Mathcamp is an intensive 5-week-long summer program for mathematically talented high school students. The program is designed to expose these students to the beauty of advanced mathematical ideas and to new ways of thinking. We welcome applications from students ages 13 to 18 from all over the world. Mathcamp 2023 will take place at University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA, from Sunday, June 30 to Sunday, August 4.
More than just a summer camp, Mathcamp is a vibrant community, made up of a wide variety of people who share a common love of learning and passion for mathematics. At Mathcamp, students can explore undergraduate and even graduate-level topics while building problem-solving skills that will help them in any field they choose to study.
Topics
Material at camp ranges from beginning to the most advanced available to high school students. Some classes discuss topics in theoretical mathematics, such as abstract algebra, topology, or combinatorics (if you don't know what these are, many students coming to camp don't; come to find out!). There are also classes on applied mathematics, such as physics, quantum computation, or cognitive science.
Scheduling
You choose what classes to go to and how much mathematics you want to do each day. Multiple classes are offered simultaneously on different topics and at varying difficulty levels. Projects: Students often work on projects, individually or in groups, under faculty supervision. Projects can be anything from better understanding a particular topic, to working out a problem in detail, to attempting to make progress on an open research question. Projects are presented at the end of camp in a project fair.
Instructors
Classes are taught by college faculty and graduate students from top universities across the country. Above all, our teachers are always actively involved in mathematical research and are here to share their passion with others. If you come to camp, you'll eat meals with your instructors, play sports or board games or do other activities with them, and live in the same dorms. We like to create an environment where it's easy to ask about math, and also to get to know your teachers on a level that's not just about math.
Application Process
Admission to Mathcamp is competitive. The centerpiece of the application is the Qualifying Quiz which is a set of 5-10 math problems designed to be challenging and thought-provoking. The application also includes a section where we ask for a summary of your math background, and a section where we ask you to write something that helps us get to know you -- both mathematically and otherwise. We also ask for one reference whom we may contact (however the reference does not need to write a letter of recommendation as part of your application.)
