What To Expect From a Graduate Program in Statistics Possibilities, Opportunities, and Scholarships

Transcription

1 What To Expect From a Graduate Program in Statistics Possibilities, Opportunities, and Scholarships Nevada Chapter of the American Statistical Association Fall Symposium, UNR, October 12, 2013 Anna Panorska Professor and Graduate Director Department of Mathematics and Statistics University of Nevada, Reno 1

2 Graduate Program: Master and PhD work before you decide to apply to grad school think of why do you want to do graduate work Think of your interests and goals: - Professional goals, dream jobs? - Research? - Teaching? - Have your own company or work for one? - What are you good at? - What do you like to do? - Are you ready for the time and energy commitment? How long of a commitment? Be realistic and focused! 2

3 Types of grad programs where you can work on probability and statistics Where housed? In Statistics departments; In Mathematics and Statistics, or Mathematical sciences departments In Mathematics departments MS and/or PhD? Do you need financial support? Is there some science area you are interested in? 3

4 Preparing your application MS program: you are expected to master the knowledge someone else developed. PhD program: you are expected to develop new knowledge. As you choose the school be realistic: apply to some of the best and some of the good. Make great GRE scores! Get known people to write you reference letters! Do not get discouraged 4

5 Once in Grad School Be prepared to: Work, work, and more work. Be independent, proactive and resourceful. Think and plan ahead. Network with as many people as you can. Get involved with school activities: clubs, Grad Students Association. Stay focused and organized. 5

6 MS or PhD thesis/dissertation Choose your advisor wisely: active in research, accomplished, well connected (you will be looking for a job some day ), has time for students. Choosing the research topic: MS usually proposed by the advisor (not necessarily new knowledge) PhD often proposed first by the advisor, but developed by the student: result is new knowledge: methods, theory, etc. Always: advisor must match the research area of your interest Always: make sure you work on a topic that is of interest to many people - Always: consider your goals after graduation when choosing the topic. 6

7 Teaching or Research Assistantships Scholarships and fellowships Funding for Grad Students Nationally Competitive Fellowship Awards FULBRIGHT U.S. STUDENT PROGRAM awards one-year study abroad for graduating seniors, recent graduates and graduate students. Full Grants for Study/Research; Full Grants for English Teaching Assistantship; and Critical Language Enhancement Awards are available for over 140 countries and for all fields of study. Eligibility: U.S. citizens, hold a bachelor s degree before obtaining the grant, and proficiency in the language of the host country, if required. UNR deadline: September 23, 2013; National deadline: October 15, 2013 BARRY M. GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP offers $7,500 scholarships to college juniors and seniors who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering. Eligibility: U.S. citizens or residents, full-time sophomores or juniors UNR deadline: Monday, December 2, 2013; National deadline: January 31,

8 Nationally Competitive Fellowship Awards HARRY S. TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIPS awards $30,000 for graduate study for juniors committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service. Eligibility: U.S. citizens or nationals, full-time junior-level students, and extensive record of public and community service. UNR deadline: December 1, 2013; National deadline: February 4, 2014 MORRIS K. UDALL UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS award up to $5000 to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care. Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens, matriculated sophomores or juniors. UNR deadline: January 20, 2014; National deadline: March 5, 2014 UNR help in writing proposals: If you are interested in applying for a Fulbright Student Award, Goldwater Scholarship, Truman Scholarship, Udall Scholarship or other national fellowships this fall, contact the Office of Undergraduate and Graduate Fellowships in the Honors Program, Jot Travis Building: tvalenti@unr.edu 8

9 Nationally Competitive Fellowship Awards The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships for Who should apply: graduate-school-bound seniors and first-year math graduate students: Applications must be submitted no later than 8:00 pm EST, Nov. 5, Casualty Actuarial Society Trust Scholarship Program. The objective of the scholarship is to further students interest in the property/casualty actuarial profession and to encourage the pursuit of the CAS designations. The Science, Mathematics And Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to receive a full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion. 9

10 Conference Travel Support for Students Often funds available at the department, college, graduate school level. Travel support often available from organizers of conferences. ASA: Student Paper Competition/Travel Award to Attend the Joint Statistical Meetings (now for 2014) American Mathematical Society: Graduate Student Travel Grants; The AMS, with support from a private gift, accepts applications for partial support for two types of AMS meetings: The Joint Mathematics Meetings AMS Sectional Meetings Current Sectional Meetings 10

11 More Travel and Research Support The Association for Women in Mathematics has administered the NSF-AWM Travel Grant Program for Women since 1988, supporting both travel to domestic or foreign research conferences and, more recently, longer-term visits with a mentor. The purpose of the travel grants is to enhance the research activities of women mathematicians and increase their visibility in various research venues. Mathematics Travel Grants for Women Researchers Deadlines February 1, May 1 and October 1 each year. Mathematics Education Research Travel Grants for Women Researchers Deadlines February 1, May 1 and October 1 each year. Mathematics Mentoring Travel Grants for Women Deadline is February 1 each year. Mathematics Education Research Mentoring Travel Grants for Women Deadline is February 1 each year. AWM provides Advice for Travel Grant Applicants 11

12 Even More Travel Support and Prizes SIAM Student Prizes and Travel Awards Be Recognized! SIAM Student Paper Prizes Student Paper Prizes are awarded annually to the student authors of the most outstanding papers submitted to the SIAM Student Paper Competition. Recipients of the prizes present their papers at the SIAM Annual Meeting. Travel! SIAM Student Travel Awards These awards provide complimentary registration plus travel funds to selected full-time students to attend SIAM conferences. Challenge Your Brain! Mathematical Contest in Modeling SIAM Award in Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) is awarded to two of the teams judged "Outstanding" in the annual MCM. One winning team is chosen for each of the two problems (continuous and discrete) posed in the MCM. Undergraduate Student Poster Contest at AN09 Prizes are awarded to the three best posters demonstrating research done by undergraduates in applied and computational mathematics. New Journal! 12

13 Somewhat Random Conclusions Let the decision to apply and enter Graduate School be well thought out. Once in Grad School evaluate if you want MS or PhD and why? Consider your strengths and goals. Decide the dissertation topic and advisor wisely. Take advantage of the many scholarships and fellowships available to graduate students. 13