the general and subject GRE tests but did not say much about research. You're in the U.S. right now and are in an excellent position to get research experience....take it from someone who got to know several great schools this year: BURY yourself in research experience...this is THE most important thing and your chances of getting into some place great really hinge on this thing. I would also recommend that you apply to a summer research program at a different university...it's a great way to get experience and a little variety as well....it maybe be harder for you to get into such a short term program since most of them require citizen/resident status..... but anyway, fix your GRE score if you can, but ABOVE ALL, research research research....it doesnt necessarily have to lead in a publication (won't hurt either ;) ) but its definitely worth its weight in gold.

not really...I've been to Atlanta several times for visits though...it's probably like any other big metropolitan city in the U.S.....it has a little bit of everything but I guess it doesnt have the charm that Boston and Chicago have.....it's like New York only smaller and less ferocious!

Don't know anything about Berkeley, but I recently met a grad student at MIT who had spent a year in the Stanford Ph.D. program. He did his undergrad from MIT and then enriolled at Stanford....he said he hated it, they delibrately admit a lot more students than they intend on keeping and basically remove 3/4ths of them by failing them in the qualifiers....the guy is now at MIT doing his Ph.D.

well...lots of 10-20 ranked univs do that...i guess they technically end up with a bad situation

alright guys....it's over for me...I received a reject letter in the mail today (Mar. 17)...it was stamped for the 14th....good luck to you all

johnw2, did Harvard offer you any aid, etc? I applied for the Ph.D. program but I'm wondering if I can ask them to be considered for the S.M....or maybe even apply next year

only the university that's hosting the open house will give you some money....no other organization will give you a grant just to visit a university ....that's usually just for research visits or if you are going to actually learn something, etc. I visited a university for interviews recently and most of the int'l students there were already in the U.S. Plus, there were two people from Canada....that's almost like travelling to another place within the U.S. I guess at the most maybe some Europeans may have visited....it's not that expensive to travel from Europe to the U.S....in fact, it's sometimes cheaper to go from New York to London than from New York to LA!

bigred, I'm shocked to hear this. By contrast, my professor is great in this regard...I guess it depends on the person but here a few types: 1) Credit hogs: these people will make grads/undergrads work like indentured servants and will take credit whenever possible and will never acknowledge your efforts formally. Also, these people will generally not say things like, "nice job", "yeah, you're right, I'm wrong".......bottom line is, you do not want to hang around such people. 2) Wannabes: there's a whole bunch of new professors or those who've been stuck in assoc. prof land for 10 years who are still hell bent in trying to prove themselves to their subject's community...these people will generally make you work like a dog and will again be there to take full credit. 3) Mentors: like my undergrad advisor. These people are PERSONALLY INVESTED in your career and really do care about whether or not you're learning what you should be learning and whether you're actually advancing in your career....when it comes time for employment, etc they will market you in front of many people and will not be jealous if you get a good job (yes, some ppl actually get jealous!!). Also, order of names on the paper is the last thing on their minds

taskhenty, whatever you do, don't lose the faith man! I'm inspired by people who get into MIT, Harvard, etc but I'm even more inspired by people who make it against heavy odds....people like you are heroes in the truest sense of the word and I, along with other people on this forum, salute you. I'll be praying for you....

aaah....I can only imagine how relaxed you must be feeling right now....take it easy until fall....you deserve it! congrats

tell 'em to kiss your ass.....good luck with everything

no....but remember that they said they would send the letters out on the 11th...which means we would receive by Wednesday and people in other countries probably a week later

cpviolator, thanks for posting. the secretary was pretty adamant that they did in fact email international students.....are you going by the domain names on the email? Anyway....I think some of us will get rejection letters pretty soon :( .....I really hope people like you get accepted elsewhere so we can get the leftover spots

didnt a couple of accepted applicants post here? anyway, it does not seem like anyone has received a rejection yet....the sec. told me that they will mail things on friday the 11th.....which sort of agrees with another post here that mentioned something about the 10th being a final meeting of the committee or something like that

HarryMetSally, while these opinions might be right to some extent...people are much more complex than that....I personally don't like to analyze people, because I kind of leave that job to a higher power ;) I've always liked this particular quote...I think it's a good reminder to mathematically inclined people like us: "I've always believed in numbers. In the equations and logics that lead to reason. But after a lifetime of such pursuits, I ask, what truly is logic? Who decides reason? My quest has taken me through physical, the metaphysical, the delusional, and back. And I have made the most important discovery of my career. The most important discovery of my life. It is only in the mysterious equations of love, that any logical reasons can be found." ~John Nash(Russell Crowe), A Beautiful Mind.