More Quotes

Bruce Schultz

DHSP Year: 2008–2009 Home Town: Lapeer, MI Major: Biochemistry Plans: I have a Master’s Degree in Bioinformatics and now work at Fraunhofer SCAI in Germany. I am working towards a Senior Scientist position at my institute. Updated Jan 2022

DHSP was one of the best experiences of my life. I love math and was thrilled to be given the opportunity to apply the concepts taught in class to real world scenarios. This class not only gives you the tools to use math in life, but also a different way to view problems and their solutions. DHSP also was a great social experience. Through this class I have made incredible friends that I continue to keep in touch with and would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in math, science, engineering, and looking to make friends with similar interests.

Kristen Amman

Before entering college, all that I knew was that I was pretty good at math and that I always did my calculus homework first, but very little beyond that. DHSP has exposed me to so many new ways of solving problems and viewing math as a whole, and it’s really allowed me to discover just how much I love it! I’ve never really been a fan of group projects or collaboration in school, but it just comes so naturally in DHSP that I can’t imagine NOT working in groups when trying to figure out those mind-boggling, but incredibly fascinating and rewarding problems on the extravagantly-named and colored papers. I just love it.

DHSP Year: 2012–2013 Home Town: South Lyon, MI Major: Pure Math, English Plans: Math/Math Ed Research

Olivia Herbert

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Fenton, MI Major: Computer Science

At first, I was very nervous to take DHSP. I was nervous about working in groups to solve problems because I had always worked on problems alone. However, I believe that the collaborative work has helped me to better myself. I now believe that collaborative work can be more productive than working on my own. DHSP has been a great way for me to learn new math content as well as understand when and how to use it. If I was ever stuck on something, Mark was able to help me understand when and how to use different techniques to solve similar problems. Overall, DHSP has been a great experience.

Feaven Gebrezgi

DHSP has been one of the most “integral” parts of my freshman year! To put it best, it is like a good headache—problems that are so challenging, time consuming and thought provoking, yet once we found the answer, it was worth all of the work because what came out of it was so strange and beautiful! I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in this program with such amazing students. I have learned perseverance, strength, and perspective. I have never loved math as much as I do now, and I will never forget my time here!

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Reynoldsburg, OH Major: Public Health Plans: Public Health/Medical Field

Tim Fanning

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Chicago, IL Major: Physics Plans: Teaching or Research, hopefully at the university level

DHSP has been fantastic! In my opinion, there is nothing more awesome than math problems where you build them up for weeks and weeks to eventually arrive at a peak overlooking all the math you’ve ever done and to see it and to know it for the for the first time. DHSP excels at presenting this math.

Zita Jameson

Best decision I made going into Freshman year! Mark is the best and the rest of the class is supportive and awesome. It really made the campus feel smaller and also guided me through my academic interests.

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Marquette, MI Major: School of Information, Information Analysis Plans: Tech Consulting

Erika Jones

DHSP Year: 2018–2019 Home Town: Orland Hills, IL Major: Aerospace Engineering Plans: Astronautical aerospace engineer with a specialization in control systems

DHSP has helped me think more analytically and has given me more of an appreciation for math and its presence in everything.

Brandon Walker

While my personal struggles with math (more specifically calculus and above) are ceaseless, the lessons I learned in DHSP are invaluable. The fact that math is the defining language behind almost everything in life is a message we are told when young, but it is rarely reinforced through the math classes we take. DHSP is the first and only class I’ve taken that reinforces this thought. DHSP answers the question every student who was ever in a math class has asked— “Why are we learning this?” I wouldn’t trade my experiences exploring this question, working with my DHSP peers, and cramming Calc II with Mark for anything.

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Wyoming, MI Major: Bachelor of Science in Architecture Plans: I have no current specific career plan. However, I do want to eventually work in the field of architecture and design. Whatever career makes me happy and uses my degree is what I’m searching for!

Zoe Tunnicliff

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Birmingham, MI Major: Biology, Evolution, Ecology, and Biodiversity Plans: Medical research scientist, pathologist

DHSP has been a really beneficial class for me both academically and mentally. I think that DHSP makes taking Calc I and II at UMich exponentially easier and the support you get from both your fellow classmates and Mark is amazing. The DHSP community is super supportive and caring and it makes me excited to come to class and learn more about math.

Wilhelmina Schuster

DHSP has honestly just been a lot of fun for a lot of payoff. There’s no pressure which is really nice and it’s all just about exploring math which I feel can be difficult in regular math classes where getting a good grade is the main focus. Also we get to eat cake.

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Chapel Hill, NC Major: Architecture Plans: Unsure

Dustin Stabinski

DHSP Year: 2017–2018 Home Town: Cooper City, FL Major: Computer Science Plans: Current Software Engineer at Peraton

I am so glad that DHSP exists. It has really turned my liking for calculus into almost a passion. I actually enjoy doing the webwork and learning about new material. Mark has given me a new confidence in mathematics that I thought could have never existed before. I speak for all of us when I say that he changed my academic future for the better.

Jordan Blaine

Without DHSP I would never have chosen to go into biomedical engineering. Originally, I came to college with plans to pursue medical school, but DHSP reminded me how much I love the math and technological side of STEM, which played a large role in convincing me to transfer from LSA to engineering. Mark and my fellow classmates provided me with an amazing support network as a freshman, which has continued even as an upperclassman. It has been a few years since I was in DHSP, but Mark is still always willing to help with anything and I’m greatful for everything DHSP has offered me.

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Metamora, MI Major: Biomedical Engineering Plans: Unsure- something in the biomedical engineering field

Anh Nguyen

DHSP Year: 2017–2018 Home Town: Grand Rapids, MI Major: Business Administration

DHSP has been one of my favorite parts of freshman year. I met my best friends in this program, and I talk to them on a daily basis outside of class. It is where I had a support group of caring friends when I got my first “B”… as well as my first “C”. In high school, I breezed through every single one of my classes and did not know how to handle failure. Not only did I learn to reach out to others for help, something I was very hesitant to do at first, I also learned to pick myself up. DHSP gave me confidence and resilience to face future challenges head-on.

Michael Rawetzki

Overall, DHSP was one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career.It taught me to be patient, and not give up on a problem, just try something-anything. I also found it very personally fulfilling to learn about the mathematical beauty inherent in the universe. Learning of the true, elegant mathematical models that describe my world is one of the most philosophically fruitful and personally satisfying experiences in college.

DHSP Year: 2014–2015 Home Town: Berkley, MI Major: Environmental Engineering Plans: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Dan Etz

DHSP Year: 2008–2009 Home Town: Ann Arbor Major: Math Education Plans: Public school teaching

DHSP was one of the best things that could have happened to me coming into college. The class set me up with a group of people with a wide range of concentrations and interests who were struggling with the same math classes. I would not have done well in Calc 1 and 2 without DHSP, and the applications we learned (Michael Phelps, cutting cake, zombies, cat lasers) were interesting and inspiring. Teaching a high school calculus course further demonstrated the value of DHSP. My calculus students enjoyed working together in teams on exercises that may be a little bit out of their range. We even keep the DHSP format intact, with groups of students working at the white board together and then presenting their findings and solutions. DHSP was one of the best parts of my UM experience – I learned calculus and a great way to go about teaching it (and I even had opportunities to practice teaching it!). I highly recommend this program.

Sofi Dziechciarz

I encourage all incoming students to become a member of DHSP! Not only are you surrounded by a great group of students/alumni, but you have excellent resources at your disposal. I can confidently say, without the help of my DHSP classmates and Mark, I would not have done as well in my first year courses.

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Mundelein, IL Major: Biomolecular Science and Economics Plans: Med-School or Business

Famke Berendsen

DHSP Year: 2014–2015 Home Town: Muskegon, MI Major: Biology Plans: Conservationist

I just really like being able to do calculus in a no-stress environment. I’m not worried about needing to understand everything, which makes it way more enjoyable.

Jessica Y. Wang

When I first joined DHSP, I took a risk. I’m not particularly great at math nor was I confident in thinking outside the box, especially mathmatically. But you’ll never get better if you don’t try right? Within DHSP, not only was I consistently challenged in a small classroom setting, but I also found a community of diverse and wonderful human beings who made the class full of fun and laughter. You also will not find a better instructor than Mark. Being in class and meeting these people was the highlight of my freshman year and I would not have had the same experience had I not joined DHSP.

DHSP Year: 2018–2019 Home Town: New York City, NY Major: MCDB (Biology) Plans: Medical School, Grad School, Healthcare nonprofits

Lauren Rademacher

DHSP Year: 2012–2013 Home Town: DeWitt, MI Major: Business (finance) Plans: Lauren works as an actuary for Towers-Watson.

I loved DHSP. The program was a wonderful way to make the university smaller, make friends and learn a whole lot about calculus. Mark was a constant figure for me throughout college. Throughout my time at the University of Michigan, he was always there to help not only with math, but also as a mentor. I will always be grateful for DHSP and Mark! It is such a wonderful program.

Jack Williamson

DHSP is truly a life saver. I would walk away at times so confused from my regular 115 class and I always knew that when I came into to DHSP I would have someone that was a really, really good explainer and presenter. Mark was really able to demonstrate many mathematical ideas and theories that provoked my thoughts more about math.

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Pleasant Ridge, MI Major: Mathematics of Finance and Risk Management Plans: Finance, Banking, Corporate Accounting

Keon Ray

DHSP Year: 2011–2012 Home Town: Detroit, MI Major: American Culture Plans: I currently have a full time job as a Desktop Support Specialist – Senior working on Information Technology for the university.

There’s literally too many good things to say about DHSP. As a freshman at Michigan, it was the best class of my freshman year! I would strongly recommend that you be interested in math and be willing to try hard problems if you’re going to enroll in the program. As long as you have those two things, DHSP would be perfect for you! You’ll not only meet and become close to awesome people, but you’ll understand, learn, and see the practical (real-world application) use of some very hard concepts in math. DHSP is definitely a class you don’t want to overlook!

Lo Tamburro

DHSP is an amazing program! Math isn’t my favorite thing in the world, but DHSP made it enjoyable by surrounding me with people who consider math their passion. By getting to talk with Mark and other DHSP students and learn why they like math so much I was able to appreciate it a lot more than I did before. Mark is an extremely kind and helpful person to have on your side while trying to get through calculus, so by joining DHSP you are given an amazing resource to help you do the best you can in calc. UPDATE: does not exist. Mark and DHSP are still amazing!

DHSP Year: 2013–2014 Home Town: Dearborn Heights, MI Major: Microbiology Plans: Forensic pathology

Alex Giarmo

DHSP Year: 2010–2011 Home Town: Kentwood, MI Major: Math Education Plans: Teaching/Academic Administration

DHSP is a groundbreaking program that offers students a fun and stimulating environment in which to learn Calculus. Contrary to conventional math classes that can often be frustrating, difficult, and stressful; DHSP gives students a chance to ask questions, practice difficult problems, and learn in a relaxed and friendly setting. Students who apply themselves in this course will gain a broad knowledge of the concepts of calculus, while learning hundreds of ways that calculus can be used in the real world. I highly recommend DHSP as a class for any student in 115/116 who is looking to broaden their mathematical horizons. DHSP changed my view of how math forever, and greatly influenced my decision to pursue a career in mathematics.

Christine Thomas

I absolutely loved this class! What a great way to do some really fun math without the stress of testing or grades. The problems were really unique and engaging – not your classic textbook story problems. DHSP helped me prepare for Calculus I & II classwork and exams and meet some great people with similar interests. I would definitely recommend taking this class to any first year student entering MATH115.

DHSP Year: 2012–2013 Home Town: Shelby Twp, MI Major: Elementary Education Plans: Elementary school teacher

Katerina Rocafort

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: San Juan, PR Major: BHS Plans: Medical School

I love this program. We make friends outside of our regular classes and we get to know them really well since it is a one year course. Also we get to work on some very interesting math problems that sometimes are just really confusing, but it’s fun to discover their secrets.

AJ Gobbo

DHSP was my favorite class I took my freshman year. It was a low-stress class, where math was allowed to be interesting and fun. It helped me prepare for the calculus that would be examined concurrently in the calculus courses. I made a lot of friends in DHSP that I am still very close to, and I am thankful I had the chance to join DHSP!

DHSP Year: 2010–2011 Home Town: Lansing, MI Major: CMB – Premed Plans: AJ graduated from medical school in 2019, and now specializes in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Blake Schewe

DHSP Year: 2013–2014 Home Town: Stevensville, MI Major: Information, concentration is UI/UX Design Plans: Inbound Marketing Consultant and Web Canopy Studio

DHSP is an awesome class. It helps me out tremendously with my other math courses I am enrolled in. Mark is always willing to help and the difficulty of the problems just makes the other classes seem easy.

Ralf Bejko

One of the best classes available at UMich because the best professor teaches it. Mark will go out of his way to help you if you happen to struggle at any point in the year (weekly for me). He does more than just show you the path to an answer – Mark teaches you how fundamental concepts are related. Having been in both sections, I can say without doubt some of the friendliest students take this course and make you feel a part of a small community within a large university.

DHSP Year: 2016–2017 Home Town: Sterling Heights, MI Major: Aerospace Engineering Plans: Aerospace Software Engineer

Sierra Grant

DHSP Year: 2011–2012 Home Town: Almont, MI Major: Astronomy/Astrophysics, Interdisciplinary Physics Plans: Continue in astronomy research, with the goal of becoming a professor.

DHSP has helped me to take the general, cookie-cutter formulas that are taught to me in Math 115 and 116 and apply them to the world around me. This has improved my critical thinking, my creativity and problem solving, and as Mark says, “When you’re stuck in the trees, zoom out and look at the forest.”