Directed Reading Program

The math department’s Directed Reading Program pairs undergraduate mentees with graduate mentors who work through a semester-long independent study project together. That project is usually based on a particular book or article, which the mentee reads at their own pace while the mentor guides and supplements the reading.

Requirements

Mentee applicants must be Vanderbilt undergraduates and able to commit at least five hours per week to the program. Each week, mentee’s meet with their mentor for at least an hour and additionally devote at least four hours outside of their meeting toward the project weekly. At the end of the semester, the mentee must give a 10-minute presentation summarizing their work.

Mentee applicants do not need to be math majors but should be interested in learning more about mathematics. Applicants should have taken, or are in the process of taking, at least two mathematics courses numbered 2000 and above, and it’s strongly recommended to have some familiarity with reading and writing mathematical proofs.

Mentors agree to meet with their mentee weekly, guiding them and helping to determine the project topic. Mentors are expected to work with their mentee on the end of semester presentation, having them give at least one practice session beforehand.

Who are the Mentees and Mentors?

Mentees are motivated undergraduate students who might:

• Wish to learn about a subject not covered by the department coursework.
• Want an in-depth analysis of a particular topic.
• Like math but want to learn more about what math “is.”
• Want to see a more advanced treatment of a standard subject.
• Want to develop the skill of working independently through a topic.
• Want to improve their ability to communicate, especially technically.

Mentors are motivated math Ph.D. students/postdocs who might:

• Be interested in sharing their passion for math.
• Want to learn valuable mentorship skills.
• Wish to learn a new topic through their mentorship.

FAQ

Q. Do I need to have a project in mind to apply?

A. Applicants do not need to have a project in mind but might have an idea of the area of mathematics they would like to cover. Mentors will work with the mentee to find a topic. Applicants are encouraged look at some project ideas.

Q. Do I get credit for participating?

A. There is no course credit for participating in the DRP.

Q. What do I get out of participating?

A. Besides learning about subjects not covered by math department coursework, students:

• Gain an in-depth knowledge about a particular topic.
• Experience what doing ‘real’ mathematics is like outside of formal courses.
• Develop the skill of working independently on a topic.
• Improve your ability to communicate, especially technically.
• Have access to a graduate mentor.
• Receive a book related to your selected topic.

Q. Who decides who is admitted into the DRP?

A. A committee formed by the faculty adviser and several graduate student representatives is responsible for administrative decisions, including admission and pairing of mentors and mentees.

Application

The deadline for spring 2025 has passed, but you may fill out the form to potentially be contacted for a future session. See our FAQ’s for more information about eligibility, expectations, and deadlines.

If you have questions, please contact the DRP faculty supervisor, Anna Marie Bohmann or organizer Julio Cáceres.