I have two primary goals for this seminar.
Broadening participation: Make the “hidden curriculum” of applying to graduate school in mathematics explicit and freely available to our students, regardless of their background, experience, or the mentoring relationships they have cultivated. Provide a space where students can receive accurate and consistent information.
Building community: Foster a supportive environment for students to navigate the graduate decision and application process together. Give students structured access to a faculty member(s) they know and trust to get advice and ask questions.
This seminar is open to any interested student at HMC. However, the target audience is seniors who are majoring in Math, Math/CS, Math/Physics, or Math Comp Bio.
The format is a one-hour interactive seminar featuring information, activities, discussion, questions, facilitated writing time and/or opportunities for peer review of materials.
For Fall 2023, meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 5:15–6:15 pm in Shan 2407. Don't worry if you can't attend: All materials will be made available (posted below on the date the session is held).
Applying to graduate school is a big decision, and graduate school is challenging no matter how prepared you are. In this seminar, we'll discuss:
the difference between degrees (e.g., Master’s, PhD, Post-Bacc)
some options for types of programs (e.g., Math, Applied Math, OR, Data Science)
an overview of timelines and deadlines
taking a year off
how to identify our own reasons for applying (or not applying)
We will end early so that people can attend the Nelson Lecture Series talk.
Letters of recommendation are an important part of a grad school application, but they can feel mysterious or daunting. In this seminar, we'll discuss:
the purpose of recommendation letters
figuring out who to ask
making the ask
managing your letter writers
OK, so you've decided to apply. What's next? What schools should you apply to? In this seminar, we'll discuss:
important considerations when choosing a program
how programs support different lifestyles and future career paths in industry and academia
finding advisors and topics
We'll think about assessing our own priorities and exploring our career and life intentions.
While every program's application might look a little different, they usually include submitting some written statements about you, your experience, and your goals. In this seminar, we'll discuss:
Types of statements you might see (e.g., statement of purpose, personal statement, research statement, diversity statement)
Tips for constructing strong written statements
Other parts of the application process
Bring the drafts of your written application materials — no matter how rough they are — to get friendly feedback! I'll guide you through a peer review process to help you polish your materials.
We'll feature a panel of alumni who will share their experiences and answer your questions about the application process and their transition into grad school from HMC.