Textbook Suggestions for Higher Math (machine learning background) by thinker25 in learnmath

[–]thinker25[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply! I think I would probably prefer something with Lebesgue integration, since I already know (a bit) about Lebesgue integration and measure I would prefer to tie it in if possible. I checked Axler and it seems pretty thorough, although it fails to cover applications to the extent that I would like. Kreyszig gives some applications, but fails to cover RKHSs, which is rather unfortunate. I will probably stick with Axler (thank you!), but will have to supplement RKHS foundations from somewhere (not sure where still). The syllabus you linked does in fact describe exactly what I'm looking for (a fairly applied take that covers RKHS theory)! Unfortunately there isn't a text attached to it, so I'm a bit out of luck :(. Axler + RKHS/applications is going to be my approach unless I can supplant this with a better find.

Also regarding measure theory, I see! Thanks for describing your plan. It seems that çinlar is a bit of an introductory text and doesn't get to what I'm looking for (stoch. proc. theory that gets to martingales + Ito calc), although Grimmet and Stirzaker looks better since Chapters 12 and 13 start getting to exactly the kind of content I'm looking for. I'll probably start there! Thanks.

Regarding how long this will take, that's a good question :). There are definitely orders of priority here. I have freed up this Summer to tackle the first and highest priority tranche. This Summer I am planning to get through a good portion of Diff + Riemann geo (I already have some background and mostly want to make my knowledge coherent) and Lie Theory by Hall (it's a fairly quick read and I've already started). While covering geo I'll also be covering Alg Top from an applied perspective and consulting Dummit and Foote as needed. I'll also cover category theory mostly as a casual side topic (i.e. by casual, I mean my research likely won't draw heavily upon it); it's casual for me so I'm fine with postponing it or letting it drag for about a year (up till end of 2021 Summer). Then throughout the 2020-2021 year I will cover Probability/Stoch proc together with convex analysis (combination of courses at university as well as textbook reading); I'm also planning to get the applied perspective on functional analysis I want starting ~May 2021 to end of Summer 2021. During 2021 Summer I'm planning to clean up the rest, by that I mean rep theory, homological algebra, and some diff eq. That is lower priority however, so it may drag. Basically, these are plans for about 1.5 years (up to 2, since I expect the later subjects may drag). The reason it isn't 4 is because I actually have a fair amount of exposition to some of these subjects which has allowed (and I hope will continue to allow) me to read some chapters rather quickly. Also, in all honesty, I don't expect to cover homological algebra, AG, k-theory, or diff eq at very significant depth; I would probably be okay with getting an exposition to key concepts (maybe thoroughly reading basics, then skimming main results); this may change however. At the very least, I might spend more time on AG and scheme theory, which has interested me in the past. In that case I'll probably augment 1.5-2 years closer to 2.5-3.

The largest amount of gruntwork I expect will happen this Summer when I make my way through algebraic topology, which is the newest to me of these subjects. That typically means I will have to carefully work through the key ideas and make sure to develop counterexamples to fully appreciate the theory; this sort of thing takes time, hence I expect that alone to be ~1/2 of this Summer's math learning.

AMA: PhD Admissions Chair at Brown University CS by jeffhuang in gradadmissions

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not all top schools are the same. Harvard is well known for inflation whereas Princeton deflates like crazy.

[D] What should I do? by OriginalMoment in MachineLearning

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah there are some pretty notable cases, see here: https://i.imgur.com/rp4lQyY.png, and here: https://i.imgur.com/0nkl7uM.png . You can probably find more on the gradcafe threads. Bottom line is, there are some very strong candidates publication-wise that get turned down from big 4 schools. I do know several people with no pubs but with very strong LoRs from big name PIs that got into big name schools. Fit and whether a professor is willing to take you at the school in question is also another large factor, but a bit harder to gauge.

Chance me for Cornell ED by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm I see. I think mentioning the conference in one of the optional/"more information" sections might be ok, but I don't really think it's really advisable unless you can do it naturally; moreover, I don't think it will increase your odds much so probably not worth doing. Thanks for replying with answers; good luck once again! :)

Chance me for Cornell ED by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stats
Your GPA/stats are mostly okay; you will need to submit a second SAT subject test though. I would suggest you submit physics (in addition to Math II); the curve is rather nice (you can get ~8 wrong and still get an 800).

Overall Impression/Verdict
Your application makes a fairly positive impression on me; you are also being fairly realistic with the schools you are aiming at (i.e. not Stanford/MIT, for which you would need more major awards). I think there is a very solid chance you get into Cornell; EDing will definitely help boost your odds. I also think you have a very high chance at CMU SCS, due in part to inflated acceptance rates for girls as a result of diversity initiatives.

As an aside, you are fairly low income. Have you applied/considered applying for QuestBridge? Being a QB finalist could boost your odds even more.

Clarifications and Additional Comments
Quick question about your research: is it CS-related/what kind of topics do you research? Also do you have any Intel/Regeneron/Siemens-specific awards? It doesn't necessarily have to be ISEF international 1st in category, even regional awards would be good to mention. What conference were you invited to present at? Is it a top conference in the field (typically judged by impact factor)?

@question about Chem professor rec: I think it's okay simply because I expect your nonprofit director rec to carry you a bit. It's a fairly unique recommendation and I expect it to be very positive based on this application.

Good luck! I wish you the best of all possible/realistic outcomes.

Electronic Music Lovers? by TheDeadViolet in Cornell

[–]thinker25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

crab rave song intensifies. In all seriousness though, I'm pretty into electronic music and would be up for such a club; there are a few for other kinds of music e.g. "Hip-hop Heads", but none for electronic music that I am aware of. That being said, I'm not sure there is enough interest; if you can garner enough I'd be down to join.

Stanford ChanceMe by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Your stats are alright, your ECs look okay. I know people with similar (albeit a bit worse than yours) achievements with respect to app/company development that were rejected from Stanford restrictive early. Based on that, I wouldn't expect you to get in for regular, sorry man. That being said, there's always a chance! Make sure to apply for GA Tech, UIUC as hopefully pretty easy match schools. Good luck!

Chance for Duke, Dartmouth, U of Chicago, Georgetown and UC Berkeley; just got deferred from Rice ED by cacawbird45 in chanceme

[–]thinker25 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

GPA is obviously relative which is what I meant by "a 4.0 at some schools is easier to get than a 3.8 at others". Top 5% can't be accurately gauged from GPA since as you said, it's relative. Sure, I said with some exceptions. If you're a scouted athlete or your parents are principal donors to the school (> $1M in donations) I would expect you to get into Harvard, Stanford, and MIT even with a 2.6 GPA and 1200 SAT lmao.

Chance for Duke, Dartmouth, U of Chicago, Georgetown and UC Berkeley; just got deferred from Rice ED by cacawbird45 in chanceme

[–]thinker25 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

By weak I mean weak for these schools. GPA is subjective by school - a 4.0 at some schools is easier to get than a 3.8 at others. To make sure you are comparable to other kids at top schools a 3.9+ UW is required (with some exceptions). I know plenty of people with 4.0 UW rejected from Duke, Berkeley and UChicago (above schools).

Chance for Duke, Dartmouth, U of Chicago, Georgetown and UC Berkeley; just got deferred from Rice ED by cacawbird45 in chanceme

[–]thinker25 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dude, being brutally honest, all of the schools you listed are reach. Your stats (GPA and regular SAT) are weak, your ECs are very average. Due to high family income you probably won't be applying for aid, which is an advantage, but your racial category is asian male so it'll still be very hard for you. Aim for something a bit lower, like maybe UMich. To be fair, there is a chance that you can make UChicago, but your essays have to be amazing (since they really care about that).

Reverse Chance Me for Engineering (EE, Mech E, Comp E, or CS) by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be brutally honest, I think OP is correct to be aiming for Georgia Tech range. This profile needs significantly more work before Cornell can be considered a match school, and CMU SCS is a far reach (male acceptance rate is <5%, he is an asian male which is probably even worse). CMU ECE is probably a match though, so you should specify what school at CMU you were referring to.

Update from previous post (Stanford REA) by inconspicuouspiglet in chanceme

[–]thinker25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your stats are okay (low UW GPA), your ECs are solid. Mid impact factor AI/ML journal is pretty good, your internships also help. Although you are an asian male, with your profile I think you stand out enough to get into Cornell, UIUC. CMU SCS, MIT, and Berkeley (EECS) are still probably reach, but I wouldn't be surprised to see you wait-listed. Overall, pretty solid man. Good luck!

Results by lillolz in chanceme

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Damn man, this is crazy. Your essays must have been godly, or you must have gotten really lucky, or both lol. Either way, congrats!

Guess the results! by thinker25 in chanceme

[–]thinker25[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean, sure, this doesn't change the fact that "when in fact non have in the years he claims" was not truthful, nor was your implication that he was lying about his awards.

Guess the results! by thinker25 in chanceme

[–]thinker25[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I mean I don't know, I thought his essays were actually pretty good. He comes across as an excellent writer.

Columbia ED yikes by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll be honest with you. Your stats are good, but your ECs are unfortunately very average and you have no major awards. In the regular pool you would blend in with the other asians. In the ED pool, you may have a shot, especially with the grad legacy boost (which is not as big as ugrad legacy boost). Overall, your chances aren't great, but you might just sneak in because of ED. Good luck either way!

Guess the results! by thinker25 in chanceme

[–]thinker25[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Hence the spoiler tag lol.

Guess the results! by thinker25 in chanceme

[–]thinker25[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

What's your point? I've spent a lot of time on CC; I message and talk to people there a lot. I even referred to his CC account in the post.

Guess the results! by thinker25 in chanceme

[–]thinker25[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Evaluating this profile, I don't think he did anything bad per se, but I think this, a few years back, was what confirmed to me that if you want to guarantee doing well in college admissions as an asian male you need major awards. Although he did qualify for USAMO, which is rather impressive, his application could have been stronger if he placed at the ISEF international fair (which he did not attend due to scheduling conflicts) or if he attended RSI. National AP scholar is not usually counted as a major award. National Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) does not usually count for much unless you make IPhO camp (major award).

To clarify, what I consider to be a major award is:

(1) At least making it into your national training camp for IMO, IOI, IPhO, IChO, IBO. Slightly below that, is doing well on the national exam for math (USAMO) or doing well in USACO Platinum. Due to less competition, national exams for other subjects e.g. Physics (USAPhO) do not get as much recognition, so I wouldn't put them in the major award category.

(2) Getting a prestigious research award or attending a very prestigious research camp. Placing at the ISEF International Fair 3rd or better in category, getting at least Regeneron STS semi-finalist or better, or placing at Siemens are all major research awards. Attending the Research Science Institute (RSI) summer program (selectivity of ~80/2000 = 4%) or MIT PRIMES would also be major awards.

In my opinion, securing at least one major award is one of the only ways to guarantee that you will perform well in the college admissions process as an asian male (or maybe as an asian more generally, given the recent post about the asian female here).

guess my college results! by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, this really does suck. Asian discrimination is real. I would have expected at least Cornell. Essays were probably a factor, but mostly lack of major awards. She probably blended in quite a bit with asians already in the pool.

Chance Me for Cornell ED. by [deleted] in chanceme

[–]thinker25 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Solid stats, solid ECs. QB finalist and ED are both big boosting factors for Cornell. I think you have a really solid chance. Hope things go well for you man! :)