Summer Research
Campuses all over the US offer wide-ranging opportunities to do math research projects over the summer. These will generally include:
  • Room and board for the length of the program, usually 6-10 weeks.
  • A stipend - yes, that's right, you get paid to do math!!
  • A great opportunity to see some math that doesn't come from a textbook.
While some programs require advanced coursework like linear algebra, analysis, or abstract algebra, there are also programs which specifically target early students. The link above also contains some advice about the application process.
Competitions
  • The prestigious William Lowell Putnam Examination is offered every December to students all over North America. Dr. John Albert runs a Putnam seminar in the fall. Everyone is welcome to come work Putnam-style problems, whether or not you wish to participate in the Putnam exam.
  • The OK-AR section of the Mathematics Association of America (MAA) holds a math competition. Congratulations to the OU teams, who placed 1st and 3rd in the 2009 competition!
  • Check out the fiercest competition of them all - the OU Math Problem of the Month! Problems are posted in the 2nd floor display case across from the elevators, and can also be found on the OU math blog.
Conferences
These mathematics conferences are for you! There will be sessions where undergraduate students can present talks or posters about a research project. There are also student-friendly main speakers, and panel discussions about issues of interest to students. You can apply for funding to attend a conference from the Department of Mathematics and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Study Abroad
These excellent programs consist of mathematics courses taught in English, enabling you to study mathematics while experiencing a different place and culture. You can consult with Dr. Cross about the application of credits to your degree requirements, and you can apply for scholarships from the Education Abroad Office. Contact Professor Kornelson (kkornelsonATmathDOTouDOTedu) for more information.
  • The Budapest Semesters in Mathematics is a long-standing program for North American students. You can take courses in Hungarian language and culture as well as in mathematics.
  • The Math in Moscow program is an opportunity to spend a semester in Moscow studying mathematics in the Russian style. The emphasis is on in-depth discovery-based learning.
Bridge Programs for Pre-Graduate Study
Bridge programs offer students who have been accepted into a mathematics graduate school the opportunity to take fundamental courses during the summer as a way to ramp up to the intensity of graduate school.
Math Associations and Links