Welcome back!

In your Communication Packet via online registration you will find several pamphlets prepared by the Department. If you haven't read them before, we urge you to do so: they contain useful information on selecting math courses, applying to graduate schools, getting part-time and summer jobs in mathematics, selecting senior thesis topics and advisors, etc. In particular, they describe the Math Expository requirement that students are required to comply with. Even if not all of these topics seem relevant for you, please browse through the pamphlets anyway - you may be surprised at what you learn.

There will be three tutorials offered this year: two in the Fall and one in the Spring.

Fall 08:

• Tropical Geometry, taught by Ryan Reich. Prerequisite: The contents of Math 137 (Algebraic Geometry) make a nice complement to this course and motivate its goals, but are not required.

• Algebraic Graph Theory, taught by Le Anh Vinh. Prerequisite: Math 122 (Algebra I) or equivalent.

Spring 09:

• Morse Theory, taught by Chen-Yu Chi. Prerequisite: Math 131 (Topology) and abstract linear algebra.

The description of the tutorials will be posted on the undergraduate bulletin boards (one opposite rm. 320, the other opposite rm. 503). They will also be e-mailed to all math concentrators on our mailing list and posted on the Math Department website http://www.math.harvard.edu.

We would also like to remind you of some upcoming events:

Tuesday, 9/16, 5:30 pm.

The first meeting of the Math Club at Mather House.

Wednesday, 9/17, 4:00 pm.

Organizational sign-up meeting for the Fall Tutorials in room 507.

Friday, 9/19, 3:00 pm.

Math Concentrators' Party in the 4th floor Common Room.

Please check the Undergraduate bulletin boards periodically for more announcements.
Have a good semester,

Peter Kronheimer
Director of Undergraduate Studies