RUME 28
2026
Alexandria, Virginia
How Education Within Social Networks Shape Perceived Barriers to Applying to Graduate Mathematics Programs
Page: 1333
To attend graduate school in mathematics, students must undergo a complex, often difficult application process. We examined mathematics major’s perceived barriers to applying to graduate school through the lens of the highest degree earned within their social network. Data was collected using a 57-item survey sent to mathematics majors across the U.S. and we received responses from 181 institutions. Kruskal-Wallis tests reveal that the level of education within a mathematics major’s social network can impact the extent to which they perceive some aspects of the graduate school application process as obstacles to applying. We found students whose social networks that contains graduate degrees are less intimidated by the application process due to their social capital. This benefits those who know someone with a graduate degree, as they can rely on them and/or their social network for knowledge on obtaining proper application materials or preparing for life as graduate student.