Quotes from DHSP Students

Addison Hymer

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Bannister, MI Major: Economics Plans: Aviation – Addison plans to be a commercial pilot.

Best decision that I made during my freshman year.

Eve Heisel

Before I began my freshmen year, I had always viewed math as a formulaic and unwavering subject. However, after joining DHSP, my entire vision of math has changed. Mark introduced me to beautiful and amazing math problems that blew my mind—something I definitely never imagined occurring before coming to Michigan. Along with solving super interesting problems, DHSP has introduced me to an incredible group of people that have eased my transition to Michigan, especially during the pandemic. Join DHSP! You definitely won’t regret it!

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Honolulu, HI Major: Anthropology; Biology, Health, and Society Plans: Genetic Counselor

Gabe Weber

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Leslie, MI Major: Actuarial Mathematics Plans: Actuary, not sure which type yet or whether I would like to go the professional vs consulting route.

DHSP was so much more than I imagined. Throughout the course, I created lasting relationships with my peers in the class and deepened my knowledge of Calculus. This class is perfect for people who want to test the extent of their mathematical capabilities. Mark is the kindest person ever, and he truly cares about all of his students, during this class and beyond.

Jessica Middleton

DHSP was an incredible experience. Dealing with online school was often debilitating, but participating in this program always gave me something to look forward to each week. Between having access to a community of incredible people to extra tutoring to Mark’s inspiring dedication to students, DHSP truly made my freshman year. I am so grateful to call myself an alum!

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: West Bloomfield, MI Major: B.S. Program in the Environment Plans: Marine Resource Management, Environmental Law/Policy (still exploring)

Lashaun Jackson

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Lawrenceville, GA Major: Program in the Environment Plans: I’d like to work within the intersection of food, equity, and sustainability.

When registering for classes last summer, I didn’t think taking a supplemental calculus course could hurt, especially since I had planned on taking physics courses in the future. What I didn’t expect, though, is to find such a nice community of support through such a weird year. I am really thankful for Mark, the friendships I’ve made, and of course the welcoming atmosphere that DHSP has created, even if it was virtual. I am more than excited to finally be in person as much as possible and continue fostering these great connections.

Aryn Booker

When you go to college you of course need to get a degree, but what people don’t tell you is you need to take classes you like. Speaking from my own experience, school has been a way for me to be curious and ask questions about the world around me. However when I came to college, most of my classes were rigid and didn’t allow for a lot of this exploration that made school worthwhile for me. Luckily for me, whenever I was feeling down Mark’s class was right around the corner to remind me why I love to learn. Even if you aren’t going to major in math, DHSP is an amazing chance to be curious, to make mistakes, to make friends, and to reaffirm why you wanted to go to college in the first place.

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Mount Morris, MI Major: English and Creative Writing and Literature Plans: Scientific Journal Editor

Denise Bonsu

DHSP was one of the best decisions I made in my freshman year. I am so happy Mark’s email labeled “Calculus Opportunity” (that I thought was kind of sketchy at the time) was the one in my spam folder that stuck out to me. Anyway, I’ve come to like mathematics a lot more than I already did before.

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Mansfield, TX Major: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacology? Plans: I do not know. Maybe laboratory work or research of some sort. I’m working on finding something that fits my interests

Emma Bersch

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Los Angeles, CA Major: Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience Plans: Healthcare Field

DHSP has entirely shifted my perspective on math. I never considered myself a star math student, but regardless I decided to apply to see if that could be changed. With Mark as my mentor, I can see myself improving while becoming more confident in my work. Mark has not only offered his limitless knowledge, but also his emotional support for all of his students. Everyone should take a class from Mark before leaving U of M. I don’t know what I would have done without him and all of DHSP.

Darius Moore

Joining DHSP has been one of the greatest decisions I have made while I’ve been at Michigan! The sense of community that is created with Mark and the other students is one that is unlike any other community here at Michigan and has tremendously helped my transition into college.

DHSP Year: 2017–2018 Home Town: Richton Park, IL Major: Biology, Health, & Society (BHS) and Spanish Plans: Medical Field, Physician

Paulo Warren

DHSP Year: 2015–2016 Home Town: Ann Arbor, MI Major: Computer Science Plans: Computer security, cryptography, full stack web development

Taught me to love getting problems wrong, and to love getting problems right even more. DHSP was also a huge study tool that you are kind of “forced” to go to every week. Especially towards the end of Math 116, I found that DHSP was often the first place I went to to clear up new and old content. Additionally, the informal atmosphere of the class makes studying great.

Maya Crystal

DHSP has blown my mind on so many different occasions. It provides the time and resources to solve really interesting and unique problems, many of which are seen in real life. It has solidified my base in calc 1 and 2 and Mark is such an awesome person who really knows his stuff and cares about his students. Plus he makes delicious cookies. 10/10 recommend.

DHSP Year: 2018–2019 Home Town: New Paltz, NY Major: Bio, Health & society Plans: Strategy consulting and potentially business school

Aarathi Kumaran

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Bengaluru Major: Pure Mathematics/Mathematical Sciences

Joining DHSP has been one of the best decisions that I took during my freshman year. It is my favorite class and I really enjoy taking part in this class. Mark makes solving math problems very fun. This made all of us discuss problems with each other and solve very difficult math problems with just simple math. In class I learned so much more than just math.

Kelsi Sumter

DHSP has been very helpful to me. I have learned a lot and I believe because of Mark and DHSP I have done a lot better on exams and feel more comfortable going into STEM.

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Chicago, IL Major: Computer Science Plans: Programming at places like Google/Microsoft/Apple

Wade Gerberding

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Traverse City, MI Major: Biomolecular Science Plans: Dental School

DHSP is an outstanding opportunity to discover some of the most interesting ways math works in the world, while also establishing friendships and community in a classroom setting. In addition to expanding upon the material covered in Math 115/116, the practice exams taken in class and extra study sessions outside of class are very helpful when exams roll around.

Liz Kirschner

DHSP has showed me the importance of team work and higher-level thinking. For those four hours a week, I am surrounded by individuals with great drive and kindness. Unwelcoming is simply not in DHSP’s vocabulary. Working alongside both Mark and my classmates, I have found a new respect for mathematics. My problem solving skills have increased while making so many friends along the way, and I am so happy that DHSP has been a part of my academic career here at U of M.

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: N Bellmore, NY Major: BCN, BHS Plans: Doctor

Nina Hesse

DHSP Year: 2017–2018 Home Town: Lake Orion, MI Major: Cellular & Molecular Biology Plans: Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase

Hey, so, in my first semester of college I was flooded with lectures that were all business. I remember sitting down in each class, and choking down questions of the theoretical, because it was just so obvious how much time we didn’t have. Each class that is, aside from DHSP. There we were allowed and encouraged to ask questions, and to look for answers ourselves–to keep trying, and to really support one another through it all. DHSP functioned as a sort of haven from the demands of my freshman year, and I’m really grateful for how the class itself and the support it offered allowed me to grow and to explore so many aspects of my education and self.

Alyssa Enciso

I had a bad experience with math all throughout high school. I was skeptical of DHSP because of that but I decided to give it a shot and it has really helped me turn my views on math around. If you would’ve told me I’d be in Calc II 2 years ago I wouldn’t have believed you in the slightest. DHSP is a great place to build on your math skills, and make amazing connections in a supportive environment surrounded by people who are all very similar to you and I’d recommend it to anyone.

DHSP Year: 2017–2018 Home Town: Dexter, MI Major: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Plans: Medical Technology

Taylor Wynn

DHSP Year: 2015–2016 Home Town: Bethesda, MD Major: Bachelor of Science in Information

I love that DHSP is a small community where I can learn from my mistakes and and grow personally. I love the structure of the class and how Mark teaches it because he really makes sure we understand the concepts while also teaching us how to approach different problems. Through DHSP I’ve learned patience because sometimes I won’t get a problem on the first try. But, I like how Mark will never give us the answer and makes us work it out ourselves.

Mila Havens

Often in math class, students can get bored or never learn real world uses of their knowledge, but DHSP addresses both of these issues. Students must work together to bounce ideas off each other and learn how to solve challenging real world problems that normal classes don’t have time for.

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Clarkston, MI Major: Computer Science Plans: Software developer, part-time writer

Benancio Rodríguez

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Grant, MI Major: Biochemistry Plans: Professor. Benancio is currently a grad student at UCLA.

DHSP has given me the opportunity to interact with math in a different way. In high school, I took trig/pre-calc as a freshman. My high school did not have any math courses beyond that to offer (besides statistics), so I was very removed from math when coming here. DHSP helped me overcome difficulties that came from not doing math for so many years.

Sofia Perez

LOVE IT. Mark is amazing and I have gotten so much out of it both socially and academically.

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Dewitt, MI Major: Biomolecular Science Plans: Pre-Medicine; Doctor

Ariel Everitt

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Hale, MI Major: English and Creative Writing Plans: Writer, MFA in Creative Writing

I came to U-M with a weak mathematics background (my tiny high school scarcely offered precalc), and I would not have passed Calc I & II without DHSP. My freshman year was characterized by intense struggle, and, had it not been for DHSP and Mark Conger, I absolutely would have given up (maybe even on college as a whole). This supportive, engaging program (probably) saved my academic career, challenged me, and gave me confidence in my problem-solving abilities. My DHSP experience has given me the freedom to enjoy challenges, with the knowledge that I can figure them out (or at least use what I learn to get pretty close). Mark is so incredibly patient, fun, and helpful, and because of him and his program I always knew I had available to me the support I needed.

Zack Conley

DHSP is honestly one of the most interesting courses I have ever taken. It is amazing to see how the math that you are learning actually has real-world applications, and that you can solve and find things using math that you’d never even thought about or imagined. DHSP is a great way to ease yourself into college by getting to actually meet and know some people on a more personal level. It gives you something to look forward to throughout the week, even if your schedule looks packed and looks as if you will have a lot of work to do. Mark is a great guy, and is very passionate about teaching and doing what he does best. Any questions or concerns that you have regarding math, school, or anything else, he is a great resource and friend to have. I strongly recommend that you apply and enroll in DHSP!

DHSP Year: 2013–2014 Home Town: Portage, MI Major: Movement Science Plans: Physical Therapy

Christina Matrosic (Hanchett)

DHSP Year: 2010–2011 Home Town: Holland, MI Major: Elementary Ed-Math Plans: Currently an Elementary Technology Teacher

I loved being in DHSP my freshman year! It was great to have a small class right away where everyone felt comfortable talking and working with each other. The extra couple hours a week working out problems also really helped me do well in my Calculus classes. Most importantly I felt like I really understood the deeper meaning and practical uses of the material. Even though I probably wont do any derivations or integration as an elementary school teacher, the problem solving methods and strategies can be used for any sort of learning. I’m really glad I was able to be a part of DHSP and you will be too!

Emma Westerman

When I was a junior and senior in college I spent a lot of time securing an internship and then a full-time position and with that came the rigorous process of building and preparing a strong resume that would catch an employer’s attention. I cannot tell you how much being able to say I was a graduate of the Douglas Houghton Math Scholars Program helped me to demand that attention. And not only that, but once I was offered that interview, on many occasions I discussed with my potential employer all of the great things DHSP had helped me to accomplish. They loved to hear about the team atmosphere we not only become accustomed to, but thrive in as a DHSPer. They also loved to hear about the great analytical, logical, and complex problem solving skills we acquire by being challenged with difficult and sometimes impossible problems. DHSP is a large part of the reason I have become as successful as I have not only in my academic career but my professional one as well.

DHSP Year: 2009–2010 Home Town: St.Louis, MO Major: Actuarial Mathematics Plans: Actuary, preferably consulting

Cachet Colvard

DHSP Year: 2011–2012 Home Town: Southfield, MI Major: Asian Studies: Chinese Language & Culture Plans: Healthcare Administration & Business Operations

DHSP has really helped me grow as a student here at U of M, not only in math but in all areas. I really appreciate the structure of the class and Mark’s way of teaching. DHSP enforces patience and hard work – these two things are really crucial to excelling as a student. Though it may not seem like it, I appreciate Mark never telling us if we are correct or not, he makes us figure it out on our own and find our own mistakes – that’s the only way one can truly learn.

Eric Bickerstaff

4 words: Saved My Calc Grade. I’m so glad I had Mark and my classmates to help me with anything I didn’t understand. Otherwise…I undoubtedly would have failed.

DHSP Year: 2011–2012 Home Town: Perry, MI Major: Nursing Plans: Eric graduated in 2015, and is now a Certified Emergency Nurse/Clinical Instructor. He is exaggerating when he says he would undoubtedly have failed.

Jannah Mandwee

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Macomb, MI Major: Computer Science Plans: U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Specialist

This class helps in so many ways: it helps refine math skills, it helps make friends, and it helps build confidence and team working skills that can be greatly utilized outside of the classroom. Even if you don’t take more math classes past Calc II, I guarantee that you will apply at least one thing from this class to your career.

Dinko Imsirovic

Joining DHSP was one of the best decisions in my first year of college. Your classmates are a wonderful support system to help you through Math 115/116 and Mark is an amazing resource that will go out of his way to help every person that needs and asks for it. I’ve never had an instructor as dedicated to his students as Mark is and would not have done as well in Calc I and II without DHSP and his help.

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Warren, MI Major: Data Science Plans: Dinko majored in Data Science, and now works for Ford.

Danielle Boshers

DHSP Year: 2011–2012 Home Town: Battle Creek, MI Major: Earth and Environmental Science Plans: Danielle is a graduate student in oceanography at the Univeristy of Connecticut.

I am incredibly grateful for my experience in DHSP. Through it I have made some connections and friendships that I hope to hold onto for years to come. This class broadened my interest in math and the sciences and it is the reason that I minored in math!

David McMillon

DHSP made an enormous impact on my professional development. It increased my aptitude for calculus while I was enrolled, which also improved my grades with intuition. Mark has also been a key supporter and mentor throughout my college experience.

DHSP Year: 2008–2009 Home Town: Saginaw, MI Major: Applied Math, Engineering Plans: David completed a masters degree in mathematics at Michigan, and a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago. He is currently Assistant Professor of Economics at Emory University.