As preparation for the Putnam exam, t he Department offers a Problem-Solving Seminar which meets weekly during the Fall and Winter terms. In this seminar students are exposed to interesting m athematical material not found in other courses and develop their problem-solving abilities. The seminar is open to undergraduate students at all levels. The Department also sponsors two local competitions. It is open to all full-time undergraduates on th e Ann Arbor campus and offers substantial cash prizes which vary from year to year depending on financing.
Students compete in small teams to solve a real-world problem by constructing a mathematical model.
Also listed in the weekly bulletin are a great variety of other special events. Many of these are specialized seminars which are generally not at a level accessible to undergraduates, but they also include more general colloquium talks, special lectures, and mathematical movies. An excellent way to improve your mastery of mathematics is to get involved in teaching it. To be a professor you need a Ph.D., but there are positions available to undergraduates as graders and tutors. Graders correct and grade homework assignments in the larger courses.