Summer and Off-Campus Programs

1. David A. Reimann Mathematics and Computer Science Albion College December 2008 Summer and Off-Campus Programs

2. Four Seasons of Learning • Fall, Winter, Spring • On campus • Hit the books • Study Hard • Albion Classes • Explore ways to get out of Albion! • Off Campus • US Programs • International Programs

3. Four Seasons of Learning • Summer - It is not too early to think about it! • Boring options • Live at home, playing video games 20 hours/day • Have a McJob • Make $$ for college expenses (boring but noble)‏ • More Interesting • Get an internship • Study abroad in the US or in another country • Academic research experience

4. WHY? • Off-campus and summer experiences will help • Your prospects for employment • Prepare you for graduate school • Develop a thesis topics. • You also get to use your brain … a great use of a great resource!

5. Academic year programs

6. Off-Campus Programs • Studying off-campus is a great way to learn about another culture while earning college credit • Can fulfill a global category requirement! • Careful planning is required to make sure you can take appropriate courses and you don't miss important courses at Albion

7. Off-Campus Programs • The requirements for off-campus study are: • Junior or Senior standing. • Cumulative GPA of 2.7. Some programs have a higher GPA requirement. • Demonstrated maturity commensurate with the demands of the program. • Successful completion of the Writing Competence Exam before attending the program. • Good social standing. • Albion Center for International Educationhttp://www.albion.edu/intledu/

8. Off-campus Programs • Recent Participants • Chris Moyle

9. Budapest • Through this program, mathematics and computer science majors in their junior/senior years may spend one or two semesters in Budapest and study under the tutelage of eminent Hungarian scholar-teachers. • All courses are taught in English. • Classes are small. • Credits are transferable to North American colleges and universities.The school is near the center of historic Budapest. • Living costs are modest.

10. Budapest • Recent Participants • Dennis Ross • Ercih Owens • Michael Schroeder • Giovanni Dimatteo • Dr. Cayley Rice (not so recent)‏

11. London School of Economics • Primary Subjects • Economics and management; • social sciences, with special strengths in political sciences, law, international relations, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, geography. • Recent participants • Thomas Youle

12. Oak Ridge Science Semester • Fall semester at Oak Ridge National Laboratory • David Seely is Albion's contact person

13. Summer Programs • Most summer opportunities pay you to participate! • Typically $300 per week • Often housing is subsidized • Summer study abroad can help enrich your academic coursework by taking specialized courses at specific sites

14. FURSCA • Foundation for Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity • Independent/team research projects • Albion College faculty mentor • 8 weeks, June through July • On-campus housing • Weekly research seminars • Recent participants • Carmen Weddell, Lesley Simanton

15. FURSCA • Dr. Mason is the FURCA director

16. National Science FoundationResearch Experiences for Undergraduates Program • The REU program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in projects involving students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. • Undergraduate student participants in either Sites or Supplements must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.

17. REUs • Similar to FURSCA • Salary and housing allowances • Research oriented • Different from FURSCA • Focus is on a few specific projects • Most involve work with a small group of students • Not in Albion

18. REUs • Possible areas of study include • Mathematical Sciences • Computer Science • Cyberinfrastructure • Education and Human Resources • Phsyics • http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm

19. Federal Laboratories & Agencies • Over 20 major government research laboratories and technology centers throughout the USA • National laboratories • Argonne, Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, Sandia, JPL, etc • National Agencies • National Security Agency (NSA)‏ • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)‏ • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)‏

20. Federal Laboratories & Agencies • Advantages • World-class facilities • Salary and housing allowance • Use you brain! • Looks great on a resume • Recent Participants • Will Green • Shane Walton

21. Internships • Internships are a good way for you to get practical experience • Many are paid • Some may lead to a job after graduation • Can give inspiration for academic work • Online Resources • http://www.ams.org/employment/internships.html • http://www.acm.org/crossroads/resources/internships.html • http://www.amstat.org/education/index.cfm?fuseaction=intern

22. Internships • Many students find internships on their own • The career center can also provide assistance • At least you have a resume!

23. Opportunities • Opportunity is knock knock knocking... • Are you going to answer? • Just do it!!! What else do you have to work on between semesters?