Frequently Asked Application Questions

Can I just send some materials directly to the department for a "pre-review"?

In order to adequately review and assess a student's chances of admittance, our Graduate Committee must see the official ApplyTexas application which is submitted through the university's main Admissions Office.

Does everything need to be submitted all at once or can application materials be sent in batches?

Ideally, it's best if all application materials can be submitted together at the same time but we realize that sometimes this is not possible. So students should submit as much as they can initially then follow up with any remaining items as they become available. Keep in mind that all items must show as received in AIS before students can access the Confirmation Page where they certify that their materials are true and accurate. Also please be aware that our Graduate Committee may not make a final decision on an application until it is entirely complete.

Is the GMAT accepted in place of the GRE?

No, the Mathematics Department requires the general GRE for the graduate application.

Are there set scores or minimum course requirements to apply?

Our university does require a minimum score of 80 IBT TOEFL, 6.0 on the IELTS, or 53 on the PTE (for international applicants only), but other than that, there is not a set score that our Graduate Committee looks for. Test scores are just one part of the graduate application. The Graduate Committee also looks at GPA, transcripts, quality of undergraduate institution, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. The Committee strives to get an overall picture of an applicant's ability to do graduate level mathematics. The majority of applicants to our program do have a bachelor's degree in mathematics but the Graduate Committee has admitted students from other fields as well. It just depends on how much mathematics the student has seen. At the bare minimum, students should have had advanced calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. However, just having these courses does not guarantee admittance. Most candidates accepted have also had at least 2 semesters of real analysis, 2 semesters of senior level algebra, and 1 additional semester in another senior math course. It is a highly competitive process and applicants are ranked against one another.

Can applications still be submitted after the application deadline has passed?

The ApplyTexas site has an auto feature which prevents students from submitting an application for a particular semester if that semester's deadline has already passed. We typically receive 300-400 applications per academic year and it takes a while to go through them all. Any materials that are submitted after a semester's deadline can not be guaranteed to be processed and reviewed in time for that semester. Please note that the departmental application deadlines posted on our departmental application page take precedence over any deadlines posted at the ApplyTexas site.

Is there a separate application for financial assistance?

MS applicants are encouraged to seek outside forms of financial support from our university's Scholarships and Financial Aid Office and Student Employment Office.

Does admittance guarantee financial assistance?

Admittance means that the applicant was judged academically qualified to enter our program but does not always include financial aid. Our department has a limited number of positions available and priority is given to Ph.D. students so we are not able to support MS students on departmental assistantships.

Can admittances be deferred?

With approval from the degree granting unit providing admission (ie: the Mathematics Department), admission to graduate studies normally remains valid for one year from the term of acceptance. However, this might not include any financial aid that may have been awarded for the initial semester of application. Students need to obtain approval from the Mathematics Graduate Office on any requests to postpone their admittance to a future semester.

What is the timetable for admission decisions?

For students applying to a fall semester, the Graduate Committee will begin reviewing files in December and continue throughout the spring. First round offers are made about the middle of February. Depending on how many of the first round offers are declined, the Graduate Committee may go back to the remaining pool of applicants, re-rank them, and make a second round of offers late in April.

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