underrepresented students

Nearly 30 percent of U.S. college students drop out in their first year, on average. One segment of a campus population shown to experience a particularly difficult time fitting in: underrepresented minority students. Now, a new intervention program being implemented through the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis aims to help minority students feel that they belong on campus.

On Nov. 4-6, Washington University hosted Field of Dreams, the annual conference of the Math Alliance, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of traditionally underrepresented groups in doctoral programs in the mathematical sciences.

This summer, 18-year-old Mogboluwaga Oginni shadowed physicians as they repaired shattered hips, twisted ankles and dislocated shoulders. He also learned about patient billing and the steps to cast broken legs.