Q: Is the program only open to UC Berkeley undegraduates?
A: No! Any undergraduate can participate.
Q: I'm graduating this year! Can I still apply?
A: Graduating seniors are welcome to apply.
Q: Do I need to have completed any specfic coursework to apply?
A: Yes. See the project descriptions. Exceptions are possible for highly motivated students.
Q: I don't even know what contact geometry or homological algebra is, and I don't understand the words in the course description. Can I still apply?
A: Yes! This is the point of the intensive short course at the beginning of the program. As long as you have the background specificed in the project descriptions, you are welcome.
Q: Do I only take one short course, or do I take both?
A: You only take one short course. If you like, you are welcome to audit the other short course, but this is not required.
Q: How do I know which short course I'm taking?
A: You can indicate a preference on your application, but we will let you know which one you are taking if you are accepted into the program.
Q: Are there any Berkeley faculty affiliated with the program?
A: The program will be supervised by Professor Michael Hutchings.
Q: Will the short course have problem sessions to help me absorb the material?
A: Yes. There will be daily sessions independent from lecture where students work on problems in groups.
Q: May self-funded international students apply?
A: Yes.
Q: What is a typical day like?
A: During the short course portion of the program, you will have a one hour fifteen minute class in the morning. Then, students will be encouraged to meet each other for lunch. In the early afternoon, there will be a one hour problem session, and then you will be expected to stay around campus until the end of the work day. During the research portion of the program, the schedule will be similar --- you will come meet with your supervisor in the morning and then again in the afternoon. On some days, there will be organized lunches or casual athletic events. There will be no class on the weekends, but there will be field trips, for example to San Francisco.
A: No! Any undergraduate can participate.
Q: I'm graduating this year! Can I still apply?
A: Graduating seniors are welcome to apply.
Q: Do I need to have completed any specfic coursework to apply?
A: Yes. See the project descriptions. Exceptions are possible for highly motivated students.
Q: I don't even know what contact geometry or homological algebra is, and I don't understand the words in the course description. Can I still apply?
A: Yes! This is the point of the intensive short course at the beginning of the program. As long as you have the background specificed in the project descriptions, you are welcome.
Q: Do I only take one short course, or do I take both?
A: You only take one short course. If you like, you are welcome to audit the other short course, but this is not required.
Q: How do I know which short course I'm taking?
A: You can indicate a preference on your application, but we will let you know which one you are taking if you are accepted into the program.
Q: Are there any Berkeley faculty affiliated with the program?
A: The program will be supervised by Professor Michael Hutchings.
Q: Will the short course have problem sessions to help me absorb the material?
A: Yes. There will be daily sessions independent from lecture where students work on problems in groups.
Q: May self-funded international students apply?
A: Yes.
Q: What is a typical day like?
A: During the short course portion of the program, you will have a one hour fifteen minute class in the morning. Then, students will be encouraged to meet each other for lunch. In the early afternoon, there will be a one hour problem session, and then you will be expected to stay around campus until the end of the work day. During the research portion of the program, the schedule will be similar --- you will come meet with your supervisor in the morning and then again in the afternoon. On some days, there will be organized lunches or casual athletic events. There will be no class on the weekends, but there will be field trips, for example to San Francisco.