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$
I do not take PhD students directly. Instead, as is typical in
the United States, you will
apply to Northwestern’s PhD program and be
evaluated by the admissions committee. Upon admittance, you will take general
courses and you will need to pass your preliminary
exams in algebra, analysis,
and geometry/topology.
In order to work with me specifically, you will typically need to take at least one
course of mine and at least one independent study with me. This completed, you will
need to pass the qualifying exam under my direction. (See the graduate
handbook.)
At this point it is technically possible for you to become my PhD student. I am always open
to advising PhD students who have followed the steps above, but, even then, there are more students
who want to work with me than I can accept.