Instructions Relating to the Graduate Application Form and Supporting Documents

Please note that all documents pertaining to your application are to be mailed to one of the following two addresses. The application form and the application fee should be sent to the Office of Admissions and Records at the address given in the instructions printed on the application form. These, and only these two items, should be sent to that address. All other documents should be sent to:

Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Mathematics
University of Illinois
1409 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801

The submission deadline for applications for Fall Semester that include a request for financial aid is December 1. The deadline for supplemental materials (including letters of recommendation and transcripts) is January 2. Only applications which are complete will be reviewed. Applications for admission only can be considered up to April 15. The deadline for all applications for spring semester is the preceding October 15. Department of Mathematics reserves the right to close the acceptance of applications at any time.

There are four different groups of degree programs administered by the Department of Mathematics. Each degree has its own code number.

• Ph.D. in Mathematics  (Code 10KS0439PHD)
• Master of Science, or Master of Arts in Mathematics (Code 10KS0439MS, or 10KS0439MA)
• Master of Science in Applied Mathematics (Code 10KS0327MS, for Actuarial Science option: 10KS0328MS)
• Master of Science in the Teaching of Mathematics (Code 10KS0290MS)

When asked to state the degree for which you wish to be a candidate, indicate either M.S., M.A., or Ph.D. and include the code number. For example, if you wish to be considered as a candidate for a master's degree in applied mathematics, write "M.S. - 10KS0327MS", or "M.S. - 10KS0328MS" if you want to pursue the Acuarial Science option. Give "Ph.D." as your degree objective unless you are fairly certain you will not attempt a doctoral degree.

The Department of Mathematics requires Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores, both the general test and the subject test in mathematics, for admission for all applicants who live in the United States or Canada. The tests are not required for other applicants, but your chance of gaining admission accompanied by financial aid will be strengthened if you submit these test scores. Also, these GRE scores are required for all fellowship applications. Applicants should have their scores mailed so as to reach the Director of Graduate Studies before the January 1 deadline. For information about the Graduate Record Examination write directly to:

Graduate Record Examination Program
Educational Testing Service/GRE
P.O. Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541
or visit the website at www.ets.org

Three letters of recommendation are required. If more letters are desired, the writers may use copies of these forms or may write their letters in ordinary letter format. In filling out the tops of the forms, in item 2 write "Mathematics". In item 3 write your area of interest within mathematics if you know it. In item 4 write "Director of Graduate Studies", and in item 5 write "Mathematics". Concerning item 9, you will be considered for a fellowship or assistantship in that order unless you request something different to be done.

Please note that three letters are required. If for any reason you cannot obtain three letters, please write to the Director of Graduate Studies detailing your situation and he will advise you.

The law requires that we make letters of reference available upon request to the student unless the student has waived right of access. The letters we receive will be used only for the purpose of making aid decisions, and they will be held in the strictest confidence within our department. They will not be seen by any but the members of our faculty who will make aid decisions.

Finally, you should ask at least one of your reference writers to comment upon your potential for success as a classroom teacher acting in an independent (i.e., only slightly supervised) teaching position. Poise, language ability, etc., are important here and we would like to have an evaluation of your ability in these areas.

Duties of Assistants

Most first year assistants are assigned to recitation sections where the work is coordinated by a faculty member. Each first year assistant is assigned to a faculty supervisor who is available for consultation and assistance. Experienced assistants function as independent classroom teachers of freshmen and sophomores. This means that each such assistant is responsible for instruction in his or her classes. Textbooks and course outlines are provided, but it is the assistant's responsibility to stay with the outline, prepare and grade examinations and homework assignments, and determine final grades.

Assistants commonly teach such courses as college algebra, trigonometry, calculus, finite mathematics and calculus for business students, and certain other specialized courses. Assistants are provided with secretarial support, office space, and other logistical support services.

Additional information is available at these links

• Financial Aid
• The Master's Degree Programs in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and the Teaching of Mathematics
• The Doctoral Degree in Mathematics