Undergraduate Knowledge of the Mathematics Graduate School Application Process (Knowledge-GAP)

ABSTRACT

In order to be admitted to a graduate program students need to successfully navigate the graduate school application process. While there has been recent work on studying the faculty perspective of the admissions process the student perspective on applying has been understudied. This study will ascertain common barriers for students interested in applying to graduate school in mathematics, especially barriers that impact marginalized students. In particular, we want to know whether students 1) know how to navigate the graduate school application process and 2) have the financial and social resources necessary to apply.

Project Lead

Tim McEldowney

West Virginia University

Project Lead

Lynnette Michaluk

West Virginia University

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

  1. What do undergraduate mathematics majors know about the graduate school application process?
  2. Do mathematics majors have access to the resources needed to apply to graduate mathematics programs?
  3. Does knowledge of the graduate school application process and access to application resources differ by socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and gender of the students?

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

Racialized Organizations (Ray, 2019), Gendered Organizations (Ackerman, 1990), and Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994).

METHODS

A survey was sent via department chairs and undergraduate program directors to undergraduate mathematics majors at the 985 colleges and universities in the United States. The survey is composed of 57 items, separated into four categories:

  • knowledge about different aspects of the application process
  • barriers to applying
  • interest in graduate school
  • demographic questions

1,090 students from 181 colleges and universities filled out the survey, with 519 students fully completing the survey. The Knowledge-GAP survey is available at this link: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/3291/

FOCUS AREA WITHIN GRADUATE EDUCATION

Graduate School Application Process

PROJECT TEAM

Tim McEldowney, West Virginia University

Lynnette Michaluk, West Virginia University

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