The BU Directed Reading Program (DRP) is a program that pairs undergraduate students with graduate student mentors to work together on an independent reading project in mathematics, applied mathematics, or statistics.
Our goal is to engage undergraduates who are curious and motivated to learn more about mathematics beyond what they may find in their coursework, in a way where their interests drive their learning experience. We hope the DRP will serve as a bridge between undergraduate students and graduate students and add to a sense of community in the department.
We are now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 semester. Applications are due by September 10th at 11:59 pm through the following form: https://forms.gle/zMrNWEZMQcwhsqzL8 . Interested participants are encouraged to attend our promotional social/informational sessions organized jointly taking place September 3rd and Septeber 4th at 5:30 pm in CDS 365. Feel free to contact drpmath@bu.edu with any questions.
Practical Information
The project lasts for ten weeks, and the mentor/mentee pairs will meet for an hour each week to discuss the week’s readings. Undergraduate student mentees are expected to commit to at least four hours of work outside of the meetings independently reading and working through the text. Each student will also give a short final presentation, which the mentor/mentee pair will work on preparing together.
Application Requirements
Applicants must be BU undergraduates who have completed most of the lower division mathematics courses. Students do not have to be math majors, and we strive to admit students from a range of years and mathematical backgrounds. We are actively seeking students with diverse backgrounds and experiences in mathematics: in addition to students who are excelling or want to take their mathematical knowledge beyond what is offered at BU, we would be excited to see applications from students who have not taken many high level courses, and from students who may struggle with a traditional classroom format. We also especially encourage applications from women, LGBTQ students, and other historically excluded groups. If you are curious about mathematics and motivated to spend at least five hours a week on an independent reading project, then consider applying.