Thinking of Graduate School?

  • graduation cap in front of math on chalk board

Thinking of Graduate School?

Thinking of Graduate School?

Whether you're passionate about advancing your knowledge, deepening your research skills, or opening new career pathways, graduate school can be a transformative next step. Explore how a graduate degree can help you achieve your goals — and discover the resources, programs, and support available to help you get there.

Thinking of a Master's Degree?

Perhaps you want to add to your current undergraduate Math degree and increase your marketability.  Maybe you've found a favorite subject that you want to investigate more deeply. No matter the reason, there are plenty of options within master’s degree programs depending on your interest and goals.  At some of the programs, you could even qualify for grants, assistantships and/or scholarships which will help pay for the program costs. Further education is always an important investment which can have a big return.

According to the Census Bureau, a master’s degree is worth almost $500,000 more over a working lifetime than a bachelor's alone.

Thinking of a Ph.D. Degree?

A Ph.D. in mathematics could result in a career teaching at a university, but there are more options beyond that career path, some options are: operations researcher, statistician, cryptanalyst, and more are available.  Doctoral students often quality for a Teaching Assistantship or Research Assistantship, which would be a way to help pay for the program.

Not sure?  Think about a Pre-Doctoral position: Pre-doctoral opportunities (pre-docs) are full-time jobs supporting faculty research that typically last two years.  They are a great option for people who are considering a Ph.D. but aren't completely sure they're ready, or that a Ph.D. is what they want. More information can be found at www.predoc.org.

 Browse Rowan University's Graduate Programs in the Department of Mathematics

What Can I Expect?

  • Typically 5 to 7 years to Ph.D.
  • First two years primarily taking courses
  • After the first or second year
    • Usually necessary to pass qualifying exam
    • Typically very difficult
  • By third year, most transitioning to research.
  • Culminates in Ph.D. dissertation
    • Based on a serious piece of original work
    • Typically takes 2 to ? years to complete

Good News!

  • Almost all students completely supported
    • Teaching assistantships
    • Research assistantships
    • Fellowships
  • Nobody gets rich as a graduate student, but
    you usually don't go deep into debt or have to
    work an outside job, either.

Preparing to Apply

  • Start planning in Junior Year
  • Summer before the Fall senior year — Study
  • Have a GPA > 3.0
  • Take General GREs (www.ets.org) in Spring or STUDY for your Physics GRE
    • Subject Test Dates: early October, November, and April
  • Start thinking about:
    • What do I really like about physics?
    • What kinds of physics do I really like?
    • Where do I want to go after graduate school: University?
      Industry? Business?
    • Make sure this is something you really want

Choosing a Grad School

  1. Make a realistic assessment of your own abilities and record.
  2. Decide which field or fields interest you
    1. Most physics departments specialize in just two or three different areas
    2. It makes no sense to go to a very good university that has no faculty
      in the areas that excite you
  3. Are geographical region & environment important to you?
    1. This shouldn't be the most important criterion, but if you are going to
      spend up to 7 or 8 years in a place it would be nice to be reasonably
      happy during the times when you're not in the lab
    2. Cost of living
  4. Don't get carried away by rankings. (But want to know rankings? Click the link below.)

 

Best Graduate Schools - US News & World Report

Also helpful: https://gradschoolshopper.com/

Key questions to ask before you start applying:

Academic Fit
  • What are the program’s areas of strength or specialization?
  • Are there faculty whose research interests align with mine?
  • What is the structure of the curriculum (coursework, research, thesis/non-thesis options)?
  • Are there opportunities for interdisciplinary work?
Admissions and Requirements
  • What are the application requirements (GPA, GRE/standardized tests, prerequisites)?
  • How competitive is admission?
  • What does a strong applicant profile look like?
  • Are there opportunities for international students?
Funding and Financial Support
  • What types of funding are available (assistantships, fellowships, scholarships)?
  • What percentage of students receive funding?
  • Is funding guaranteed for a certain number of years?
  • What are typical tuition and living costs?
Faculty and Mentorship
  • What is the faculty-to-student ratio?
  • Are advisors assigned or chosen?
  • How accessible and involved are faculty in student development?
Career Outcomes
  • What types of careers do graduates pursue?
  • What support is offered for job placement, internships, or academic careers?
  • Are there alumni networks or connections to industry?
Program Culture and Environment
  • What is the program’s culture like (collaborative vs. competitive)?
  • What’s the average time to completion?
  • How diverse and inclusive is the program?
  • What is student life like in the department and on campus?
Logistics and Location
  • Where is the program located, and what’s the cost of living?
  • Is housing available or affordable nearby?
  • Does the location offer relevant professional or research opportunities?