Summer and OffCampus Programs

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Summer and Off-Campus Programs

• David A. Reimann
• Mathematics and Computer Science
• Albion College
• December 2008

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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

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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

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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!

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Academic year programs
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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

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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/

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Off-campus Programs

• Recent Participants
• Chris Moyle

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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.

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Budapest

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

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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

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Oak Ridge Science Semester

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

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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

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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

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FURSCA

• Dr. Mason is the FURCA director

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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.

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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

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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

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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)?

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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

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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/internship
  s.html
• http//www.amstat.org/education/index.cfm?fuseacti
  onintern

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Internships

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

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Opportunities

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