Group Advising

At various times during the regular academic year (fall, winter, and spring quarters) notices are posted about upcoming group advising events. In the past, these sessions are typically advertised (1) by mass email to undergraduate students in the department and (2) by signage prominently posted in the APM building (at elevators, for example). Notices may also be posted at the Department of Mathematics web site.

Here are some themes that group advising sessions have focused on in the past:

  • The individual undergraduate majors offered by the department: Each session focused on a different mathematics major, its purpose, its curriculum, and some information about careers that are possible with it.
  • Achieving academic excellence: What does it take to be an excellent learner who is academically mature?
  • Course planning: How do you know what courses you need to take, and how do you plan out when to take them?
  • Careers outside academia: What should you be doing while a student to prepare for a non-academic career? What accomplishments might employers want to see in your academic record?
  • Graduate school: What is it? Who is it for? What are the different types of graduate degrees? How does one prepare for graduate school? What is involved in applying for graduate school?

We hope that you attend these free events and learn from them. Please do your best to be punctual, and always show courtesy to the speaker and your fellow attendees. Feedback is welcomed on the evaluation forms provided on site.

Informational Presentations

In an effort to provide current, direct information about careers in industry, the Department of Mathematics invites industry professionals who are interested in talking to our mathematics students. These presentations may or may not be in connection with recruiting. Even if a company is not currently hiring, here are tips on leaving positive impressions: Address people professionally. Avoid use of slang and other vocabulary that is not suitable in a typical business setting. Be respectful of the presenter’s time and that of other attendees if others are waiting behind you. Have a brief (one- to two-minute) elevator speech prepared. (For more information on that term, read “Preparing Your Elevator Speech” at the web site of Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management and “60-Second Networking: 3 Elevator Speeches for the Job Hunt” by Robert Half International.)

There is no set regularity to how often we can offer these presentations. We will do our best to hold them when people in industry are interested and able to come to campus, and when space to hold an event is available.

Note: Although we are happy to help facilitate recruiting and information sessions, the UC San Diego Department of Mathematics does not specifically endorse any outside company or other organization.