How Siva S got into Purdue University for Ph.D. in Mathematics

Learn from the Achiever - Siva S (Purdue University)

Siva S's Success Story

Siva S, a student from Cheenta got into Purdue University for Ph.D. in Mathematics.

He shared with us how he prepared for it in an interview with Cheenta. This interview will take you through the preparation journey of Siva for applying for Universities abroad and can help you with some insights that you can utilize for your preparation.

Here are some of the questions, that he answered in the interview.

Tell us about yourself.

I am Siva S, a student from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. I have got admission into Purdue university for my PhD in mathematics.

Math is an form of art like music, paintings and dance. The beauty is its abstractness. More and more beauty is found and experienced when more abstract proofs are given. That is what made me fall for abstract algebra. Especially commutative algebra. There is no reason why a painter likes to do painting, it is just their passion to see his or her imagination. The same is for me when it comes to algebra.

How did you prepare for your goal?

I learned independently commutative algebra. I referred a lot of books and solved almost all the exercises from the books that I mention. Exercises made me strong in the concepts.

Can you suggest some resources (books, YouTube channels and websites) that had helped you in your preparation?

Unlike any other fields of mathematics algebra requires a lot of books and topics to be learned before research.
The books that helped me for learning commutative algebra are the following:
algebra - Dummit and Foote
Algebra - Herstien
Algebra - Artin
Algebra - Serge Lang
Commutative algebra - Atiyah and MacDonald
Commutative algebra - Zarisky
Commutative algebra- Balwanth Singh
Commutative algebra- David Eisenbud
Algebraic Geometry - Harstone

How did you choose your university?

I applied to 7 universities. I chose university on basis of the algebra research group especially Commutative Algebra and Algebraic Geometry. I also considered some universities having very good Algebraic Combinatorics research group.

What are you planning next?

I am planning to finish my PhD with very good research publications and choose to be a professor in a reputed university in India.

Any advice for the current aspirants or students who want to study abroad?

Work hard solve as many exercises as possible so that basics things and basic theorems start's to be very trivial to you and you have knowledge on how to use those.

For applying abroad, it is very much needed to have very good research project or very good research experience with a well recognized professor.

I highly advice to do strong research thesis for bachelor or masters thesis under some well known professor in the interested research area.

How Cheenta helped you in your preparation?

Professors in Cheenta helped me a lot for understanding rings. They motivated me to proceed with Commutative Algebra. I could ask my doubts to professors out in Cheenta. It is a very good platform to learn. Keep maintaining the standards and improve in future.