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 Plans: I’m hoping to eventually work in either software engineering or AI design.

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.

Justine Kyi

I have so much love for DHSP because it’s where I met some of my favorite people. I am forever grateful for DHSP reminding me that math can be fun, and for rekindling my love for problem solving.

DHSP Year: 2023–2024 Home Town: Brooklyn, NY Major: Biomedical Engineering

Feaven Gebrezgi

DHSP Year: 2020–2021 Home Town: Reynoldsburg, OH Major: Public Health Plans: MPH, PhD, Epidemiology, Community Research

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!

Tim Fanning

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.

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

Zita Jameson

DHSP Year: 2019–2020 Home Town: Marquette, MI Major: School of Information – Information Analysis Plans: KPMG Advisory Associate, Platforms, Low Code

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. I would not have found SI without Mark, he takes the time to get to know his students and offers guidance that you can not find anywhere else on campus. Throughout my years, it has been fun remaining connected to my DHSP class.

Clare Stack

DHSP is a great supplemental course to Math 115 and Math 116. The complex problems done in the workshop allow for students to get real life examples of what they are learning in Calc 1 and 2. Mark is the biggest resource you have. He is almost always available to answer questions about calculus, but also just to chat about life. He cares about each and every one of his students and wants to see them be the best they can be, helping in anyway he can.

DHSP Year: 2022–2023 Home Town: Buffalo, NY Major: Neuroscience and Psychology Plans: I want to be a college professor doing research as well as teaching

Lera Strickland

DHSP Year: 2023–2024 Home Town: New Haven, CT Major: Economics Plans: Economic Consulting/Investment Banking

DHSP has been one of the highlights of my first year here at U-M. Not only have I been able to practice solving problems relating to the applications of Calculus, but also I have formed incredible friendships with my peers. Although DHSP is a program centered around math, it is so much more than a math class; DHSP is focused on cultivating a community that is supportive while bringing people together who have a fundamental commonality: a love of mathematics.

William Chen

Being a part of DHSP has been a very positive experience for me ever since I came to Michigan. I’ve found that I’ve become a stronger problem solver, critical thinker, and collaborative worker. Especially in mathematics and computer science, I’ve found that I’ve been much more successful in these fields with DHSP than without.

DHSP Year: 2022–2023 Home Town: Gainesville, VA Major: Computer Science Plans: Game developer, programmer, or software engineer

Wilhelmina Schuster

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

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.

Dustin Stabinski

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.

DHSP Year: 2017–2018 Home Town: Arlington, VA Major: Computer Science Plans: Current Software Engineer at SchooLinks

Jordan Blaine

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

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 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 grateful for everything DHSP has offered me.

Spencer Lowitz

Pursuing an engineering degree after not having taken any calculus in high school is a huge challenge. DHSP made it possible for me to excel in calc and established the study habits necessary to have a successful academic career.

DHSP Year: 2018–2019 Home Town: Chappaqua, NY Major: Aerospace Engineering Plans: Software engineer, aerospace engineer

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

Sofi Dziechciarz

DHSP Year: 2021–2022 Home Town: Mundelein, IL Major: Biomolecular Sciences (Chemistry) and Economics Plans: Medical School

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 succeeded in my first year courses.

Famke Berendsen

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.

DHSP Year: 2014–2015 Home Town: Muskegon, MI Major: Biology (BS) Environmental Biology (MSc) Plans: Conservationist

Jessica Y. Wang

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

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.

Lauren Rademacher

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.

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

Jack Williamson

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

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.

Keon Ray

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!

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.

Lo Tamburro

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

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!

Blake Schewe

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.

DHSP Year: 2013–2014 Home Town: Stevensville, MI Major: Information, concentration is UI/UX Design Plans: Lead Web Developer at Web Canopy Studio

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.”