The UCLA Departments of Mathematics and Statistics Graduate Student
Outreach (GSO) is
composed of math and stat graduate students. Our mission is simple: to
improve
the math graduate student's experience at UCLA, from entry into the
department to graduation and beyond. Part of our program is mentoring and
education, while another is social.
Mentoring
We start by meeting potential graduate students and introducing
them to the UCLA campus and math and stat departments. At this day-long
affair,
GSO organizes activities including a panel discussion led by faculty,
a group lunch, and informal campus tours. Shortly before the beginning
of the school year, we pair each incoming graduate student with a more
experienced graduate student-mentor. The mentor can advise new students
about potential class selection, department policies, and the
"qualifying exams." At its core, GSO's mentoring program is intended
to provide a personal contact for questions for new students, who are
probably not yet savvy as to the UCLA math or stat department ways.
Education
GSO organizes a year-long seminar series to which we invite professors and graduate students to speak. The main goal of the lectures is to expose new graduate students to the many different fields that they could choose to research. The faculty speakers are asked to give an overview of their research, geared to be understood by first-year graduate students with particular emphasis on motivating the topic. Graduate student speakers generally take advantage of this forum to practice the research lecture he or she may be asked to give in a job interview.
To help graduate students with their fellowship and job searches, GSO organizes two "how-to" seminars in early spring. The seminars are led by panels of graduate students who have been successful in getting fellowships and/or jobs. Each seminar is designed to inform graduate students what application methods worked for the panelists and may work for them as well.
GSO does not only focus its education inward towards UCLA graduate students.
We also reach out to our community. In area high schools, GSO, with the
Office of Instructional Development, hosts a practice meet for the
American Regions Mathematics League, a national high school math competition.
The underlying motivation is for UCLA undergraduate and graduate students
to serve as role models for these talented high school students and to
answer questions about careers in science.
Social
All work and no play makes anyone dull. Our members are not dull. We have numerous Friday afternoon happy hour outings, as well as other informal gatherings.
We are always interested in new members. If you want to become a GSO member, please email us at gso@math.ucla.edu.