Q: Is DRP a research program?
A: No. But we leave it to the mentor and mentee to mutually decide how they want to collaborate. If it matures into a full on research project even after the semester ends, that's great too! But the primary goal of the program is to learn new things and receive/provide mentorship, so feel no pressure as you embark on this journey.
Q: How often is DRP run?
A: Every fall and spring semester. New mentors and new reading topics will be proposed. There is not guarantee that a past topic will be available in future semesters. If a past topic you really wanted to do is not available in the current semester, you can consider emailing the mentor to see if they're open to offering that past topic again, or just leave a relevant comment in your application form.
Q: How long is the commitment to the program?
A: One semester. You can reapply to the program at the beginning of every semester. Your new mentor/mentee will not necessarily be the same as previous semesters. We start everything afresh.
Q: When will I hear back about my application?
A: Acceptances should hear back within 1 week of the mentee application deadline. Rejections will hear back in about 2 weeks.
Q: How does 1 course credit work?
A: Register for course credit based on the department of your mentor. The course code for math is AS.110.587; for AMS, it is EN.553.513.
If the course is "independent academic study" you must fill in a form on SIS > Registration > Online Forms > Independent Academic Study. The instructor on record will approve your request after you submit the form.
Q: Should I propose my own topic or apply for a topic proposed by a mentor?
A: Typically, we ask mentors to propose a topic, after which applicants will indicate their preference for which projects interest them most. This is mainly because graduate mentors have a better sense of what topics are good in scope and interesting in content.
However, self-motivated undergraduate applicants are encouraged to propose their own topics—just state your proposed topic in the application form. Organizers will try their best to find a suitable mentor for you.
Q: How does applying to a mentor without a proposed topic work?
A: If you apply to a mentor without a proposed topic, we may pair you together if both mentor and mentee share overlapping mathematical interests.
At your initial meeting, both of you will discuss and come to a mutual agreement on specific topics and texts to read for the semester. For a productive initial meeting, we highly suggest both mentor and mentee bring several concrete suggestions on topics and texts they are interested to explore.
If the mentor and mentee cannot come to a satisfactory agreement on what to read, reach out to the organizers as soon as possible. We will try to find solutions together with you.