Admission and Application Requirements

Welcome to the School of Mathematics, Graduate Degree Programs, at the University of Minnesota. All application materials are submitted electronically through the ApplyYourself application system and it is important that you do not send hard copies of the same material(s) that have been uploaded to your online application. Admission decisions are communicated to applicants using this system. The Admissions and Application Process are listed below. If you are looking for the Financial Mathematics Program, please see the following website: http://www.math.umn.edu/finmath/.

Decisions regarding admission and financial aid are made on a competitive basis among the applicants to our programs. We ordinarily admit new students for Fall semester only. We limit our admissions based upon our resources to support students financially through assistantships. You can expect a decision by March.

The School of Mathematics, Graduate Studies Program, will grant conditional admission to applicants before they finish their undergraduate degree with the understanding that once they finish their undergraduate degree, the transcripts will be submitted. However, the Graduate School admits them subject to the condition that they finish their undergraduate degree before they enter graduate school. Since the admission to the School of Mathematics Graduate Studies Program is subject to the Graduate School admission requirements, our admission is also conditional.

Applicants with some prior graduate work completed will be expected to have made suitable progress, and may be asked to complete the steps toward a Ph.D. degree in proportionately less time.

Note: There is no way we can accurately assess your chances of acceptance without seeing your completed application.

Admissions

Successful applicants will have a solid mathematical background comparable to an exceptional B.S. (Bachlor of Science) degree in mathematics.

For Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree applicants, abstract algebra, analysis, and topology (as well as their immediate prerequisites of linear algebra, advanced calculus and differential equations) are very important. Demonstrable self-study knowledge of these subjects may substitute.

For M.S. (Master's) degree, applicants should have the prerequisite material of linear algebra, advanced calculus and differential equations, and should be ready for higher level courses in analysis and algebra. Demonstrable self-study knowledge of these subjects may substitute.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores: A good performance on the GRE Math Subject test helps to confirm knowledge of these topics, and we very strongly recommend that you take the GRE Math Subject test. (We do not usually look at GRE General test scores.)

TOEFL Scores: For those who did not grow up speaking English in their home as a native language, a TOEFL test score is required, even if they have been living in the US.

Important Note for International Applicants

See below for the University of Minnesota's guidelines for the TOEFL exam affecting graduate students supported as Teaching Assistants. These guidelines do not apply to students supported by fellowships, research assistantships, or other means.

No student with a score below 18 on the speaking part of the exam can be supported as a Teaching Assistant. Furthermore, no student with a speaking score below 23 can be assigned to lead a classroom discussion section. These requirements are in addition to the Graduate School requirement for admission (at least 79 on the Internet based TOEFL with section scores of 21 on writing and 19 on reading).

All admitted students receiving support as a TA will be expected to be teaching recitation sections and hence, satisfy the University of Minnesota guidelines.

The combination of these factors has forced us to use the following guidelines for offering support to potential international graduate students:

To receive full consideration for support, you should have a TOEFL score of at least 100 with a section score of at least 23 on speaking.
Given current funding projections, the probability that you will receive an offer of support diminishes sharply for total scores below 100 or speaking scores below 23. Unanticipated improvements in funding may increase this probability.
The probably of an offer diminishes to zero if your total score is below 79, your speaking score is below 18, your writing score is below 21, or your reading score is below 19.

A decision for admission notice will be emailed to you once your application is carefully reviewed by the department's admission committee and your transcripts and any credentials (test reports, diploma copies, etc.) are authenticated by Graduate School officials.

Application Process

Application Deadlines in the School of Mathematics

Applications received by the deadline listed below will be given priority consideration for admission and financial support. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space/funds available basis.

Program	Deadline
Ph.D.	December 15, 2011
M.S.	February 01, 2012
M.S. with Emphasis in Math Education	February 01, 2012
M.S. with Emphasis in Industrial and Applied Math	February 01, 2012

For additional information regarding the application deadlines, as well as the timeline for decision-making about applications, please see the following website: http://www.math.umn.edu/grad/app_deadline.html.

Materials

All application materials should be submitted electronically via the ApplyYourself admissions system. We cannot review your application until ALL of the materials listed below are submitted successfully, including letters of recommendation.

Important note: Applications for the two M.S. with Emphasis programs (Emphasis in Industrial and Applied Mathematics or Emphasis in Mathematics Education) are not currently an option in the pull down menu on the online ApplyYourself application system. If you are applying to either of these programs, you should apply for the Mathematics MS program and specify your choice in the first line of your Statement of Purpose and Goals.

Submission of the following indicate a complete application file:

ApplyYourself Fields:	What to Complete/Upload:
Personal Information	All fields.
Application Information	All fields.
Educational Background	All fields. You should list all colleges and universities you have attended, with degrees earned, and grade-point averages.
Test Information-Self Reported	GRE Subject Test Scores, if known. TOEFL exam scores, if you did not grow up speaking English in your home as a native language. If you took the GRE Math Subject Test and TOEFL Exam prior to the application deadline and know that the scores will not be uploaded by the application deadline, indicate the date you took the test on the application. Note: Official GRE and Official TOEFL scores are sent to The Graduate School by ETS and uploaded under the Credentials section.
Languages	All fields.
Awards & Activities	All fields.
Employment/Residence Information	All fields.
Financial Support	All fields.
Applicant Statements	Statement #1: Personal Statement of Purpose and Goals is very important for us to assess your sincerity, motivation, and expectations. Remember: If you are applying to one of the M.S. with Emphasis programs, please specify the program in the first line of this statement. The other statements are not required, but they will considered if submited.
Program Supplementary Information Graduate Program Additional Application Writing Sample Description of Research or Work Experience Resume' or CV Other Credentials Upload 1 Upload 2	1. Graduate Program Additional Application: List of Advanced Mathematics Courses Besides the required information on The Graduate School's online application for admission, the School of Mathematics requires that you indicate the text for the advanced mathematics courses you have taken beyond the level of advanced calculus, linear algebra, and elementary courses in differential equations, etc. If you have done reading on your own, please indicate this as well. (Do NOT state: "refer to transcripts"). You should list the advanced mathematics courses you have taken. This means courses beyond the usual lower-division mathematics courses such as calculus, introductory differential equations, and introductory linear algebra. Specifically, for graduate work in mathematics it is important to have solid preparation in abstract algebra and analysis, no matter what your eventual specialty may be. It is expected that you will have had year-long courses in both abstract algebra and rigorous analysis. An application should have exceptional strength in other aspects if these expectations are not met. It is important that you list the texts used for your advanced courses, and which parts of them you covered. Many courses with the same name are nevertheless radically different from each other. Please do make clear the source and content of your courses. The other information is not required, but will considered if you submit it.

Supporting Documents
Recommendations	Three (3) Letters of Recommendation. You should list the three people who will write your letters of recommendation. These letters are a very important part of your application, since they are used to estimate your potential and motivation for graduate work in mathematics. Usually these letters are from mathematicians with whom you've been involved in advanced coursework or research projects. Only letters from those listed by the applicant on the ApplyYourself application will be accepted. Letter writers should upload letters to ApplyYourself. Paper letters, from writers/recommenders only, are accepted if mailed or emailed (pdf format) directly to the School of Mathematics, but letters submitted to ApplyYourself are preferred. Our mailing address is: University of Minnesota School of Mathematics Attn: DGS Assistant 127 Vincent Hall 206 Church St SE Minneapolis, MN 55455 EMail: gradprog@math.umn.edu
Transcripts	Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. Click here for more information about transcripts and credentials.
Application Fee	Click here for more information about fees.

Optional Materials:	What to Complete/Upload:
GRE Scores	Our department does not require GRE scores for admission, but we strongly recommend taking the Math Subject GRE. Note: It can take up to six weeks for the GRE scores to be reported by ETS (Educational Testing Service), so a delay should be taken into account in conjunction with our application deadlines. If your school cannot provide you with information on these examinations, please visit GRE online. If you took the GRE Math Subject Test prior to the application deadline and know that the scores will not be uploaded by the application deadline, indicate the date you took the test on the application. Official GRE scores are sent to The Graduate School by ETS and uploaded under the Credentials section. For GRE, the University of Minnesota's GRE institution code is 6874, and the School of Mathematics' department code is 0703. The Graduate School has no department code.
Publications	Upload you publications and articles into the Other Credentials portion on the Graduate Program Supplementary Information section of the ApplyYourself online application. Click here to access the online application.

Optional Materials:

What to Complete/Upload:

GRE Scores

Our department does not require GRE scores for admission, but we strongly recommend taking the Math Subject GRE. Note: It can take up to six weeks for the GRE scores to be reported by ETS (Educational Testing Service), so a delay should be taken into account in conjunction with our application deadlines. If your school cannot provide you with information on these examinations, please visit GRE online.

If you took the GRE Math Subject Test prior to the application deadline and know that the scores will not be uploaded by the application deadline, indicate the date you took the test on the application.

Official GRE scores are sent to The Graduate School by ETS and uploaded under the Credentials section.

For GRE, the University of Minnesota's GRE institution code is 6874, and the School of Mathematics' department code is 0703. The Graduate School has no department code.

Publications

Upload you publications and articles into the Other Credentials portion on the Graduate Program Supplementary Information section of the ApplyYourself online application.

Click here to access the online application.

CHECKLIST

To determine that your application is complete, click here to view a checklist.