Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
FirstYearGraduateStudentSeminarAugust30,2017
Today:GoalsoftheFYGSS;programinformation;applyingforfellowships
Nextmeeting:September6:DavidManuelwilltalkaboutgradingandhelpsessionassignments
Outline
• GoalsoftheFYGSS• AdditionalSeminars• Gradingandhelpsessionassignments• ApplyingforFellowships• LanguageRequirements• AnnualReview• Feedback• CalendarfortheSemesterThistalkisavailableatthefollowingwebsite:http://www.math.tamu.edu/~phoward/graduate/materials.html
Updates
• Thedrop/adddeadlinehasbeenmovedtoTuesday,Sept.5.
• TheNationalSecurityAgencywilltalktostudentsaboutsummerinternships,Thursday,Sept.21,1-2inBlocker220.
• StudentsmustcompletePart1oftheHAVENOnlineSexualHarassmentandSexualviolenceeducationmodulebyFriday,Sept.22,andPart2byFriday,Nov.17.
GoalsoftheFYGSS• Givefirst-yearstudentsanoverviewofthedepartment,
andinformationthatwillhelpthemchoosearesearchtopicandadvisor.
• Addresscommonquestionsassociatedwithgraduatestudyinmathematics.
• Givestudentsinformationaboutthemathematicsprofession.
• Givefirst-yearstudentsfromdifferentareas(mathematicalandgeographical)achancetomeetandtalk.
• Providethegraduatedirectorwithanopportunitytocommunicatewithfirst-yeargraduatestudents(announcements,reminders,etc.).
• Providefirst-yeargraduatestudentswithanopportunitytoaskquestionsabouttheprogram.
GoalsoftheFYGSS• Givefirst-yearstudentsanoverviewofthedepartment,
andinformationthatwillhelpthemchoosearesearchtopicandadvisor.
• Addresscommonquestionsassociatedwithgraduatestudyinmathematics.
• Givestudentsinformationaboutthemathematicsprofession.
• Givefirst-yearstudentsfromdifferentareas(mathematicalandgeographical)achancetomeetandtalk.
• Providethegraduatedirectorwithanopportunitytocommunicatewithfirst-yeargraduatestudents(announcements,reminders,etc.).
• Providefirst-yeargraduatestudentswithanopportunitytoaskquestionsabouttheprogram.
FAQs• HowshouldIprepareforthequalifyingexams?• CanIgetsummerfunding?• HowcanIgetafellowship?HowcanIgetsupportedona
grant?• WhataremyresponsibilitiesasaTA?HowshouldIbalance
theseresponsibilitieswithmystudies?• HowdoIgoaboutchoosinganadvisor?• WhatsortsofjobswillbeavailabletomewhenIgraduate,
andhowdoIgoaboutapplyingforthem?• WhatshouldIstartdoingnow togetreadyforthejob
search?• ShouldIjoinmathematicalsocietiesandorganizations?• Manymore…
Fall2017FYGSS• Aug.30:GoalsoftheFYGSS;programinformation;applyingforfellowships
• Sept.6:DavidManuelwilltalkaboutgradingandhelpsessionassignments
• Sept.13:OlaSobieska andAyoAdeniran willtalkaboutoutreachopportunities;I’lltalkaboutotherthingsstudentscanstartdoingnowtoprepareforthejobmarket
• Sept.30:Paneldiscussion:Adjustingtograduateschool• Oct.25:Paneldiscussion:preparingforqualifyingexams• Nov.29:PreparingforSpring2018
Spring2018Topics
• Studentpaneldiscussions:Findinganadvisorandadvicefromgraduatingstudents
• Thecurrentjobmarketformathematicians• Summer2018andfutureyearsintheprogram
AdditionalSeminars
GSOSeminar• TheGraduateStudentOrganization(GSO)seminarmeetsonThursdays4:00-5:00inBlocker506A.
• “Comeforthecookies,stayforthepizza.”• Thisisagoodchancetomeetyourfellowgraduatestudentsandtolearnabouttheresearchprogramsofprofessorsinthedepartment.
• Formoreinformation:http://gso.math.tamu.edu
IndustrialandAppliedMathSeminar
• Thedepartment’sSIAMStudentChapterco-organizes(withthegraduateprogram)aseminaronapplicationsofmathematicsoutsideofacademia.
• CookiesandFruit,butnopizza.
MoreSeminars
• Informationaboutallseminarsinthedepartmentisavailableontheseminarswebpage:
http://www.math.tamu.edu/seminars• Studentsshouldsubscribetotheseminarsmailinglist.Theguideforthisishere:
https://www.math.tamu.edu/computing/help/majordomo.html
GradingandHelpSessionAssignments
GradingandHelpSessionAssignments
• DavidManuelwilltalkabouttheseassignmentsinmoredetailinthenextFYGSS.
• Forbothoftheseassignments,theexpectedworkloadis10hoursperweek,butforgradingassignmentsthiscanbeanaverage.
• CommentaboutGANTs.• PickupatextbookforyourassignmentfromJudyMuzny inBlocker227.
GradingAssignments
• Studentswithgradingassignmentsshouldalreadyhavecontactedtheprofessorthey’regradingfor.Makesureyouknow:–Whattheschedulewillbeforcollectingandreturninggradedwork
–Whowillkeeptrackofthegrades– Anygradingpreferencestheprofessorhas– Ifyou’llbeaskedtogradeanyexams(includingthefinal)
HelpSessionAssignments• PickupanametaginBlocker227,andwearitduringeveryhelpsession.Also,pickupsign-insheets.
• Don’tmakestudentshuntyoudowninthebackoftheroom.Ifyou’renotworkingwithastudent,introduceyourselftostudentsastheycomein.(Iftherearenostudents,youcanworkonhomeworketc.)
• Donottutorstudentsforacoursethat’snotcoveredbyyourhelpsession.Directthemtotheappropriatehelpsession.
• Donot(!!)tutorforpayduringahelpsession.
ApplyingforFellowships
WhyApplyforFellowships?• $$$andreducedornoTAduties.• Prestige(looksgoodonyourCV).• Practice:Mostresearchersinthemathematicalsciencescontinuetoapplyforgrantfundingthroughouttheircareers,andit’sbeneficialtogetaccustomedtothisprocessassoonaspossible.
• Themoreapplicationsandproposalsyouwrite,thebetteryou’llgetatwritingthem.
• Also,writingafellowshipproposalforcesyoutotakeastepbackandthinkmorebroadlyaboutwhatyougenuinelywanttobeworkingon.
• Butmostly$$$andreducedTAduties.
WhatFellowshipsareAvailable?
• TheAmericanMathematicalSociety(AMS)collectsinformationaboutfellowshipopportunitiesinthemathematicalsciencesonitswebsite:http://www.ams.org/programs/students/gradinfo/gradinfo
• Thisisausefulsiteonitsown,butthefellowshipinformationisatthebottomofthepage.
NSFGraduateFellowships
• Thisisthesinglebiggestsourceofmathgraduatefellowshipsinthecountry.
• In2016,59fellowshipswereawardedinmath,outof2,000totalawards.
• In2017,67fellowshipswereawardedinmath,of2,069totalawards.
• For2017,therewereabout13,000applications(about17,000in2016).
• For2017,11fellowshipswereawardedtostudentsfromTexasA&M.
• Noneinmath.
NSFGraduateFellowships• 2017Awardsinmathbyarea:(2016inparentheses)– Algebra,numbertheory,andcombinatorics:22(14)– Analysis:3(8)– Appliedmath:11(20)– Computationalmath:2(2)– Geometricanalysis:3(2)– Logic&foundations1(0)– Mathbiology:12(6)– Probability:5(0)– Topology:8(4)
• MoreinformationaboutAwards:http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp
NSFGraduateFellowships• Unfortunately,therearerestrictionsonwhocanreceivethesefellowships:(1)applicantsmustbeUScitizens,nationals,orpermanentresidents,and(2)studentsmustapplynolaterthanfallsemesteroftheirsecondyearofgraduateschool.(StudentswithMSdegreescannotapply.)
• TheduedateisOct.27.• Themathdepartmentawardsa$250book/travelallotmenttostudentswhoapplyandreceivehonorablemention.
• Moreinformation:http://www.nsfgrfp.org/
LanguageRequirements
EnglishLanguageRequirement
• InternationalstudentsmusthaveEnglishProficiencyCertificationtoserveasteachingassistants,andthedepartmentexpectsstudentstoachievethisduringtheirfirstyear.
• Certificationcanbeobtainedinthreeways:– CompletionofanundergraduatedegreeatanaccreditedU.S.collegeoruniversity(Master’sdegreeisnotsufficient).
– Achievingasufficientlyhighscoreonanappropriatestandardizedtest.
– Scoringatleast80ontheEnglishLanguageProficiencyExam(ELPE)oralexam.
ForeignLanguageRequirement
• Hasbeeneliminated.
AnnualReview
GoodStanding
• Manydepartmentpoliciesspecifythatastudentmustbeingoodstanding,soit’sworthreviewingwhatthatmeans.InordertobeingoodstandingPhDstudentsshould:– Maintaina3.0orbettercumulativeGPAeverysemester– AdequatelyperformtheirTAdutieseverysemester– PassallbreadthrequirementcourseswithaBorbetterduring
theirfirsttwoyears– Passtwoqualifyingexamsduringtheirfirsttwoyears– (Internationalstudents)ObtainEnglishProficiencyCertification
duringtheirfirstyear– Receivepositiveprogressreportsfromtheiradvisoreveryyear
afterfilingadegreeplan– Notviolatetheethicscodeoftheuniversity
ReviewProcedure
• Thegraduatecommitteecarriesoutafullprogressevaluationforeachstudentduringthesummer.Thisincludesareportfromthestudent’sadvisor(oncethestudenthasanadvisor),andafullreviewofthestudent’sfile.
• Inadditionthegraduatecommitteereviewsthestandingofeachgraduatestudentattheendofeachsemester.
GeneralPunitiveAction
• Ifitisjudgedthatastudentisnolongeringoodstanding,thestudentwillbeplacedonprobationforthenextsemester.
• Inpractice,thereisnopenaltyassociatedwithprobation(nolossoffunding).
• Attheendoftheprobationsemester,ifthestudentisstillnotingoodstanding,thedepartmentwillnotpaythestudent’stuitionforthenextsemester.Generally,thestudentwillstillbesupportedonanassistantshipduringthissemester.
• Attheendofthissecondsemester,ifthestudentisstillnotingoodstanding,thedepartmentwillnolongersupportthestudentwitheithertuitionorastipend.
ExampleCase
• Studentsshouldpasstwoqualifyingexamsduringtheirfirsttwoyearsintheprogram.
• ForastudentwhobeginstheprogramFall2017thelastchancetocompletethisrequirementisAugust2019.
• IfastudentwhostartsFall2017doesnotpasstwoqualifyingexamsbyAugust2019he/shewillbeputonprobationforFall2019.
• IfthestudenthasnotpassedtwoqualifyingexamsbyJanuary2020his/hertuitionwillnotbepaidSpring2020.Thestudentwillgenerallystillhaveanassistantship.
• IfthestudenthasnotpassedtwoqualifyingexamsbyAugust2020alldepartmentsupportwillbedropped.
TuitionPolicy
• Theupperadministrationoftheuniversity(i.e.,theprovost’soffice)paystuitionasfollows:– 5yearsforstudentsenteringwithonlyabaccalaureatedegree– 4 yearsforstudentsenteringwithamaster’sdegree
• Forstudentsbeyondthismandate,butstillingoodstandingwiththedepartment,tuitionispaidfromalternativesources,dependingontheavailabilityoffunds.Sofar,wehavebeenabletopaytuitioninallsuchcases.
• Thistuitionscheduledoesnotaffectassistantships.Studentsbeyond4or5yearswhoarestillingoodstandingwiththeprogramwillcontinuetobesupportedonassistantships.
Feedback
FeedbackStudentsenteringtheprogramgothroughanenormousamountofstuffveryfast,andithelpsifweunderstandwhatworks(isuseful,efficient,etc.)andwhatdoesn’t.Inchronologicalorder:• Aug.14,15,21,23:Internationalstudentcheck-inwithISS.
• Thursday,Aug.24:InternationalStudentConference(ISC).
• Friday,Aug.18,orFriday,Aug.25:Universitylevelgraduatestudentorientation.
• August12,19,27:EnglishLanguageProficiencyExam(ELPE).
• Anythingelse?
CalendarfortheSemester
DatestoKeepinMind
• Tuesday,Sept.5isthelastdaytoaddordropaclasswithnorecord
• Friday,Nov.17isthelastdayforQ-drop• Saturday,Nov.18isBonfire1999RemembranceDay
• WehaveathreedayThanksgivingbreak,Nov.22-23.
• Wednesday,Dec.6:Lastdayofclasses
ThingstoWatchFor
• RoughlymidwaythroughthesemesterMoniquewillaskstudentstosignupforJanuaryqualifyingexams.
• TowardtheendofthesemesterstudentswillregisterforSpring2017classes.