Undergraduate Program: Post-College Planning
Links | Letters of Recommendation |
Specific opportunities
- Career, Grad School, and Employment Resources for Mathematics Students (MAA)
- Careers, Jobs, and Internship Resources (AMS)
- Early Career (AMS)
- Actuarial Careers; NU Actuarial Club; Chicago Actuarial Association
- Math Careers (British site)
- Graduate School Resources (AMS)
- Graduate Study at Northwestern
- NU Career Services
- University Placement Office
Students hoping to enter graduate or professional school after graduation from Northwestern will need to submit letters of recommendation from several faculty members as part of the application process. Those applying for jobs also need to submit the names of faculty members who can evaluate their personal qualities and skills.
What can you do to increase the likelihood of getting strong faculty recommendations? Doing well on exams and course assignments is, of course, necessary, but it is not sufficient. A letter which says only that you "earned A grades on all course exams and assignments" implies that this is all the writer can say about you.
To avoid ending up in this situation, you should begin early in your studies to try to get to know several professors well. How can you do this? By taking small courses with them (most upper level math courses have relatively small enrollments; in other departments, look for discussion-oriented seminars), by going to their office hours to discuss class topics or to seek advice, and/or by working on independent study or research projects with them. Let them see how bright and intellectually curious you are, the range of skills you possess, and what a pleasure you are to work with. Professors who know you well and who enjoy their own interactions with you will do a good job of communicating to admissions committees or potential employers that they, too, should value the chance to work with you and get to know you.
GRADUATE STUDY ELSEWHERE
- Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences (IMBS), University of California Irvine. A goal of the IMBS is to generate a similar relationship between mathematics and the behavioral and social sciences. With high-power social scientists (several are members of the National Academy) providing insights about the field and working with the mathematicians who are involved, new mathematical approaches to analyze these issues are being developed and new kinds of mathematical questions are being raised. We also have a new Ph.D. Program in Social Dynamics and Evolution focusing on mathematical modeling and simulation.
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
- Northwestern University Office of Fellowships
- American Mathematical Society - Assistantships and Graduate Fellowships
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The employment opportunities for mathematics majors in this list have been brought directly to our attention by prospective employers. In many cases we have quoted their emails directly. The University Placement Office has many other listings that should be consulted.
Lehman Brothers
All juniors and seniors interested in a career in Financial
Services (Investment Banking, Capital Markets, and Investment
Management) are invited
to the Lehman Brothers booth and presentation at the
Career Fair on Wednesday, 9/27/06.
While the career fair is for graduating seniors, juniors are also
highly encouraged to attend to get a head start on summer
internships.
Students who would like to find out more information about Lehman
Brothers can contact their team of Northwestern alumni: Mithra
Hariharan or Kristin McKee
**Please note that this information should not be construed as
official recruiting material and is purely for informational purposes.
All official hiring process should take place through University Career
Services.
