First Year Graduate Student SeminarNSF Graduate Fellowships •This is the single biggest source of...
Transcript of First Year Graduate Student SeminarNSF Graduate Fellowships •This is the single biggest source of...
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.