Applications for Spring 2024 are closed. Applications for Fall 2024 will open the first week of the semester. Please email the organizers if you would like to be notified when applications open.
The goal of the application is to select pairs that will be a good fit for the DRP, to help make decisions if the numbers don’t line up (for example if we have more mentee applications than available mentors), and to communicate some basic information about expectations. Due to limited resources, we typically make about 15-25 pairs each semester.
If you have questions, please send us an email at math-drp@sas.upenn.edu.
For mentees
Participating in the DRP is a serious time commitment. By applying to the DRP, you are committing to doing about 4 hours per week of independent study, in addition to hour-long weekly meetings with your mentor, as well as participating in the presentations at the end of the semester. You should communicate with your mentor and/or the DRP committee if you are unable to meet these expectations. Failure to do so could prevent you from participating in the DRP in future semesters.
You will be registered for a pass/fail half-credit from the mathematics department for the DRP, so that the independent study can be reflected on your transcript. But bear in mind that UPenn doesn’t allow pass/fail classes to count towards major/minor requirements.
For mentors
Mentoring a DRP project requires you to schedule weekly meetings with your mentee and help them prepare and practice their final presentation. While you should be prepared to suggest readings and exercises, you are not required to prepare lecture content for the meetings. Each mentee/mentor pair is different, and you should discuss and establish expectations with your mentee early on in the semester.
DRP mentors are graduate students in the Mathematics or AMCS programs. Although graduate students of any level may apply, we prioritize applications from those who are beyond their first year of graduate school at UPenn.
Graduate mentors receive a stipend at the end of the semester.