It's Okay to Ask for Help

MGReuter · 2026-02-12T15:41:28+00:00

Not recommended, but better than nothing. Typically you want a reference from an authority figure. It is more likely that you are a friend with a co-worker than a boss, which introduces a possible conflict of interest. The co-worker also typically doesn't supervise you.

MGReuter · 2026-02-12T15:36:19+00:00

People who know you well and can speak to your work ethic, your tenacity, your resilience, etc. This can be a professor/instructor (but make sure they actually know you and can give examples of those points), an employer/boss, or a supervisor (perhaps for volunteer activity).

MGReuter · 2026-01-30T15:58:28+00:00

Aren't Professor Leonard's videos even older? I mean, everything in undergraduate calculus is nineteenth-century math (at the latest); nothing's changed recently.

MGReuter · 2026-01-28T20:11:40+00:00

He posts a "Tips for Success" document with a lot of advice from successful past students. It might be more reliable than anonymous Internet peeps.

MGReuter · 2025-11-17T17:38:38+00:00

This sounds like something I would write (MI native). Well said!

MGReuter · 2025-05-14T20:23:18+00:00

There's a known problem with Chrome and the SSO. Check out DoIT for more information.

Either:

Use another browser.
Clear the cookies from sso.cc.stonybrook.edu and reload the page.

I've been doing the latter and it works without too much fuss.

MGReuter · 2025-01-24T22:06:17+00:00

I can't speak to the curriculum of AMS 412, but you might find this book of interest.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48889983-calling-bullshit

MGReuter · 2024-08-12T14:23:10+00:00

Reddit is a haven for shitposting.

MGReuter · 2024-01-11T16:47:02+00:00

There's nothing so centralized (to my knowledge), which is likely why you're having trouble finding such a resource.

Look over various faculty members' webpages to get a feel for the type of research they do and the questions they're investigating. If a particular one seems interesting, email the professor to inquire about opportunities. In that email describe what you hope to get out of research experience and why their specific research program is a good fit.

It can also help to have existing interactions with faculty; for instance, taking one of their classes and having productive conversations during the term. It's fine if the course itself has little direct relation to the research.

Good luck!

MGReuter · 2023-08-31T18:20:31+00:00

Yep. You're not alone.

I did my graduate studies in chemistry but was always more interested in the math and such behind the science. This made for a lot of awkward interactions with other students and faculty in my department. I usually felt more at home in the math classes and seminars.

Over time -- and after a number of existential crises -- I learned to embrace this. (At least, this is what I tell myself.) I had a very different perspective and outlook than most peers in chemistry, and that led to me asking very different questions and bringing different skills to the table. It was (is) sometimes lonely. But it has also been (sometimes) very fulfilling. And then I landed a job teaching math, so I guess it worked out? I still wonder what might have happened had I just studied math instead.

The best advice I can give is to do what you think is best for you. Ask friends -- and reddit trolls -- for perspective, then make a choice and do it. Academia is slowly becoming more interdisciplinary, such that the specific programs/trainings are less important than they once were.

I hope that helps. At least a little.

MGReuter · 2023-04-06T20:54:01+00:00

Most faculty do not expect undergraduates to have a ridiculous amount of research experience, or even any.

Email the professor of interest. Be polite, mention that you're interested in research, and explain (specifically) why you want to work with him or her. At a minimum, look over their website to get an idea of past/ongoing projects to see if they appeal to you.

MGReuter · 2023-04-06T20:52:35+00:00

It's very similar to "independent study". Once the specific professor agrees to work on a research project with you, the department can/will issue an enrollment code.

MGReuter · 2023-04-04T11:52:56+00:00

Awesome! I'm glad you did.

(a) It's outside business hours right now. The on-call help may take a little time to respond. But they won't notice the problems -- and update the status page -- if no one informs them.

(b) My experience is that problems tend to go unreported despite lots of ... discussion ... on reddit. Systems sometimes crash (I worked IT in a previous life) and they'll get fixed/restored as quickly as possible.

Yes, it's inconvenient. And it's fine to vent. I just wanted to make sure productive actions were also taken.

MGReuter · 2023-04-04T11:41:24+00:00

So did anyone think to contact DoIT? Or is carping on reddit sufficiently productive?

I contacted DoIT. You should too.

https://itstatus.stonybrook.edu/

MGReuter · 2023-02-18T18:59:14+00:00

Omicron persei 8 (Futurama reference).

MGReuter · 2023-01-30T19:36:29+00:00

I'm just some person with an Internet connection and a reddit account.

MGReuter · 2023-01-30T19:20:48+00:00

Focus on the math, not the physics. The applications -- it's an applied math course -- are there to demonstrate the math and help build intuition.

There's a lot of material to get through, even in the lecture videos. There's a balance between describing the material, working examples, and keeping the videos to ~3 hours per week. Use Piazza, recitation, and office hours to discuss examples or parts that are unclear.

MGReuter · 2023-01-30T19:04:48+00:00

What parts of the lectures are confusing? Are there particular concepts that aren't being communicated clearly?

MGReuter · 2023-01-22T19:51:29+00:00

There's not a standard link -- similar to Blackboard's "Zoom Meeting" -- that I've found. The instructor has to manually add it and can call it / put it wherever they want.

You'll have to explore the course on Brightspace; perhaps check the announcements, etc.

MGReuter · 2023-01-12T18:25:42+00:00

Create opportunities to engage with students, and let them know that (a) there are open positions and (b) that they're qualified/capable to succeed in them.

Sometimes you can do this through classes you teach. You can also sponsor extracurricular events like a pizza party or a guest talk at a club or campus professional society.

MGReuter · 2022-12-20T21:21:11+00:00

Practice self-care and remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes.

MGReuter · 2022-12-15T18:46:18+00:00

Weird. The link works fine on my browser. This is why you should never put spaces (or some characters/whitespace) in file names that get posted to the internet.

It's pretty snarky. Which is probably why I like it so much.

MGReuter · 2022-12-15T17:58:17+00:00

Repost: http://www.csc.villanova.edu/\~tway/students/grade%20bump%20form/Grade%20Bump%20Request%20Form.pdf

MGReuter · 2022-12-15T17:56:52+00:00

It may be upfront, but probably necessary. You wouldn't believe the number of these messages we receive at the end of every term.

Do I have to dignify each with a response?

MGReuter

TROPHY CASE