FirstYearGraduateStudentSeminarAugust29,2018
Today:GoalsoftheFYGSS;programinformation;applyingforfellowships
Nextmeeting:September5:DavidManuelwilltalkaboutgradingandhelpsessionassignments
Outline
• GoalsoftheFYGSS• AdditionalSeminars• Gradingandhelpsessionassignments• ApplyingforFellowships• LanguageRequirements• AnnualReview• Feedback• CalendarfortheSemesterThistalkisavailableatthefollowingwebsite:http://www.math.tamu.edu/~phoward/graduate/materials.html
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?• ShouldIparticipateinoutreachactivities?Ifso,whatsorts
ofactivitiesareavailable?• WhatshouldIstartdoingnow togetreadyforthejob
search?• Manymore…
Fall2018FYGSS• Aug.29:GoalsoftheFYGSS;programinformation;applyingforfellowships
• Sept.5:DavidManuelwilltalkaboutgradingandhelpsessionassignments
• Sept.12:OlaSobieska-SnyderandAyoAdeniran willtalkaboutoutreachopportunities;I’lltalkaboutotherthingsstudentscanstartdoingnowtoprepareforthejobmarket
• Sept.26:Paneldiscussion:Adjustingtograduateschool• Oct.17:Paneldiscussion:preparingforqualifyingexams• Nov.28:PreparingforSpring2019
Spring2019Topics
• Studentpaneldiscussions:Findinganadvisorandadvicefromgraduatingstudents
• Thecurrentjobmarketformathematicians• Summer2019andfutureyearsintheprogram• TherewillalsobeonesecondyeargraduatestudentseminarforthisgroupinSpring2020
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.• ThefirsttalkwillbeMonday,Sept.24,4-5,inBlocker220.
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.• PickupatextbookforyourassignmentfromCherylWilliamsorSherryFloydinBlocker227.
GradingAssignments
• Studentswithgradingassignmentsshouldalreadyhavecontactedtheprofessorthey’regradingfor.Makesureyouknow:–Whattheschedulewillbeforcollectingandreturninggradedwork
–Whowillkeeptrackofthegrades– Anygradingpreferencestheprofessorhas– Ifyou’llbeaskedtogradeanyexams(includingthefinal)
HelpSessionAssignments• KathrynBollingerwillemailstudentsaboutnametagsandsign-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• Thisisthesinglebiggestsourceofgraduatefellowshipsin
thecountry(2,000/yr acrossalldisciplines).• In2016,17,000studentsappliedforafellowship.59were
awardedinmath.• In2017,13,000studentsappliedforafellowship.67were
awardedinmath.• In2018,12,000studentsappliedforafellowship.81were
awardedinmath.• For2017,11fellowshipswereawardedtostudentsfrom
TexasA&M.• For2018,12fellowshipswereawardedtostudentsfrom
TexasA&M.• Noneinmath.• Eitheryear.
NSFGraduateFellowships• 2018Awardsinmathbyarea:[2017](2016)– Algebra,numbertheory,andcombinatorics:30[22](14)– Analysis:3[3](8)– Appliedmath:17[11](20)– Computationalmath:6[2](2)– Datascience:3[0](0)– Geometricanalysis:4[3](2)– Logic&foundations:3[1](0)– Mathbiology:7[12](6)– Other:2[0](0)– Probability:2[5](0)– Topology:4[8](4)
NSFGraduateFellowships• Unfortunately,therearerestrictionsonwhocanreceivethesefellowships:(1)applicantsmustbeUScitizens,nationals,orpermanentresidents,and(2)studentsmustapplynolaterthanfallsemesteroftheirsecondyearofgraduateschool.(StudentswithMSdegreescannotapply.)
• TheduedateisOct.23.• 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.
• ForastudentwhobeginstheprogramFall2018thelastchancetocompletethisrequirementisAugust2020.
• IfastudentwhostartsFall2018doesnotpasstwoqualifyingexamsbyAugust2020he/shewillbeputonprobationforFall2020.
• IfthestudenthasnotpassedtwoqualifyingexamsbyJanuary2021his/hertuitionwillnotbepaidSpring2021.Thestudentwillgenerallystillhaveanassistantship.
• IfthestudenthasnotpassedtwoqualifyingexamsbyAugust2021alldepartmentsupportwillbedropped.
TuitionPolicy
• Theupperadministrationoftheuniversity(i.e.,theprovost’soffice)paystuitionasfollows:– 5yearsforstudentsenteringwithonlyabaccalaureatedegree– 4 yearsforstudentsenteringwithamaster’sdegree
• Forstudentsbeyondthismandate,butstillingoodstandingwiththedepartment,tuitionispaidfromalternativesources,dependingontheavailabilityoffunds.Sofar,wehavebeenabletopaytuitioninallsuchcases.
• Thistuitionscheduledoesnotaffectassistantships.Studentsbeyond4or5yearswhoarestillingoodstandingwiththeprogramwillcontinuetobesupportedonassistantships.
Feedback
Feedback
• Thursday,Aug.23:InternationalStudentConference(ISC).
• Friday,Aug.17,orFriday,Aug.24:Universitylevelgraduatestudentorientation.
• August18,25:EnglishLanguageProficiencyExam(ELPE).
• Anythingelse?
CalendarfortheSemester
DatestoKeepinMind
• Friday,Aug.31islastdayfordrop/addwithnopenalty
• Friday,Nov.16isthelastdayforQ-drop• Sunday,Nov.18isBonfire1999RemembranceDay
• Thursday,Nov.8throughWednesdayNov.28springregistrationisopen
• Wednesday,Dec.5:Lastdayofclasses
