2. Mathematics GRE study guides can be purchased at places such as http://www.ets.org.
3. Check the Prelim home page for when the exam is scheduled. If you plan on taking it, then sign-up with Dawnmarie. You have the option to not take it even if you sign up. However, you should let Dawnmarie know if you change your mind.
4. Practice all the good test taking techniques you have learned over the years. Get a good night's sleep, eat well before the exam, review the material for several weeks prior to the exam, find a study partner, obtain the notes from someone who successfully passed the exam, etc....
5.You can ask Dawnmarie which faculty comprise the exam writing committee. Feel free to contact them for helpful studying suggestions. (See the phone/office list in the appendix.)
3.1.2 Qualifying Exam
As you take graduate classes, you should keep in mind that you will have to pass a Qualifying Exam covering three classes of your choosing. Your selection might be based upon your aptitude for the subject matter, your relationship with the professors of the classes, and the course's relationship with your tentative research topic. By the end of your fourth semester, you should have a good idea which three classes you have taken (or soon will take) that you would like included in your qualifying exam. Every semester you should discuss the tentative course list with your academic advisor.
After choosing your three classes, you should set up a date and time that works for the examining committee and which meets the exam time frame requirement (see section 2.G of the exam requirements document). Please note: you will want to confirm that the professors you took the courses from will be on your examining committee. See part 2.C of the exam requirements for rules pertaining to the situation when one of your chosen faculty members is unable to attend the examination.
In any case, once you know the subjects and the examiners, you will want to begin stage two of your preparation for this exam. (Stage one being taking the course in the first place.) The obvious stage two prep will be reviewing your class notes, as well as finding more references on the subjects, acquiring books you didn't use in class, etc., to ensure that you have a very good understanding of the material. Then talk to the people who will be on your examination committee, ask them for the things they think are the most important. Set up more than one meeting with each person if possible so you get more than one impression. Ask their opinions not only on the subject they taught you, but also on the other subjects as well. Don't forget, they will all be in the room with you and it is in your best interest to know as much as possible about what will be asked before you walk in. Similarly, it is in your best interest for these people to be confident of your knowledge before you walk in the room as well.
Please Note: It is NOT necessary to have found a thesis advisor before this exam, but you should be well acquainted with your academic advisor by this time.
3.1.3 Candidacy Exam
After you have found a thesis advisor and have begun probing a research topic, together you will form a thesis committee (the Institute requires at least four full-time tenure-track Rensselaer faculty members, and at least one scientist or professor from outside the Math Sciences Department). Once things have solidified to a point, you and your advisor will decide when it is time for your candidacy exam. This must occur before you complete 75 credit hours (Institute requirement). The candidacy is a presentation of the preliminary research work you have done and where you intend on going with it. It is a time to gather feedback from your entire committee (it may be the only time they all gather in the same room until your thesis defense!). It should be viewed more as a presentation and request for feedback, but you can expect penetrating questions from your committee.
3.2 Fairness
If you feel that one of the above exams was not as fair as you would have hoped, then you should put your observations in writing as soon as possible. Discuss these observations with your advisor. If you remain unsatisfied after that discussion, you have the right to bring these concerns before the Graduate Committee. A formal appeal in writing should be submitted to the Graduate Committee as soon as possible. This process is in place to provide checks and balances to the system. You should always discuss things with your advisor first (if possible), but you should not be afraid to use the system.
4. Appeal of Requirements: (Exams and Courses)
Under certain rare circumstances, requirements may be delayed, waived, or changed. All appeals should be made in writing to the Graduate Committee. Prior discussion with your academic advisor is assumed. Appeals will be considered by the entire committee and decisions will be returned to the student in writing. Keep in mind these requirements were set up not to hinder you from gaining a good education, but to ensure that you obtain a quality degree in a timely fashion.
5. Things to Discuss with your Academic Advisor
Your academic advisor is your first link to the Rensselaer Math Sciences Department. Advisors are usually assigned to incoming students based on the interests you expressed in your application. Your advisor has a wealth of knowledge that you need to tap into EARLY! Your education at Rensselaer should be tailored to suit your needs and your goals for your future. To do this your advisor must be aware of these needs and goals. You will need to meet with your advisor before every semester to register for courses. Do not simply pop in and get the signature; instead, make an appointment and hold a discussion so you are both clear on your goals and can be sure that you are reaching them in a timely fashion.
Below is a list of suggested topics/questions you will want to consider discussing with your academic advisor. Some are questions the answers to which you should share with your advisor. Some are questions you may want to ask your advisor. If you are a new student, you will want to be sure to get through this list and any other ideas of your own. (Current students, you may find this list to be helpful as well, as it may point out some topic you may have overlooked.)
Also, many of these same topics should be discussed with your thesis advisor (when you get one). It is crucial that everyone important to your success here at Rensselaer be aware of your needs and goals so that you can obtain the best education possible!
6. Getting a Thesis Advisor
Finding the right thesis advisor is critical to your survival and completion of your graduate degree. When you first arrive at Rensselaer, some of you may know exactly the area in which you would like to do research. However, many new graduate students do not. Therefore, it is essential for all graduate students to get to know the faculty.
- Meet the Faculty Colloquium:
Once a year, in the fall, there is a colloquium specifically designed for the
graduate students to learn what the faculty members do in research. Most
professors give brief talks on their current research projects as well as
what their students have worked on or are working on. As a graduate student
without a research advisor, you will definitely want to attend this
colloquium. It is also a good opportunity for all graduate students to learn
what fellow students are working on. You may be surprised, and your
interest will be piqued.
- Take courses from professors in your research area:
If you have an idea
of which area you would like to do research, take classes from professors
who are also interested in that area (if they are teaching any) or ask
them about a reading course.
- Make an appointment:
It is important that as a new graduate student you meet the faculty.
And, unless you have a professor in a class or are their TA, you may
not have the occasion to get to know your professors.
Set up an appointment to meet them to just talk.
- Attend Office Hours:
One of the best and most convenient methods of getting to know
the professors is by attending their office hours. This is a time
that the professor has reserved to spend time with the
students, i.e. you. So take advantage of their availability and
attention. Start attending office hours early in the semester
to avoid an exam rush.
- Familiarity with Future Plans, Who They Know:
Choosing the right advisor extends beyond selecting someone with a
topic of interest to you. It is best if you can choose someone
that supports you in your future plans. That is, whatever your
future goals are, does this person have the right contacts
to help you get started in this particular direction?
Has this person had other students go in the direction you
wish to go? You should discuss your plans with your prospective
advisor.
- Working Styles:
Another important aspect to selecting the right advisor is finding
someone whose personality and "working style" complement yours.
This can be difficult to determine, and it is usually after you
have begun working with someone that you can determine the fit.
You may be able to get an impression of their working style
through the courses you have taken with them. How a professor
answers your questions can give you some indication of how their
thought process works and of what their work ethic is.
Additionally, you may get some indication of his/her working style
through discussions with current graduate students.
- Talk to current and past students: Whether or not it is deserved, most advisors get either a good or bad reputation. It can prove useful for you to talk to current and former students of your prospective advisor to learn what "really" can be expected. Be advised that the reputations might be out-dated or completely wrong. So check things out. Get involved.
7. Things to Discuss with your Thesis Advisor
Great! Now you have your thesis advisor. Keep communications open. This will help to make the experience a positive one.
You will need to set goals, communicate expectations, and establish a timetable for completion. This will alleviate any hard feelings or misunderstandings later on. Be sure to be clear about your expectations and goals. It is important that you and your advisor are in agreement about the progression of your education and its completion. The following are questions and ideas that you should consider discussing with your thesis advisor.
- Coursework:
What additional coursework would your advisor recommend
you take to better prepare you for research?
What courses interest you?
How should you best complete the course requirements?
(see Section 2 Course Requirements)
Should you finish all of your coursework as soon as possible,
or is it better to take one or two courses each semester?
- Papers:
Does your advisor expect you to publish your research?
Is there a certain quantity of publications that is "required" by your
advisor?
Do you want to publish while you are here at Rensselaer? (see Preparing for a Job in Academia and Preparing for a Job in Industry)
- Presentations:
Will your advisor send (or bring) you to a conference to
present your research?
Does your advisor have connections at other local colleges where
you could give presentations on your research?
- Meetings:
How often does your advisor plan to meet with you? Will
she/he set up a fixed time each week?
Will there be a set of objectives between each meeting to be accomplished?
- Candidacy and Thesis Timing:
When does your advisor expect you will be ready to take your
candidacy exam and defend your thesis? By what date would
you like to have defended your thesis?
- Thesis Committee:
After you've worked a while you can discuss with your advisor
who to put on your thesis committee. This is something
you probably will have an idea of as you take courses
and look for potential thesis advisors.
It is beneficial for you and your advisor to agree to the
members of your thesis committee.
8. Preparing for a Job in Industry
Not all mathematics fits with all industrial jobs. People in industry often think there is no practical value to higher mathematics. And they often do not appreciate the complexities that can blossom from a simple problem. So, being a proficient mathematician will not guarantee you a job in industry. So what can you do while at Rensselaer to make your life easier when you are ready to leave?
- Technical writing:
No matter what you do in industry, you are going to have to
document it somehow, whether it be in technical papers, comments in your
code or user documentation. Thus, solid technical writing skills are a
must. Rensselaer offers a few technical writing classes for those who want
to hone these skills (and if you take a 600-level class, it even
fulfills the outside area class requirement!).
- Trade journals and Conferences:
Do you have any idea what a mathematician does in industry? Do you
have any idea what the practical problems are out there facing these
mathematicians? Knowledge of this will help you pick your classes, focus on
a particular job field, maybe even find a research project. There is a
variety of trade journals out there which will expose you not only to
the problems in mathematics, but will help you to understand your field of
choice as a whole. Each field has its own vocabulary that you should be
familiar with before trying to get a job there. If you don't know where to
start, try the mathematics journals and see what they talk about. Ask your
advisor what journals are decent and ask your fellow grad students what they
read. Don't be afraid of non-math trade journals either. Some of them
are quite easy to read since they are non-academic.
What conferences are good and why? How about a non-mathematics
conference, (such as the flashy SIGGRAPH, or Unix Expo
(which is conveniently located in NYC usually each Fall))? Or for real
convenience and great exposure to industrial problems, how about the
Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry (MPI) here at Rensselaer
each May/June? Or check the Internet
for a wide variety of conference listings, and watch
the department bulletin boards too. (Another great way to spend your
summer!)
- Computer skills:
The computer age is upon us in full force, and it is now pretty
rare when mathematics is done solely by pen and paper. Can you program?
Can you get yourself around a PC and a Workstation? Can you edit a file
on a PC and on a UNIX workstation? What programming languages are hot in
the field you are interested in? What applications (i.e. software) are
necessary tools of the trade? What skills are employers listing in your
field? Do you have them? (Another great way to spend a summer!!)
- Publishing Papers:
Although this is not as critical as it is for Academia, having a
few published papers to list on your resume will give the prospective
employer something concrete to read when trying to assess your
mathematical skills.
- Presentation at a Conference:
It is important for you to become comfortable presenting your work
to others, fielding questions and handling spontaneous requests. In industry
you will very likely be called upon to discuss the work you are doing, either
to management, co-workers, or in a briefing to customers. Whether it be
a talk to your fellow grad students, or a presentation at a conference,
the more you present your work, the more comfortable you will be with
that process. You will get the obvious benefits of additional feedback
on your work, perhaps insights you had not yet seen as well as
appreciation for your efforts. But, you also have the option of requesting
feedback from you advisor or someone you trust in the audience, not only
on the content of your talk, but on your presentation style.
- TA-ing:
Yes, even this will help your resume for industry. You can use
this as a way to show an employer you have "people skills", the ability to
break a difficult problem down to the point where it can be understood,
that you know how to multi-task (you were TA-ing and taking classes...)
- Collaborative Research and other group work:
It is very important that you show you can work alone as well as in
a group when you are searching for a job in industry. Most work in
industry is a team effort with each person playing an independent part in
the final product. Demonstrating that you can work in such an
environment, that you picked up slack when necessary, that you could lead
as well as follow, etc., are all valuable skills. Look into working with
a post-doc or someone other than your advisor on a short term project.
- Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry (MPI):
The MPI workshop
is a week-long work event held annually in May or June in which representatives
from industry bring problems of interest to their companies. The problems
are presented on the first day. For the rest of the week, the academic and
industrial participants discuss the problems in small, informal working groups.
Summary reports on the week's progress is made on the last day. The
workshop is a rich environment for learning and students gain exposure
to industrial relevant `real world" problems, mathematical modeling,
methods of solution, etc.
Every grad student should consider attending at least one workshop
(not just to hear the problems on the first day but to spend time
during the week when the problems get sorted out). It is a good
learning experience even if the student doesn't feel that his/her background
is strong enough to participate much. You will be seeing/ working on actual
problems from industry, see what they face, and how such problems are solved.
Then someday, once you are out there in industry you will bring a problem
of your own to this workshop!
- Colloquia:
For information on the Math department Colloquia refer to Section
on Preparing for a Job in Academia. Much of that also applies to
industrial jobs. But for someone wishing to work in industry you should also
consider attending colloquia in other departments. Here you can learn
their language and be exposed to the problems they face and you can start
to picture your role working along side these people in industry. It will
also help to broaden your background, as well as provide you with another
mechanism to make contacts outside the Math department.
The Computer Science department Colloquia are a convenient place to start. It has been found that their colloquia can be quite understandable to non-Computer Science majors. Be adventurous!!
- Course work outside the department:
When you take classes outside the department, you have the opportunity
to learn a subject where you can apply your mathematics. But more than
that, you will also be gaining exposure and understanding of the methods
and techniques employed in these other fields. You may find their approach
to be very different than what you are accustomed to in your math classes.
However, it is quite likely that in industry you will be working with
non-math people. Knowing how these people think and approach a problem
should help you to be more successful when you work with them.
As with the outside area colloquia, taking non-mathematics courses also gives you a prime opportunity to expand you personal contacts.
9. Looking for a Job in Industry
Industry jobs are very appealing to some people. The pace is often quick, there is immediate feedback on your work from fellow employees as well as customers, and the pay is generally good. Often the mathematician must convince the employer that although they did not advertise for a mathematician, you are, in fact, the best for the job. Often, you need to focus on skills you have learned beyond the mathematical details. We are proficient in breaking down problems into manageable bits. We have been trained to spot variables that have little impact on the final result, we are comfortable attacking a problem, discovering it is infeasible and backtracking to a point where we can attempt to progress again, etc. Remember, job advertisements are often written by people in personnel and they are NOT educated in our field. Often we need to educate them in why we should be hired (and paid well!)
A few industry benefits: (All of these are in general and may not apply in all job situations) Variety of responsibilities, well defined goals, fast pace, decent salary, chance for lateral as well as vertical growth, exposure to other disciplines, exposure to other ways of thinking, your mathematics used by others (co-workers as well as customers), mathematicians tend to be few in number so they are often called upon to educate co-workers and are often a prized commodity because they are comfortable with a subject so many people are frightened of!
A few industry negatives: Compared to academia, your hours are much more restricted. Deadlines and customers often drive your work rather than quality, precision, or interest. More time is often spent programming or in meetings or dealing with customers than actually doing mathematics. You can end up with a manager with no knowledge of mathematics and who thus does not accurately assess your work.
- The Search:
Getting a job in industry has changed in the past few years. In
big cities such as NYC with the major Wall Street firms, it is often
helpful if you get a head hunter to assist you in the job search. Finding
a good head hunter is a challenge in itself. Your best bet is to ask
around (friends already working in that area or friends of friends or
graduates of the department can be very helpful in this). The Internet is
also now a hot place to find job postings. The career development center
here on campus can also offer some help. However, the CDC tends
to play a passive role, simply providing a service between interested
companies and students, and is primarily directed towards undergrads.
Unlike a head hunter they do not seek jobs for you. Please note: You
should never have to pay a head hunter. The good head hunters
(now referred to as H.H.) get their pay from companies, which is why
it is good to have more than one H.H. Each tends to deal with a
certain set of companies. The classic model is the H.H. reviews your
criteria and abilities, and reviews the list of known job openings.
Then the H.H. calls the company and convinces them to interview you.
Sometimes that is all the H.H. does. If you get hired then the
company gives the H.H. a kick back. Sometimes the H.H.
negotiates your salary for you too. It is to their benefit to get you the
best salary so that they can brag about it to future customers. Often the
company pays the H.H. not a flat fee, but an amount based on your
initial salary. So, for example, you get offered $60,000, if you
accept the offer the H.H. makes $6,000 (not out of your salary, but
from the hiring company). So, it is of mutual benefit for you to get a
great salary.
Networking through people in the department (professors and their friends and former students, other graduates, their friends, current graduates and their friends and so forth) can help you find out about job openings and get interviews. This process makes a lot of people uncomfortable, but it is becoming more and more of a common place thing. To avoid it means you are missing out on potentially great jobs.
- Your resume:
You will need this. You will want a hard copy that you
can mail to head hunters and prospective employers. Make sure it
photocopies well! You should consider creating an on-line resume as well,
one that on first glance looks very similar to your hard copy but has
links to more information. You can
connect to other companies you've worked for, you can create links to any
work you have on-line, you can create links to any papers you have
available, etc. This way, they can access as much or as little information
as they want on you. Include this web address on your hard copy resume.
- List of references:
When it comes time to provide a list of references, you
should contact each person you want to put on this list and make sure they
agree to it. Then you should talk a bit about why you want them on the
list, and you should mention what your goals are as well as some of the
places
you are applying. It is best to pick people not only familiar with you and
your work, but familiar in some respect to the job you are seeking. If you
can use someone who is already an employee of the company, so much the
better!
- Personal Contacts:
All through your graduate school time you should be building and
maintaining a list of contacts that you can call upon when you are in the
job market. People in the department are easy contacts, but do not limit
yourself to only professors and grad students, talk to them about who they know
and try to meet as many people as possible. You need to maintain and
nurture this network the whole time you are in grad school and beyond.
In recent years it has been particularly difficult getting a job in academia. In 1997 the job market seems to have gotten slightly better. Let's hope the job market keeps improving. Regardless, if you want to get a job in academia, then you should start preparing for this early in your career at Rensselaer. The following are a few suggestions on how to prepare for academia. Of course there are different types of jobs in academia. Some with more research (large universities) and some with more teaching (smaller colleges), so stress the following depending on your future goals.
- Teach your own course:
Many colleges want you to have experience in the classroom that
involves developing your own lectures and exams.
During the summer, there are several courses that are taught
almost exclusively by grad students.
Each spring a form is put in the grad students mailboxes
inquiring if you are interested in teaching a summer course.
You can select which course and session that you would prefer to teach.
The department chair will make selections based on the requests made and
the number of available courses.
This can be competitive. Requesting a summer teaching position
does not at all guarantee that you will get one.
- T.A. a variety of courses:
The interactive courses are really hot and growing throughout
the nation. All kinds of colleges are interested in
starting these courses.
Colleges like to hire Ph.D.'s that have been involved in a
new course and show interest in developing educational
programs. Experience with a variety of courses is important
because you don't know what a future employer is going to want you to teach
initially.
Additionally, a well-rounded teaching resume gives you
more depth.
- Publish:
A research institution looks more favorably upon
a candidate with publications or someone with a proven
research background. Most schools (almost all) stress research to some
extent.
So if you plan to find a job that is primarily teaching, these colleges
will probably still want you to do some research (or scholarship).
Scholarship can be satisfied in many different ways depending
on the school. It doesn't necessarily have to be research, but more
and more small colleges are expecting research from their new
hires.
Also many colleges will want to know how you can extend your research
program into research projects with the students and how
you will use it in the classroom. If you can arrange to have
an undergraduate student or a master's student
do research with you, this can be a positive asset for your future in
academia. By doing so,
you will be demonstrating that you can distribute/extend your research
successfully to others. Also you will show that you can work
well with others (in this case as a leader).
- Give Talks:
Give as many talks as you can. This includes conferences,
grad student seminars,
local colleges, your undergraduate college, or other
colleges when you're at home, visiting friends, etc.
Get used to giving talks. When you go to interviews you
will have to give a talk or maybe two. These talks will either be on research or perhaps teaching a class.
- Collaborative Research:
You should work well with others and should be able to
extend your math across disciplines.
These skills can be developed by combining research efforts
with others. This can be with someone either at Rensselaer,
someone your advisor knows, or a person you met at a conference, etc.
Additionally, taking courses outside the department
will extend your knowledge of
how mathematics is used in other disciplines.
Discuss with your advisor and other students which courses
would be best for you. Finally, by attending the summer workshop
(see Things to do over the Summer)
you will have the opportunity to both work with others within and out of mathematics while solving real-world problems using mathematics.
- Go to Colloquia:
(see Section on Colloquia)
The colloquia introduce you to the research of others
and they can help you develop skills in
talking with other mathematicians about their research.
- Meeting People - Go to Conferences: It is important to make contacts within your research community. Meet the speakers. Go to conferences every chance you can.
11. Looking for a Job in Academia
Academic jobs have many positive attributes. Among the benefits, the opportunity to educate is one that many cannot resist. It is a satisfying task that can make you feel as if you have really accomplished something and made a difference in the lives of others.
There are many benefits to choosing a job in academia. By choosing your place of employment (small college vs. university), you elect how much of your job is research, how much is teaching, and how much is service. (Service includes advising students, committee work, etc. and varies depending on the department.) In general, the research area is yours to choose. The hours you are expected to work are generally more flexible than in industry and you will (probably) have your summers off. Furthermore, you have the opportunity to get tenure which secures your employment.
There are also some drawbacks to jobs in academia. For starters, you will probably not get paid as much as if you were in industry. But your salary may be a nine month salary, and you can subsidize your summer pay by getting a grant or contracting work to industry. Keep in mind that teaching, committee work, advising, "money hunting", and research tend to pull people in many directions - you'll have to like this kind of existence. If you have difficulty thinking up topics for research, then you may want to consider seeking employment at a small college rather than at a research institution. Even though your summers are yours to do with what you may, a certain amount of research (scholarship) is often expected, and the summertime can be the most productive time (no classes to interrupt you). If you don't achieve the high standards to obtain tenure (publish or perish), then you will have to leave that school and go elsewhere.
The following are some guidelines and references to aid in your job search process.
- Postdoc:
If you are interested in a position that stresses research
as a large portion of your responsibilities,
then you may want to consider applying for a postdoc position.
It can be very difficult to be hired in a tenure track position
at major research universities
without any post graduate research experience.
- Timing:
Advertisements for a position beginning in the fall will start
appearing during the summer (a year+$ in advance). Generally most
advertisements appear between October and January.
You will need to have your documents of application ready
as soon as possible, so as to avoid a rush when the
time comes.
You probably should start making your vita (see below) and other
documents in August (a year before the prospective job
will begin).
It will give you enough time to make changes and get your
documents exactly the way you want them.
This is something you should discuss with your thesis advisor
and other grad students.
- Curriculum Vitae:
This is a fancy name for an academic resume. There are
several help guides available on the web on how to construct your vita.
One such location is at http://www.math.uic.edu/vp.html.
Ask a few people to allow you to take a look at their vitae.
A lot of people have their vitae linked to their home page,
so as you surf the web take note of the formats that you
like and dislike and also the type of information that is
included.
Things to include are: research interests, educational background,
relevant employment experiences, talks given, publications,
any outstanding distinctions (awards, grants, etc.), courses taught,
computer skills, etc.
Make sure it is neat and well written.
You may want to make an electronic version for your home page. The electronic version should look exactly like the hard copy of your vita, except that it will have links to your publications, the schools you went to, the conference home pages, etc. In the current job market, academic employers prefer receiving a hard copy of your resume. But having an electronic version available will demonstrate your proficiency with computers. Also, if the employer is inspired, she/he can easily learn more about the items you have linked to your resume.
- Other Documents:
When you apply for a job in academics, you may be required to
include a 1-2 page statement of research interests and/or a
statement of teaching philosophy and career goals.
One hint on the statement of research interests is that
you could use your abstract of your thesis if this is already
written and edit this as you see fit.
Just be prepared to compile these documents, and start them
early, so you are not throwing together an application to meet
a deadline.
- Other Things to Include in an Application:
If you have any papers submitted for publication or which have been
published, you may want to
include copies of these papers in your application. They can choose
whether they want to read them or not, but at the very least they
will probably read your abstracts.
Many schools ask for transcripts. Rensselaer does not charge you for each
transcript that is sent out, so it is to your advantage to send along
a transcript with each application regardless if the school has
requested it or not.
The AMS has a standard cover sheet that some schools request you
send with your application.
You can find information on and obtain a copy of this cover sheet in both the
AMS newsletter (NOTICES of the AMS) and at the web page
http://www.ams.org/committee/profession/employ.html.
- Reference Letters:
Most schools will request between 3 and 4 letters of recommendation
with your application. Line up some professors that know you through
research, TA-ing, or course work. Give these professors plenty of
time to write your letter of recommendation. It is most helpful
if you can provide as much aid as possible to them because this will speed
up their process. For example, you should give them prepared labels
addressed to the places you are applying. There is a Tex
program (location TBD) that is set up to make labels.
Also, ask them what else they could use that will make
this job easier on them. Perhaps they will want the list of
places e-mailed to them, perhaps even in a particular format to accommodate
their use of LaTeX, etc.
Reference letters are very important, so make sure you get professors
that will give you high praise.
Additionally, if you have some previous work experience that
is relevant to your new employment, you may want to have your
previous employer send a
"bonus" letter of recommendation. This letter would not necessarily count
as the 3 or 4 requested by the future employer.
- Job Openings:
Many colleges advertise in several newsletters, etc.
The most common newsletters to find advertisements include
Notices of the American Mathematical Society (AMS), FOCUS
(The Newsletter of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)),
SIAM NEWS (Newsjournal of the Society for Industrial and Applied
Mathematics (SIAM)), and the Chronicle of Higher Education.
Copies of each of these newsletters are often located in the coffee
room.
Another excellent source of job openings is the web.
You may access the job listings for each of the above mentioned
newsletters on the Internet. Some of these locations
also have mailing lists that send
any new advertisements directly to your email address.
Addresses are:
http://www.ams.org/committee/profession/employ.html http://www.maa.org/news/adsmay.html
There are many more sites that list employment opportunities. Ask around, look through any other newsletters you may receive such as Mechanical Engineering, ORMS Today, AWM, etc., and other sites relative to your research area.
- MAA/AMS Joint Meetings Conference:
You may want to attend the national meetings of the MAA/AMS.
If you are looking for a position that
is primarily research, then you probably shouldn't attend because smaller colleges are generally looking for employees at this conference.
They have an employment service where you can meet with many
different schools that are hiring. Each interview is very
brief (about 20 mins.), and meeting so many people can be
overwhelming. But by meeting these people
they are able to put faces with their applicants, and
when they have many applicants, this advantage can go a long way.
- Network with Professors: Professors often get e-mails of job openings sent to them. Let all the professors know that you are looking for a job, and ask them to please forward to you any information regarding openings. Also, let the professors know what schools to which you may be applying. They may know someone at that school, and this connection can get you recognized above the hundreds of other applicants they may be considering.
12. Good Scholarly Habits - Graduate and Undergraduate Differences
It is expected that each graduate student is an active learner, is interested in the subject matter, can learn independently, and can complete the assignment at hand in the specified amount of time. In comparison to undergraduate courses, graduate courses usually cover more material in a shorter time and in greater depth. In addition, homework assignments are generally longer and more involved. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep up with all assignments and text readings. As an undergraduate one may have been successful even though assignments were completed at the last minute. In graduate school this is almost impossible. As such, the following is a list of helpful hints to aid in one's academic success.
- Stay current with all text readings.
Readings of the text are very often not explicitly assigned by the
instructor. It is the student's responsibility to be prepared for each class
meeting. When a text is difficult to read, consult other related texts for an
alternative point of view.
- Review class notes weekly.
Try to clarify difficult concepts covered during the week.
Consult with other classmates, professors, or texts.
Ask yourself core questions about the subject and find the solutions.
- Begin assignments and projects early.
Multiple assignments are often due on the same day.
An early start allows one to work on several tasks at once, and doing
so facilitates bringing each to completion.
- Work in groups when permitted.
Study groups are often encouraged by the instructor.
Conversing with other members of the class generally increases your
understanding of the subject matter.
However, solutions to problems should be written up individually.
Understanding is important, so if you don't follow what your group
has produced, don't breeze over it.
- Seek instructor assistance.
Office hours are posted for each faculty member.
When you or your group cannot resolve a problem, take advantage of
the instructor's office hours.
- Fill in gaps in knowledge. In learning a new subject, you may come to the realization that there are certain "holes" in your knowledge base. Fill these holes on your own. If the holes are too big, consult a professor for assistance.
13. Colloquia
Did you know that the department usually sponsors one or more weekly colloquia? Did you know that there are "brown bag" seminars held most Fridays? Did you know that the graduate students have a bi-weekly colloquia?
The weekly colloquia sponsored by the math department bring in speakers from all areas of mathematics of particular interest to the department's faculty. Therefore, the talks are typically directed at the faculty, and they tend to be complex, and most graduate students find that they are able to follow the speaker for part of the talk (trust that you will never follow 100% of the talks). As the invited speakers are colleagues with our faculty members, the colloquia help to identify the interests of our faculty as well as current research issues in those fields of interest. Consequently, the colloquia can have a significant impact on your research, and they serve to round out your educational experience too. Furthermore, as you attend more of the talks, you will find that you can follow more and more of them, and you will recognize the speakers' use of techniques that you have applied in class or might employ in future teaching experiences. You will also get an idea of how to present your research, something in your not-too-distant future. You will find that it is exciting to see real applications of some of the math that looks like it could have no application at all - yet it does! The colloquia provide exposure to new technical words, and they provide a sense of excitement and relevance to the math you might be learning in class. The department often requests that the speaker give a talk directed at the graduate students - or two talks may be given where the first is for students and the second an extension of the first.
Here is some advice for attending the colloquia. To begin with, a colloquium is not a class, so do not expect to understand all of the details of the talk. Your goals as an audience member should be to (1) know what the problem the speaker wishes to solve, (2) know what methods/techniques are employed, and (3) know what conclusions are reached.
Graduate students should be aware that the overall attendance at the colloquia reflects upon the reputation of the Department of Mathematical Sciences to the invited speaker. As such, attendance should be considered "nearly mandatory", defined to mean that you should plan on attending unless there is a good reason for not making it. (Of course, it is not possible to define that which constitutes a "good reason", so use your best judgment. Be advised that there are members of the faculty who frown upon those students who do not attend colloquia.) And a commandment: thou shall always attend the DiPrima Lecture.
Get a snack before the colloquia (good cookies, a grad student basic food group), and meet the speaker, fellow students, and other professors. Believe it or not, mathematicians can be very interesting people. Stop by and get to know them and their work.
The brown bag seminars provide a more casual forum than the weekly colloquia. These seminars are held at noon, generally on Fridays. Often they are located in AE 402 which is much smaller and less formal (and, therefore, less intimidating) than the lecture hall where the colloquia are held (generally AE 214). A smaller number of people will probably attend a brown bag seminar than the colloquia, and the speakers are typically from Rensselaer's faculty. The research presented here may be less polished than that of the colloquia, and often feedback is given to the speakers on the topic presented, where the feedback takes the form of suggestions of what to do next, or what to look at, etc. If you find yourself too shy or simply too intimidated to ask questions at a colloquium, perhaps attending a brown bag seminar would boost your confidence and provide the right atmosphere for interaction with the speaker.
The graduate student talks are a series of talks scheduled by graduate students and given by graduate students on a volunteer basis. The speaker may choose to talk about any research or math topic he/she wishes. Previous speakers have given talks as a practice before doing the same presentation at a conference, some have presented talks that they plan to give at their candidacy exam, other have found interesting papers and presented them to the group (said papers having nothing to do with their research). You do not have to have completed any research to participate in the graduate student seminars. This is your opportunity to present mathematics to your peers without any interference from the faculty.
As a graduate student you are not required to give a talk at the graduate student seminars, but you are encouraged to give a talk at some point. Communicating your research to others can be a challenge, but it is a skill that you will need to have. These seminars will be good practice for the future. Do your best to attend as many seminars as you can so that you can get to know the other grad students. Also you will learn what other students are doing for their research, something that can help in your selection of a research topic and advisor.
Contact Phaedra Agius for scheduling your talk. Her email address is agius@rpi.edu. Information on Graduate Student and Department Colloquia can be found at the Department's web page.
http://www.math.rpi.edu/www/Colloq/index.html.
14. Things to do over the Summer
There are several academic and job related opportunities for graduate students to do over the summer. Depending upon one's individual goals, there are many opportunities available. In addition, the campus is quiet and provides a nice place to really get some work done!
- Academic Opportunities:
-
-Completing course work.
Take courses to fulfill department requirements. These courses may
be inside or outside the department.
Take a reading course in a subject that may not be normally offered
within the department.
-Preparing for Fall preliminary exams. See section 3.1.1.
-Research assistant at Rensselaer or another university. Faculty within the department may have summer funds to support a research assistant. Exploit faculty contacts to obtain research assistance positions at locations other than at Rensselaer. Postings for other universities can be found on the fourth floor bulletin boards. Summer research work need not be related to intended thesis work.
-Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry. This workshop is held annually in the month of May or June at Rensselaer and is free to graduate students. This workshop can also satisfy a degree requirement.
- Job Opportunities:
-
-Teaching in the Math Department.
Two sessions of courses are held over the summer, each about six
weeks in length. Teaching positions are available during these sessions, and
a flyer is usually distributed in April notifying graduate students of the
need for summer instructors. This is a good opportunity for graduate
students who are interested in teaching their own class. (See preparing for a
job in academia.)
-Summer job. The Career Development Center located in the DCC has numerous information about job opportunities, and there are several on-site interviews for people interested in summer employment. Their WWW address is: www.rpi.edu/dept/cdc/. Those interested in a summer job should begin looking no later than the month of February. Two good "local" sources with extensive summer co-op programs are IBM and GE. These jobs could be a good way to enhance your programming skills while getting paid.
15. Writing Your Thesis, and LaTeX Help
There are very specific requirements that are mandated by the Graduate School when writing your thesis. Most students choose to write their thesis using LaTeX. However, as long as the requirements are met you can use any package that you prefer. For information on requirements for creating the document see:
http://www.rpi.edu/dept/grad/ThesisGuide/manual.html.
For the LaTeX files necessary to produce the thesis, see:
http://www.rpi.edu/Computing/Docs/Memos/rpi110/node4.html.
16. Money Saving Hints
- Degree Completion:
When you have completed your course requirements and your research hours are
exhausted, you may register for Degree Completion. This is for the student
who has completed the 60 or 90 credit requirement beyond the Bachelor's
Degree, is currently not registered for any credit hours, and is working on a
thesis. Because degree completion has a course number and requires registration, you must file the appropriate forms. These forms may be obtained from Lorraine. There is a
$50 fee to register for degree completion. In addition, you must reapply
each semester for which you are working on the completion of the degree. To
maintain full-time status, certification must be obtained (see below).
Full-time certification has tax implications. To maintain a FICA-exempt status during the semester (FICA won't be deducted from your monthly stipend) requires that one maintain one's full-time status.
17. The Paper Trail
Various forms will need to be completed periodically while you are a student at Rensselaer. These include the plan of study, full-time certification, degree application, registering for classes, registering for research credits, and other random forms that seem to appear in your mailbox.
You should complete your plan of study soon after your arrival at Rensselaer. This form will contain a listing of all the coursework and research credits you anticipate completing towards your degree. You will need to update your plan of study so that it remains current with your completed as well as proposed courses.
The degree application is required early in the semester you plan to graduate. For those planning to graduate in the summer, this form is due at the beginning of the first summer session. Check the academic calendar http://www.rpi.edu/dept/srfs/reg/calendar.html for specific deadlines.
Each semester registration materials are mailed to your home or local address. Generally these arrive a few days before registration. Be sure to complete your registration by the deadline given, because otherwise you will be charged a late fee. Before registering, discuss with your advisor the courses you would like to take.
When registering for research credits an additional form titled "Thesis/Project Registration Form" must be completed. You can get this form from either Dawnmarie or from the registrar.
18. Facilities
- Graduate Student offices:
There are several graduate student offices located throughout the third and
fourth floors of Amos Eaton. Each office has its attractive features as well
as its detractors, and some offices seem to have more of one than the other.
Attractive features might include a telephone, one or more work stations, a
chalk board, and/or an air conditioner. Detractors might include the flow of undergraduates through the office in search of a TA. More
than likely - and in most cases, fortunately - you will not retain the same
office for the duration of your time at Rensselaer since your progress will
dictate the facilities that best suit your status. Because she is aware of
the status of the department's graduate students, Lorraine will make
arrangements for your office assignment. Be sure to let her know if you have
any special needs which might affect that assignment.
- Computers:
There are many work stations located throughout the third and fourth floors
of Amos Eaton that are for the use of members of the Department of
Mathematical Sciences. Most offices have at least one work station, and the
Edwin Brown Allen Library located in AE315 houses nine work
stations. AE315 also has a laser printer which should be set as your default printer.
Feel free to add paper to the printer should the red light indicate that
there is a need for some.
- Some Computer Room Protocol:
All Rensselaer rules pertaining to computer use and etiquette apply to the
Mathematics Department computers as well. You should take a moment to read
them at
the following address:
http://www.rpi.edu/Computing/Ethics/etiquette.html.
In addition to the above, the Math department has some internal guidelines as well.
-
1. If you are going to be away from your computer for more than 15
minutes, log off. Long running
jobs should be submitted to NIC cluster. (For more information concerning NIC, see
http://www.rpi.edu/Computing/Docs/QuickStudies/quick30/quick30.html
2. Any time you leave your computer it is best to lock the screen anyway. To do this, use xlock or xscreensaver.
3. There is a phone in the Math Library (ext 2215). This phone is a lab phone, and it should not be used as a personal phone. Do not give the number out to your students. Tell family and friends it should be used sparingly. If the phone rings while you are in there...answer it and take a message if it isn't for you (send it by e-mail!!).
4. Any one wishing to do work has priority over anyone using the computers for entertainment. This includes surfing the web and playing games and reading or writing personal e-mail. If the room is full and someone walks in, you should offer to log off if they need to work. Since the busy time for computer usage is between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., it is best to avoid entertainment use during this period.
5. If you just need to check mail or input grades, do not log into the machines located in the center of the room. Use the smaller, less powerful machines along the wall. In general these work quite well for that type of computer work, leaving the larger machines free for more computer intensive work.
6. Obvious rules of cleanliness apply. Clean up after yourself, don't leave old cans and cups around, etc.... Please recycle all unwanted cover sheets, or, when printing from a Unix window, type lpr -h filename which prevents the printing of the cover sheet.
7. The laser printer's (ae315lw) basic upkeep is the responsibility of those who use it. This means we all must reload paper, check toner, etc.... Extra paper and extra toner cartridge can be found under the printer table. See Lois in the main office for instructions on changing the toner.
- Main office:
The Department's main office is located in AE301. Against one wall are the
mailboxes of all department personnel. Check your box daily for important
information or distribution. Also in the main office is the department's
copier, which is housed in its own room - mainly to dampen the swearing and other noise.
(Also, should the laser printer in AE315 need paper, reams of 8 1/2 x 11
paper can be found on the shelves in the copier room.) Because there is
near certainty that you'll need to make a copy at some time during your time
here, you'll need an access code. Ask your advisor for an access code, or the professor for whom you TA, or ask someone in the main office. If you need help in how to use
the machine (ie. how does one make slides?), then ask for help. Also in the
main office is the FAX machine (ph. 276-4824 for incoming faxes). Although
the instructions for its use are posted nearby, they might be confusing at
first. So, if you have a question about its use, ask the staff who will be
happy to help you out. There is also another laser printer in the main
office which can be accessed only during the hours of the main office (which
is why the one in AE315 is recommended as your default printer). Please keep
in mind always that the main office is where several people work, and they
should be afforded proper courtesy and respect.
- Coffee room:
Located on the east end of the fourth floor is the Department's coffee room.
Feel free to use this room and its facilities (which include a microwave
oven, a refrigerator for short-term storage, and a coffee machine - of all
things). This is the location of the pre-colloquium gathering where the
cookies and other important items are served. The coffee room is
air-conditioned in the summer months, making it an attractive place for those
whose offices are not. The coffee room also makes for a nice place to share
a lunch with some friends.
- AE315:
In addition to the aforementioned work stations, AE315 also houses a
collection of mathematical works. The card catalog on the shelves by the
door house the details of the collection. The sign-out forms for the books
are located by the card catalog. The use of the library books is on an honor
system.
- The facilities:
The restrooms are located on the east end of Amos Eaton. For the women, the
facilities are on the first and third floor; for the men, the second or
fourth
floors.
19. Important People and Numbers
19.1 Who to talk to for more information and help
Graduate Student Coordinator
Dawnmarie Robens is the Graduate Student Coordinator in the Math Sciences Department. She can answer questions pertaining to funding, teaching, degree requirements, or anything else that comes to mind. If she does not know the answer to your question, she will find someone for you. Dawnmarie is a wonderful person, get to know her right away! She will be your best friend throughout your career at Rensselaer.
19.2 Reserving Rooms If you ever need to reserve a room, say for a review session you are holding as a TA, or for a special talk you are giving, if you are looking for a room outside of Amos Eaton 4th floor, you should call Rensselaer's room scheduler, Michael Conroy, at ext. 6655. For Amos Eaton 4th Floor rooms, contact Melissa.
20. TA Topics
Some helpful hints:
- To schedule a room, call Michael Conroy in the Registrar's office, x6655,
or e-mail her at conrom@rpi.edu.
- To request equipment like overhead projectors or an xstation and LCD
panel, call Media Operations, x8282, or e-mail them at
mediaops@asms.rpi.edu.
- Check with the main office about certain office supplies, like overhead
markers or overhead slides.
- Know where to refer a student if he or she is having personal problems:
Dean of Students x6266, Counseling Center x6479, Chaplains x6518,
Advising and Leanring Assistance Office x6269, or his or her academic advisor.
- Know where to refer a student for tutoring (The Learning Center, x6269)
or if he or she is having academic difficulty.
- Pay days are bi-weekly on Fridays, and checks can be deposited directly
to your bank account or picked up in the Union on pay days.
- Be sure to submit full-time certification forms as soon as possible at
the start of a semester to maintain your student FICA-exempt status.
- Take advantage of "older" T.A.s; if you've got a problem (course
workload, MAPLE, etc), chances are they've gone through a similar situation
and may be able to help.
- T.A.s are human, too! Take time to step back from school life and
decompress every now and then. It's okay.
- Prepare for class. Do the homework problems and the labs in advance.
- Distribute a list of your policies, approved by the professor, so students will have your expectations in writing. Devise a fair strategy for handling complaints about grades. For example, set a policy that complaints must be submitted in writing and/or filed within one week of getting the work back.
- Fairness - and the students' perception of fairness - are important. The TA needs to be consistent.
- Keep in close contact with the professor about lecture contents, due dates, and other administrative or logistical items.
- Treat students with respect.
- Be prepared not to know all the answers. Be willing to say, "I'm not sure about that. Let me think about it and get back to you." Then make yourself a note and do so.
- Learn students' names. Doing so will help to earn their respect.
- If you experience computer problems during a lab, report them to x-7777.
- Always bring overhead markers to lab. Often, pens are either missing or they are dried out.
- Encourage students to come to office hours. Do this often.
21. International Student Issues
A good source of info for International Students (visas, taxes, etc.) is the Office of International Students located in the Troy building. They even organize tax seminars. They have a web site http://www.rpi.edu/dept/doso/ISSS/public_html and every international student is automatically signed up into their list server.
Some things to remember:
- Who to talk to: The person in charge of the Office of
International Students is Jane Havis, and we hear she knows her stuff
very well. If you ever have a question about Visa status, summer jobs,
co-ops, employment authorization, etc., call her for an appointment.
- Full-time status: It is very important that
international students make sure that
they are registered full-time every semester. Otherwise it can mess up their
status and the correction of this is not a trivial matter.
- Leaving the U.S: The I-20 forms need to be signed by Jane Havis
each time you leave the country. You should allow one month's time for the processing of this form.
- Keeping your I-20 Valid: It is critical for your I-20 to be
valid in order for you to remain in the United States. If it is going to expire, then it needs to be renewed. Apply for renewal one month before it expires.
- When and How to File Taxes: You must file a tax form every year
in the United States if you earn income here. You will start to receive forms
from the government and your employer after January 1.
You must file the tax forms no later then April 15. If you have any questions
(what constitutes income, how to fill out the forms, where to get them, etc.),
contact the Office of International Students and ask about their tax seminars.
22. Assorted Topics
- Unofficial Graduate Student Survival Guide:
The "Unofficial Graduate Student Survival Guide"
http://www.rpi.edu/~clarkc2/unofficial.html is a publication distributed by the Graduate Student Council. We include its contents, below, to give new students a reference for information pertaining to quality of life issues beyond the scope of this document. Here is an outline of what it contains:Guide Introduction Academic Deadlines Banking Bars/Nightlife RCS Computer and Electronic Mail Access Dining - On Campus Dining - Off Campus (the CS guide has an expanded listing) Grocery Stores Housing - On Campus Housing - Off Campus Intramural Sports Legal Services The Library and Infotrax Malls and Shopping Centers Parking The Rensselaer Union Taxes Transportation Writing Center - Another useful link from RPI:
http://www.cs.rpi.edu/guide/node52.html
23. Appendix
http://www.math.rpi.edu/www/people/facstafflist.html
| Rensselaer Math Faculty | ||
| Name | Email Address | Office Phone |
| Bennett, Kristin | bennek@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6899 |
| Cheney, Margaret | chenem@rpi.edu | (518) 276-2646 |
| Drew, Donald | drewd@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6903 |
| Ecker, Joseph | eckerj@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6383 |
| Flaherty, Joseph | flahej@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6348 |
| Giladi, Eldar | gilade@rpi.edu | (518) 276-3201 |
| Herron, Isom | herroi@rpi.edu | (518) 276-2649 |
| Holmes, Mark | holmes@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6891 |
| Isaacson, David | isaacd@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6900 |
| Kapila, Ashwani | kapila@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6894 |
| Kovacic, Gregor | kavacg@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6908 |
| Kramer, Peter | kramep@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6896 |
| Lim, Chjan | limc@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6904 |
| Lvov, Yuri | lvovy@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6893 |
| McLaughlin, Harry | mclauh@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6895 |
| McLaughlin, Joyce | mclauj@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6349 |
| Mitchell, John | mitchj@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6915 |
| Nolan, Clifford | noland@rpi.edu | (518) 276-8377 |
| Pang, Jong-Shi | pangj@rpi.edu | (518) 276-2994 |
| Piper, Bruce | piperb@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6892 |
| Roytburd, Victor | roytbv@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6889 |
| Rubenfeld, Lester | rubenl@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6906 |
| Schwendeman, Donald | schwed@rpi.edu | (518) 276-2647 |
| Siegmann, William | siegmw@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6905 |
| Zuker, Michael | zukerm@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6902 |
| Professors Emeriti | ||
| Name | Email Address | Office Phone |
| Boyce, William | boycew@rpi.edu | (518) 276-6898 |
| Fleishman, Bernard | fleisb@rpi.edu | (518) 276-2725 |
| Habetler, George | habetg@rpi.edu | (518) 276-2994 |
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