Dear Students:<br>

<p>

I have recently taken on the duty of Astronomy Option representative, and I am
looking forward to working with you in this capacity. 

<p>

As the principal contact for students until they
sign up with a thesis advisor, I keep track of your
progress in our program. Please feel free to come and talk to me, especially
if you have a problem.

<p>

These notes are based on those of my predecessor (Shri Kulkarni), and I will be modifying them
from time to time, as I familiarize myself with the job.
<p>
A summary of what I know about the <a
href="Option/student-advisor"> status/phase </a> of each astronomy
graduate student may be found at this site.  If you find any errors please let me know.
Several students have effectively two
advisors, but only one faculty member can be the
advisor who is ultimately responsible for you until you graduate.  It
is this primary advisor who is listed in the accompanying summary.

<h4>
Honor Code</h4> As a student at Caltech you are expected to follow
the honor code. We require that you review the details
of the <a href="http://www.its.caltech.edu/~grb"> honor code</a>.
The Option rep will review the honor during your orientation
meeting. (Note to ACR: invite a member of the Graduate Review
Board to the first orientation meeting.) 

<h4>
1st YEAR STUDENTS. <a href="Option/1stYEAR.html"> Notes</a> &nbsp;
&nbsp; <a href="Option/Ay12X-grading.html">Ay 12X Grading Policy</a>
(Faculty & Students: Please read)
</h4>

<p>
<h4>
2nd YEAR STUDENTS. <a href="Option/2ndYEAR.html"> Notes</a>
</h4>
<hr WIDTH="100%">
2005: The Exam was conducted 30 September, 2005.
Committee: Cohen, Kulkarni, Phinney and Sari.

<br>
2004 Exam was conducted on  27 September 2004.
Committee: J. Cohen, R. Ellis, M. Kamionkowski, S. Kulkarni and C.
Steidel (ex-officio).  The details of the exam can be found 
<a href="Option/2ndYEAR.html"> here</a> including 
<a href="Option/Sample-Questions.html"> sample questions</a>. 
<a href="Option/WillAskQuestions">Will Ask Questions</a>
<p>
RESEARCH PROJECTS & PRESENTATIONS 
<p>

<a href="Option/2005-Quals.html">
Year 2005</a> &nbsp | &nbsp;
<a href="Option/2004-Quals.html">
Year 2004 </a>  &nbsp | &nbsp;
<a href="Option/2003-Quals.html"> 
Year 2003 </a> 
<hr WIDTH="100%">


<p>
<h4>
3rd YEAR STUDENTS: <a href="Option/3rdYEAR.html"> Notes</a>
</h4>
2004: Reminder to students. Keep your write up to < 4 pages. This 
is useful practice (observing proposals even for HST and Chandra 
are highly constrained). Also please have the write up ready
at least 2 weeks in advance.
<br>
<a href="Option/2004-Candidacy.html">Writeups for 2004</a>

<p>
2003:
All students have passed the exam.
Milan B. will take the exam on return
from military service.
<a href="Option/2003-Candidacy.html">Writeups for 2003 <a/>
<p>


<p>
Useful Links: &nbsp; &nbsp; 
<a href="Option/student-advisor"> Student Status: Summary </a>
&nbsp; &nbsp | &nbsp; &nbsp;
<a href="http://www.astro.caltech.edu/department/grad.students.html">
Student Directory </a> 
&nbsp; &nbsp | &nbsp; &nbsp;
<a href="Option/Duration.html"> Duration of Astronomy PhDs <a/>