GRE Subject Tests

[Kaz]

Hi Kaz!

I would like to know more about how your math courses fit with the GRE. Are you sure you need the full 85th percentile on the GRE for the 33 credits in the math major? I thought you had the highest level math courses already completed and just needed some in the middle.

If you have any questions about completing your degree plan, please let us know.

Stay in touch!

There really isn't any "middle", per se. I need four more intermediate/upper-level courses in math to finish Excelsior's math major. I can't find a good definition of "intermediate" in Excelsior's catalog. I'll take it as "neither introductory nor upper-level". Either way it's moot because almost all math curricula I've seen put all their junior and senior level courses on roughly the same playing field. Prereq's vary, but a given 300 level course won't necessarily be any harder or easier than a given 400 level course. And usually the only 200 level courses are math major prereq's: calc3, diff eq, and linear algebra.

How does it fit with the GRE? I don't have a 100% answer yet, but I know some things. Anything below calc1 doesn't count towards major, pretty much standard across universities. So, I imagine that pre-calc and down would be free/general electives at least (that's how Rutgers treated my pre-calc), meaning that the math GRE wouldn't duplicate with the CLEPs for College Algebra, Math and Pre-Calculus which is nice. Using the earlier posts in this thread as a rough guide, I imagine that your first 3 credits from the GRE would be considered fulfilling your calc1 requirement, your next 3 would fulfill calc2, and so on.

I would bet that that pattern at least holds for the core requirements. So calc1-3, diff eq and linear algebra is five courses. A scaled score of 580 currently puts you in the 36th percentile. If you get one course per 5 percentage points starting at 35%, then you'd need a scaled score of 660 (57th%) in order to clear the core (650 would be 54th%).

Now, I've completed all the core requirements plus two more 300 level courses. So GRE-wise I wouldn't start earning more credits until I hit the scaled 690-700 range (64th-68%). And we know 85% completes the major.

What I don't know is two-fold:

1. Excelsior wants the six inter/upper courses to be broken down into two from subsection A, two from subB and two from subC but it is unclear as to whether you are supposed to do them "in order", i.e. take a subA, take another subA, take a subB, etc. I don't think you are supposed to, as most programs don't work that way at all. Course progression is self-governing through prereq's, and they don't care if you take linear programming before number theory for instance.
   
   
2. Where my two non-core classes fall. One was entitled "Linear Optimization" and I would say it fits in subsection C, subgroup1. But if someone had a really good arguement I could see it being in subgroup2, and technically it wouldn't be wrong to put it in subsection B. But I think "C1" is best. My other course is quirkier to place, which is funny because it is a crucial prereq in my school for basically every junior and senior level course! It is "Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning" and used set theory and mathematical logic to ease us into writing papers and proofs at the "mathematician's level". I think it can only go in subA, maybe "C1" but unlikely. Definitely not subB or "C2".
   

So here's what I need clarified about the math subject GRE: what GRE scores result in duplication of non-core courses, specifically, which precentiles map to which subsections of the major and in what order. For me personally, I need to know if my "Intro Reasoning" course is considered subsection A and if so does it duplicate when I score in the 61st%? or the 66th%? Even more interesting (I'll do a separate post using this as a segue about a strategy I have for GREs), is my "Optimization" course. That should be C1 IMHO. Does that mean I've cleared C1 no matter what, so I don't duplicate this credit if I only score in the 68th%? Meaning if I fall two courses short after the GRE I'm actually only one course short because the last two are C1 and C2, with "Optimization" having already cleared C1? I foresee being a true bane to whatever advisor I wind up with .


P.S.
On page 21 of the Liberal Arts catalog they describe "Level Requirement". In it they specifically say that even if a course is only offered to juniors or seniors, if it is "introductory", then it is considered lower level. They list several examples, which are only helpful because they are very popular courses so their mention specifically addresses a very large audience. But, I can't tell if my "Introdcution to Mathematical Reasoning" will be considered an introductory course. Working against it is the fact that it has intro right in the frickin' name :mad: , lol. Working for it is that it has a calc2 prereq, which is a pretty good one. Hmm...grr... Might not be good enough.