MATH 318 Spring 2023

Assignment 0

(Adapted from Homework 0 by Alex Lyford)

Due: Wednesday, February 15

Reading

Read carefully through the materials in the First Day Packet.

Writing

You may submit an electronic copy of this assignment to me (molinick@middlebury.edu) with the subject line: MATH 318 Assignment 0 or print it out and bring it to Wednesday’s class. Make sure you include your name at the top of the document.

Your task is to create a document describing yourself, your goals, and what you hope to get out of our Differential Equations class. Please provide your name at the top of the first page along with your major or likely major and your anticipated graduate date.

Start with an autobiographical statement about yourself that will help me to get to know a little about you. Where did you grow up? Why did you come to Middlebury? What are your likes and dislikes? Do you have any hobbies that you do regularly? Do you have a major extracurricular activity such as athletics, theatre or The Campus?

After the biographical statement tell me about your mathematical, statistical, and computer programming background. What did you like about previous mathematics, statistics, and/or programming classes? What did you dislike? What aspects did you find easy? What aspects did you find challenging?

The next part should discuss your plans for the remainder of your time in college, and what you hope to do after you graduate. Is more schooling the next step, or do you plan to get a job? It's okay to not have any idea what you want to do after graduation, but list some possibilities so that I can better tailor the materials in class to your potential career opportunities.

Finally tell me about your thoughts and expectations for this class. What are you hoping and/or expecting to learn? What do you think the challenges of this course might be? What, if anything, have you heard about this course from your peers? What expectations do you have of me? Feel free to also discuss anything I've failed to ask here!