GVSU Math Major Newsletter |
This newsletter comes to your inbox each week from the GVSU math department. You can find past newsletters and information about previously announced events and opportunities at the newsletter webpage.
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this Friday! Math Circle
Friday, October 30 from 1 - 2:30 pm in the PCS (MAK A-2-610)
Come explore fun math through Mancala. Come any time, leave any time. Even if you can't arrive until 2:00, that's OK. Math circles are a time to explore new math ideas in a friendly environment. Everyone is welcome!
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Friday, 11/6: Indoor Lawn Games. What does that mean? Come find out!
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Friday, 11/13: Applied Math Seminar. Dr. Samhita Rhodes from the GVSU Engineering Department will give a talk titled "Neural Correlates of Stability and Balance – Quantifying the Brain-Muscle Connection".
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Computer Science Course Opportunity for Winter 2027
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Professor Lalejini from the Department of Computer Science will be teaching Algorithm Engineering (CIS 464/564, cross-listed for undergrads and grads) in Winter 2027! This course has CIS 263 as a prerequisite, but Professor Lalejini is willing to waive this prerequisite for upper level math majors.
In this course, you'll: solve fun programming puzzles, level up your algorithm design skills, learn to write more efficient code, perform magic tricks with bits, and become better prepared for coding job interview questions. See this puzzle challenge flyer for an example of the types of problems you'll work on.
This course will focus on designing and implementing custom algorithms to tackle challenging computing problems. A broad range of practical algorithmic design strategies will be covered with a focus on problem-solving. Specifically, we will apply strategies for extracting information from problem descriptions, identifying when to use different classes of algorithms, and engineering correct and efficient implementations.
Feel free to contact Dr. Lalejini (lalejina@gvsu.edu) for more information!
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Scholarships, career, and internship opportunities
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What can you do with a math major? Check out job and salary info from GVSU alumni:
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Auto-Owners Summer 2027 Internship Opportunities Are Posted! If you are interested in pursuing a career in Software Development, Actuarial, Predictive Modeling, Security, Business Intelligence, Business Analyst, or Underwriting/Claims check out the internship opportunities that are available! Auto-Owners has hired many GVSU math majors over the years - you should definitely check them out!
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) 2027 summer actuarial and underwriting internship positions are currently posted:
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Community-Based Internships. Open to all GVSU College of Liberal Arts majors or work-study eligible students. Gain paid work experience with one of the following local non-profit organizations: Community Food Club, Grand Rapids Art Museum, IKUS, Junior Achievement, Kids' Food Basket, Paws with a Cause, Senior Neighbors, STEM Greenhouse, Boys and Girls Club, and Community Action House. For more information visit the GVSU Community-Based Internship page.
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Jackson’s Summer 2027 Actuarial Internship Program. Jackson is one of the largest annuity providers in the United States. An internship with Jackson’s Actuarial Department offers practical, hands-on work experience that enhances students' academic, career, and personal development, while helping the Company identify talented individuals for full-time employment after graduation. Interested students can apply using this job posting.
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The recruiting season for Jackson begins in September, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Interviews are expected to begin in mid-September, and internship offers will continue until all four positions in our 2027 intern class are filled. In previous years, positions have typically been filled by early to mid-October, so students are encouraged to apply now for full consideration.
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Resources to find internships and jobs: Handshake, the Career Center, LinkedIn and Indeed, plus the Career & Internship fair.
- The GVSU Career Center can help you find career and internship opportunities via their many events.
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If you're searching for internships or jobs, we strongly encourage you to join a career community (or multiple communities!). You will receive a monthly newsletter with internships, jobs, and events related to your area(s) of interest.
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The CareerLab is a drop-in space led by peers and career advisors that allows individual career consultation without an appointment. Get help with your resume, cover letters, interview prep, finding internship/employment opportunities, job applications, networking, and more.
- ScholarshipUniverse is GVSU's main website for finding and applying for scholarships. You can search by all kinds of filters and find matches for your major, minor, or other criteria.
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Unpaid Internship Support. If you find an internship and register for MTH 490 but aren't paid for it, you can apply for up to $1500. There are many details; click the link for more.
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Register soon for MTH 498 - Project-based Applied Mathematics (Capstone): If you are an applied math major and intend to graduate by Fall 2027, then you will need to complete your capstone course in the next year. MTH 498 is the standard option for your capstone and it is only offered in the Winter semester. There are limited seats available in MTH 498 for the Winter 2027 semester, so please register ASAP!
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Capstone credit for your internship (MTH 490): Applied math majors who are planning to do an internship might be able to earn capstone credit! If your internship is "mathy" and meets some other requirements, you can get capstone class credit (MTH 490) for that internship. Click the link for more information. The process to get approved for MTH 490 takes time -- if you intend to apply for a MTH 490 internship capstone, email or talk to Dr. Short in MAK B-2-204 right away to get the process started. Don't wait!
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Featured education opportunity
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The 2026 MCTM Annual Conference will take place November 6–7 at the Richard M. DeVos Center at GVSU, featuring keynote speaker Vanessa Vakharia, “The Math Guru.”
Math education majors: Don't miss this opportunity to learn, network, and experience attending a professional conference!
Reduced registration rate of $49 for MCTM college student members. Joining MCTM is free for college students and you can join using the MCTM membership page.
Volunteers attend free! If you'd like to volunteer at the conference, check out the volunteer opportunities.
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Other education opportunities
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Featured conference and research opportunities
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| Math Student Research and Travel Funding
Up to $200 is available to support research-related costs, including travel and grad-school costs.
There are 2 application cycles – one due November 1 and one due March 15.
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Grad school, research, and conference opportunities
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PhD in Mathematics with a Concentration in Collegiate Mathematics Education. The Central Michigan University Mathematics Department offers a PhD where students can write a dissertation in collegiate math education. There are two upcoming virtual info session for students to learn more about our program on December 11 and January 15. Sign up for a virtual information session here.
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The Kindschi Undergraduate Research Fellowship in the Sciences provides financial support to GVSU students pursuing rigorous, independent scholarship during the academic year, mentored by a faculty member. The award provides students with a paid fellowship, $1,000 dissemination fund, and students can request up to $1000 for project supplies. Proposal deadline for Winter 2027: November 6, 2026. Visit the Kindschi Fellowship page on the OURS website to apply!
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NCUR 2027. The National Conference on Undergraduate Research will be held April 12 to 14, 2027, at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. CSRSE will support registration costs for faculty or students who are presenting at the conference. Faculty interested in submitting with a student should note that abstract submissions are open now and close December 4. Conference information is available here.
- Michigan Biostatistics graduate program. Discover how biostatistics and health science data turn quantitative reasoning into health impact. There are in person and virtual prospective student events scheduled for October.
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Graduate school information: Interested in graduate school? Did you know that most math graduate programs are funded (that is, they pay you to complete a masters or doctorate)? Talk with your advisor (or Dr. Short) and use these resources too.
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Finding graduate programs: Looking for graduate programs to apply to? Here are two websites that will help find and filter graduate programs that are right for you: USA/Canada Math PhD Programs GRE Requirements and AMS Find Grad Programs.
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Learning about graduate school: Want to learn more about what graduate school is and how to prepare for it? Try these sites: Grad Guide (advice on applying to graduate school), STEM Graduate Programs website (help creating resumes, applying to fellowships, and more).
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Fellowships for STEM Majors: Check out this list of fellowships -- funded programs for studying, research, and more -- offered to GVSU students. Check them out now; deadlines are throughout the year. Also check out Roadmap to Fellowships, which offers advice on how to obtain and prepare for a fellowship.
- International Undergraduate Research opportunities: Check out this page for information about study-abroad, online, and other opportunities to do research internationally.
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Experiential Learning Student Showcase. This new Fall symposium will be held Wednesday, December 2nd, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., in the Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center. The showcase invites students to present work grown out of research, creative practice, community-engaged projects, internships, and study abroad, in poster, lightning talk, or zine format. Submissions will open October 12 and close November 13, and every student who submits will present. Those dates, along with additional details, are now posted on the website. Details are available here.
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Essay Contest. The Association for Women in Mathematics and Math for America cosponsor an essay contest each year for students in three categories: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and Undergraduate. Contestants interview a woman or an individual from an underrepresented gender identity in a mathematical career about their life and work, and then they write and submit a short biographical essay based on their interview (500-1000 words). You can find out more at awm-math.org/awards/student-essay-contest: contest rules, an FAQ, submission instructions, etc. Essays will be judged based on content, grammar, presentation, and the presence of an authentic author's voice. The deadline is February 1, 2027. Submissions will open on November 1, 2026 on https://www.mathprograms.org/.
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Put these dates on your calendar!
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One important thing to know:
What to do if your midterms didn't look great
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We're just past midterms, and you've likely seen grades and feedback in each of your classes. If things aren't going the way you'd like, now is the time to make a change! Here are some key tips:
Go to every class. Nothing helps more than being in class. Even if you feel behind, being in class gives you a starting point to talk with your professor in office hours.
Go to office hours. These are drop-in times that each professor holds. You can talk to them one-on-one and ask for advice about how to improve. Find a list of office hours on your course's Blackboard page, in its Syllabus, or by asking your professor.
Stop by the math center in MAK A-2-601. The math center has free drop-in one-on-one tutoring for every class from MTH 108 up through MTH 225. Click the link for a schedule.
Make a study team. Talking math with others can help keep you on track and motivated! Don't be afraid to ask the person who sits next to you.
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If you have any questions about the newsletter, suggestions for things to add, or general advising questions, please email me!
Taylor Short
shorttay@gvsu.edu
Mathematics Advising and Engagement Coordinator
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1 Campus Drive
A-2-178 Mackinac Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
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