Opportunities
Other mathematical opportunities
The directed reading program is only one of many ways to engage with mathematics outside of the classroom. Below is a non-exhaustive list of those opportunities.
Research experiences for undergraduates (REUs) & workshops
An REU is an opportunity to conduct paid research at another university/research institution, typically for a duration of 2-3 months in the summer. The National Science Foundation (NSF) maintains a database of REUs on their website. Note that REUs are available for most STEM fields, not just mathematics! If you are just interested in math REUs, you can find them listed here.
Math REUs, workshops, and summer schools are listed on mathprograms.org.
In order to apply for an REU, summer school, or workshop, you typically need 1-3 letters of recommendations (read more about recommendation letters below). Don't be afraid to ask for letters and don't let lack of experience stop you from applying!
There are also research opportunities outside of the US, such as the Fields Undergraduate Summer Research Program in Toronto.
Talk to professors or do an independent study
There are over 100 full-time faculty in mathematics across CUNY. If there is an area of mathematics you're curious about, it's more than likely that there is a CUNY faculty who can answer your questions. Each math department has a list of faculty with their research areas. The CUNY Graduate Center lists their faculty by research area here.
An independent study is an elective course that allows you to receive credit for a supervised semester-long study with a faculty. It gives you an opportunity to receive individual attention from an expert in the field and to learn about faculty research. On the flip side, it's also an opportunity for the professor to learn about you. It's likely that your independent study professor can comment on your abilities in greater detail than your course professors.
Some faculty have funding for research assistants, so an independent study can lead to a paid research position.
Attend math seminars
Math seminars are typically open for anyone to attend, no matter their institutional affiliation. The CUNY Graduate Center maintains a list of seminars here. Besides CUNY, there are a number of other major institutions in the greater NYC area, including Columbia, NYU, Rutgers, and Stony Brook.
Empowering New York Gender Minority Mathematicians (ENYGMMa): This is a monthly seminar series for gender minority mathematicians, held in rotation at CUNY, Columbia, and Stony Brook. The talks are aimed towards a broader audience than the typical research-level talk.
Other NYC opportunities
Queens Experience in Discrete Mathematics (QED): A discrete math REU that runs during the academic year.
Louise Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP): Fellowship program for second-year students pursuing a STEM major.
NYC Math Alliance: A national outreach organization for underrepresented groups. Students are paired with NYC faculty mentors. There are also a variety of Math Alliance affiliated REUs.
Work with an NYC math education program such as Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM).
Online opportunities
OURFA²M²: Student-organized online conference that provides resources for pursuing a career in mathematics.
Polymath REU: Online math REU. Groups of 20-25 undergraduate students work on a project under a faculty mentor and additional graduate student and postdoc mentors.
Inspiring Talks by Mathematicians: Virtual series of talks by mathematicians from under-represented groups.
Participate in a semester-away program
Smith College Junior Program: A 1-2 semester math-intensive program for women math majors in their second or third year of undergraduate study. Smith College also offers a post-baccalaureate program for women looking to strengthen their mathematical background between undergrad and grad school.
You can find more programs and fellowships listed in this presentation by OURFA²M².
The importance of recommendation letters
When applying for graduate school, REUs, workshops, and etc., you will be asked to provide 1-3 letters of recommendations from a full-time faculty member. This should be someone who can comment on your mathematical abilities and potential. You should generally prioritize recommenders in the following order:
Professor that knows you well
(especially through research or an independent study)
Professor that only knows you from coursework
(ideally a course you performed well in)
Adjunct lecturer (PhD holder)
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Graduate student
For graduate school, REUs, workshops, etc., a recommendation letter from a graduate student is not acceptable — you should not ask your DRP mentor to write you a letter for such programs. For graduate school applications, a letter from an adjunct lecturer is not preferred either. However, there are plenty of ways to be noticed by a faculty member: if you are taking a course, stop by their office hours to ask questions (e.g. about a proof or applications of a concept) and do extra credit if it's available. Stay in touch with your professors (e.g. ask for advice about the next course to take). Besides coursework, consider applying to the programs listed above; they're all great opportunities to make a positive impression on a faculty member.