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1.Q: I see on the website that the application deadline is December 15 but the application process begins mid-January. Does this mean the deadline is only for the on-line application and the letters of recommendation and the GRE scores may be sent later? A: The on-line University application must be submitted by December 15. 2.Q: May my letters of recommendation be sent on-line? A: They may be sent on-line, if they are from a published letter-writer’s address at a University, but it is preferred that they are sent via postal mail with the UCLA graduate division cover sheet attached. You will find the cover sheet at the link above. 3.Q: Will it help me to send more than 3 letters of recommendation? A: Not really. Three letters are sufficient for the review committee to get a sense of your abilities and strengths. 4.Q: Is it better to have my official transcripts sent to you directly from the registrar of my school or should I have them sent to me and then include them as part of my packet to you with everything else? A: Either way is acceptable as long as they are officially sealed when we receive them. 5.Q: To save money, may I send only copies of my GRE and TOEFL scores, pending acceptance to your program? A: Yes, however we must have official scores sent to us from ETS before you will be officially accepted by the University. 6.Q: I am a foreign student, but attended a school that had instruction in English. Can the TOEFL be waived for me? A: International applicants that have received a Bachelor’s degree or higher from a university located in the United States, or from another country in which English is both the spoken language and the medium of instruction are exempted from the TOEFL. Please include this information in your application package. 7.Q: What is the minimum TOEFL score you will accept? A: It is University policy that you score at least a 560 on the pencil and paper test, 220 on the electronic test, or 87 on the iBT. 8.Q: I took the GRE and the TOEFL last year and had the scores sent to you. I was wondering if you still keep those records. A: We keep the GRE scores for five years and the TOEFL scores for two years. Please verify that your scores are still on file by writing to gradapps@math.ucla.edu. 9.Q: Is the GRE subject test a requirement for Master’s applicants as well as PhD. applicants? A: Yes. 10.Q: If I apply for the PhD. program and am not accepted, will I automatically be considered for a Master’s? A: You should apply for the program that best suits you, but we do occasionally consider candidates who fall short of a Ph.D. admission for the Master’s. This is not automatic and must be requested at the time of application. Keep in mind that the Master’s is usually a terminal degree and not a first step into the PhD. program. 11.Q: What does the average successful applicant’s profile look like as far as GRE scores, grades, etc? A: Be aware that when we talk about a successful applicant, numbers are only one part of the total package. That being said; the minimum GPA is 3.5 for a PhD and 3.2 for a Master’s, and although there is no minimum GRE, you must keep in mind that admission is very competitive and the higher your score, the better. On the average, those we offer admission to have GRE subject scores in or above the 80th percentile. Our GPA range is from about 3.6 to 4.0, though again there can be exceptions. Keep in mind that we look at the entire package and although we have a minimum, the average is higher. Also, there is no score at any level, which insures admission. 12.Q: What kind of information should I include in the Personal Statement? A: The Statement is your opportunity to explain your reasons for pursuing graduate study in mathematics, and to let us get a sense of who you are. You may mention any relevant facts about your education or experience with mathematics that are not apparent in the other materials you submit. You might want to note what kind of mathematics you find interesting and wish to pursue in graduate school, and what you plan to do after obtaining a Ph.D. It may include information about your background, interests, or career goals, and how UCLA might help you meet those career and educational goals. There is no specific length, but one or two pages are typical. 13.Q: I submitted a Personal Statement with the Departmental application and now the UCLA application is asking for one as well. Do I need to submit it twice? Are they two different Statements? A: You only need to submit one Personal Statement. You may submit it with either application. 14.Q: I am taking the GRE test later than recommended on your website. Will my application still be considered if my scores arrive after the deadline? A: Your application will be accepted if we receive your scores by the end of the first week in January. 15.Q: What part of the application package does the review committee weigh most heavily? A: Admission decisions are based on an applicant’s entire package. Weaknesses in one area may be offset by strengths in another. The committee weighs many factors in addition to GPAs. These may include the breadth of your undergraduate courses, your letters of recommendation, statement of purpose and GRE subject score. 16.Q: I will not receive my Bachelor’s degree until after the deadline for application. May I still apply? A: You may apply for admission to our program before your actual degree date as long as you have your Bachelor degree by the fall admission date. 17.Q: I cannot find the code numbers for my GRE scores. A: The UCLA code is 4837 and the Mathematics department code is 0703. 18.Q: What can I do to increase my chances of getting into your graduate program? A: One of the most important things you can do is to get to know your professors. You want to have letters of recommendation that tell us knowledgeably and personally about your qualifications and abilities. Your letters of recommendation should attest to the fact that you have the potential and mathematical background to be a research mathematician. It is already expected that all applicants to UCLA have a solid preparation in undergraduate math, with strong grades and GRE scores. What we would also like to see is that you have taken courses that are heavy in proof oriented math. We are looking for students that are capable of passing our Basic Qualifying exam in their first year. You may view copies of past exams here: UCLA Department of Mathematics You may also take honors and graduate courses, do a senior research project, senior thesis, or a summer REU program. 19.Q: I believe I have sent in all the required materials for application but the Check Application Status page on the Graduate Division website does not reflect that. Why? A: Our Department does not update on that page. The volume of applications we receive is overwhelming and the cost in time to do it is prohibitive. 20.Q: When will I know if I have been accepted into your program? A: You will receive an official letter by the first week of March. |
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