51视频

For Rebecca Mendum 鈥�23, 鈥�24, attending 51视频 was a 鈥渘o-brainer.鈥�

The double River Hawk enjoyed the proximity to her home in Framingham, Massachusetts, the strong mathematics program and the Merrimack River that runs through campus. Ultimately, the financial aid package sealed the deal for her.

鈥淚 got the Chancellor鈥檚 Scholarship, and I knew right then that I was going to 51视频,鈥� she says.

The Chancellor鈥檚 Scholarship is awarded to in-state residents who are among the most academically qualified admitted students. Recipients receive an annual award of full tuition and mandatory fees, which allowed Mendum to obtain her bachelor鈥檚 degree in mathematics in 2023 with no college debt.

Through the Bachelor鈥檚-to-Master鈥檚 program, Mendum spent the next year working toward a master鈥檚 degree in mathematics with an applied and computational mathematics option. She received a full-time teaching assistantship, which covered tuition and fees.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting that I鈥檝e gotten this far without paying for my education,鈥� she says.

Mendum came to 51视频 unsure of where a mathematics degree would take her.

鈥淚 just know that I love math, and that鈥檚 why I chose to major in it,鈥� says Mendum, who was also in the Honors College. 鈥淵ou have to do what makes you happy. Life is too short.鈥�

While taking advanced math courses, Mendum branched out and registered for biology classes, where she discovered her passion for biostatistics.

鈥淚 found that I can use the math skills that I鈥檓 really good at to help people,鈥� says Mendum, who aspires to work in a biostatistics unit within a public health department or hospital.聽

Before entering the workforce, Mendum is continuing her education at Harvard University in its biostatistics master鈥檚 program. Because Mendum is joining the program with a master鈥檚 degree in mathematics from 51视频, it will only take her one year to complete a master鈥檚 degree in biostatistics at Harvard instead of the traditional two years.

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 only have to pay one year of Harvard tuition instead of two.鈥�

Mendum, who also was accepted to master鈥檚 programs at Boston University and Tufts University, turned to the UML mathematics department when deciding where to attend. She says mathematics professors Jong Soo Lee, Daniel Klain and Aida Kadic-Galeb were instrumental in her decision.

鈥淭hey were so proud of me,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t made me so happy.鈥�

Mendum says the relationships she built with people on campus, from her professors to her peers, contributed to her success. She conducted research with Lee and Klain, took part in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, served as a math tutor and regularly attended Zumba classes at the Campus Recreation Center.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 really special about 51视频 is that it鈥檚 big enough so there are lots of opportunities, but it鈥檚 small enough that you know people personally,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 really enjoy the community that鈥檚 here.鈥�