Math Jams

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:20:42
Welcome to the Canada/USA Mathcamp Math Jam! The Math Jam will begin at 7:30 pm ET (4:30 pm PT).

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:20:49
If you are enrolled in a course and trying to attend it, then you should leave the classroom now, click Classroom in the Online School dropdown, and then choose the appropriate link on the next page.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:21:02
The classroom is moderated: students can type into the classroom, but only the moderators can choose a comment to drop into the classroom. So, when you send a message, it will not appear immediately, and may not appear at all.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:27:35
The Math Jam will start soon! We're going to give people a few more minutes to get in.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:30:12
Hello and welcome to the Canada/USA Mathcamp Math Jam!

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:30:23
Before I introduce our guests, let me briefly explain how our online classroom works.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:30:32
This room is moderated, which means that all your questions and comments come to the moderators. We may share your comments with the whole room if we so choose.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:30:41
Also, you'll find that you can adjust the classroom windows in a variety of ways, and can adjust the font size by clicking the A icons atop the main window.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:30:52
Canada/USA Mathcamp is an intensive five-week-long summer program for high-school students interested in mathematics, designed to expose students to the beauty of advanced mathematical ideas and to new ways of thinking. You can learn more about Canada/USA Mathcamp at www.mathcamp.org.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:02
In this Math Jam, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will lead a discussion about their outstanding program. Many AoPS instructors, assistants, and students are alumni of Mathcamp.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:12
For now, please hold your questions – they'll let you know when you can start asking questions. Also, due to the number of people attending tonight, they may not be able to get to every question.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:20
And now let me introduce our guests!

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:28
Marisa Debowsky (MarisaD) is the Executive Director of Mathcamp. She's been teaching Topological Graph Theory and singing pop songs at Mathcamp every summer since 2006.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:36
Maya Saran (MayaS07) is Mathcamp's Program Manager, where she is excited about creating the experiences of joyful math that Mathcamp is all about. As a mathematician, she is a Descriptive Set Theorist.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:47
Kevin Carde (KevinCarde) is the Assistant Director and Technical Lead of Mathcamp. He first started teaching at Mathcamp in 2011 before joining the yearround staff in 2014, and he'll be helping out behind the scenes tonight.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 19:31:55
I'll turn the room over to Marisa now!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:32:00
Hi, everybody, and welcome to the annual Mathcamp Q&A! Thanks as always to the AoPS team for hosting us.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:32:08
My colleagues @MayaS07 and @KevinCarde and I are here to talk about Mathcamp 2024, both the program itself and the application process. (You've got a captive audience with admissions officers, so this is a great chance to get ready for application season.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:32:20
First, I'll say in a few short sentences what Mathcamp is. Then we'll spend about 30 minutes discussing the program, and 30 minutes discussing the application process, and then we'll wrap up after about 90 minutes total.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:32:33
So, Mathcamp: it's a 5-week residential math summer program. This year, it runs Sunday, June 30 through Sunday, August 4, 2024, and takes place at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, which is near Seattle in Washington state (in the northwest of the US.).

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:32:47
Really really frequently asked questions (RRFAQ), to get them out of the way:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:32:55
Who comes to Mathcamp? We have 120 students per year, from all over the world. It's typically 65 new campers and 55 returning alumni per year. Recent summers have been 45–50% girls, 50–55% boys, and at least a few non-binary students every year.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:33:09
Scholarships? Yes! Every student (US, Canadian, & International; new and returning) is eligible for financial aid, and we have a large scholarship budget: everybody who needs financial aid will receive it. About 25% of our students receive full scholarships in a typical year, and we can even buy you a plane ticket. We won't let money prevent you from coming to camp.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:33:23
What kind of math? All kinds. A cool thing about Mathcamp is that we offer about 150 classes and projects over the course of a single summer, and you have complete freedom to design your own curriculum.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:33:39
What else happens? During the evenings and on the weekends, there are a zillion (ish) activities happening, and you choose how to spend your time.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:33:44
That flexibility and creativity – academic and nonacademic – are the defining characteristics of Mathcamp.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:33:54
What about Covid? We continue to take Covid precautions seriously. We’re designing a set of policies and protocols to keep our students and staff safe while living together at an in-person program, and we're happy to answer questions today.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:34:11
How do I get in? We have an online application you can start at https://www.mathcamp.org/admission/. Basically, there are two ways we want to get to know you as an applicant:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:34:16
One is through the Qualifying Quiz, where you get to play around with some problems and we get to see your mathematical and creative mind at work.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:34:21
The other is through the About You section of the application, where you tell us about yourself, your interest in math and your math background.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:34:26
We are no longer asking for a recommendation letter; you just have to provide contact information for one reference.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:34:41
When do I apply? The deadline to apply is a few weeks away: March 6, 2024. (All applications received by the deadline get equal consideration, so there's no advantage to applying early.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:35:03
I’ve applied before – is this year’s application different? If you’ve applied before you’ll notice some changes in our application this year. One, like I was just saying, is that we no longer ask for any recommendation letters – instead we ask you to give us the name of one reference whom we may contact later in the application process.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:35:13
You’ll also notice some changes in what used to be the essay section of the application. Finally, since we are now surrounded by AI, we have some guidelines relating to the Qualifying Quiz (basically, keep AI tools far away from your quiz

)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:35:22
Alrighty, let's get the conversation rolling! We want to get to as many of your questions as possible.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:35:36
My colleagues and I would like to meet *you* along with your question (we talk to students and families a lot by email, and this is a chance for us to talk with you in realtime!). Let's find out who's here:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:35:41
What brings you here today?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:35:49
(I'll give it a moment for folks to reply)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:36:34
OK, closing in 3, 2, ...

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:36:35
1...

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:36:37

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:36:55
Wow, a surprising number of people like polls

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:07
Great, neat to see who's here! And thanks so much for joining us. Out of curiosity:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:12
/poll {{Where's everybody from?}}{Canada}{Vermont!}{US – New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts}{US – California}{US – Washington, Oregon}{US – DC, Maryland, Virginia}{Elsewhere in the US}{Mexico}{Central / South America}{Europe}{Asia}{Africa}{Australia/Oceania}

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:23
Oh, my poll didn't work! Let me try that again:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:35
Hmm, we'll just have to live in the mystery.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:36
Moving along!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:42
When you're asking questions, here's a suggested format:

Name / Age / Location: Question

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:47
e.g.

Alix / 16 / Waterloo: Can I bring my marimba with me to Mathcamp?

or

Paweł / Parent / Poland: What happens if a kid gets sick during camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:37:52
(But that format is not mandatory - in keeping with the spirit of Mathcamp, just about everything is optional, and we'll do our best to answer your questions in any format.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:38:02
Okay, ready? Let's spend from now until 8:15pm ET on questions about the program itself: mathematical and residential life at Mathcamp; the people; the campus; the "during" and "after" of Mathcamp. (And then we'll switch over to discussing the "before": the application process and financial aid.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:38:14
The floor is open!

valenbb 2024-02-13 19:38:56
aaron/ 12/ New York: What ages is this mathcamp for?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:39:06
Students ages 13–18 are eligible to apply.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:39:24
(We occasionally make exceptions for students age 19, but not on the other end.)

bugsbunny12 2024-02-13 19:39:30
Krish K/12/NJ: Is camp open for middle schoolers?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:39:39
Yes! The consideration is age, not grade in school.

vamsikd 2024-02-13 19:39:45
Nihar/13/Texas, what is the minimum age required to attend Mathcamp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:39:54
We're firm about the age 13 lower limit.

PracticingMath 2024-02-13 19:39:58
V / 16 / New Hampshire: How many people apply annually?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:40:07
It's 120 students, about 65 new and 55 returning.

Yummo 2024-02-13 19:40:21
what grades is this for?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:40:44
We occasionally see 7th graders, but typically it's students who are in 8th – 12th grades during the current school year.

Yummo 2024-02-13 19:40:48
Where is it?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:41:02
We rotate locations each year. This year, it's at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

themn 2024-02-13 19:41:23
Hi! What is the admission rate?

Ar_Sh347 2024-02-13 19:41:23
Aryan / 15 / Maryland : What is the average acceptance rate?

FirstKing2022nanabana 2024-02-13 19:41:23
Parent here: You accept 120 - but how many applications do you typically get?

BrickBadger 2024-02-13 19:41:23
Gabriel/15/Brooklyn: what percent of applicants (roughly) get in?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:41:30
Everybody's first question, I see.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:41:47
Admission is quite selective: we have about 65 spots for new students, and hundreds of applications from qualified candidates. We do end up having to say 'no' to lots of great applicants whom we wish we could admit.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:41:57
We do also get a lot of applications from students whose Quizzes show us that they're not ready yet for Mathcamp, so the admission rate looks quite low on paper: we expect to admit around 6–8% of all applicants. But it'll be more like 15% of qualified applicants – as in, applicants who make meaningful progress on the Qualifying Quiz problems.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:42:14
Let me get back to questions about the program itself, and we'll get to the admissions process in the second half of the Math Jam.

bugsbunny12 2024-02-13 19:42:19
Krish K / 12 / NJ: Can we get school credit from this camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:42:34
Mathcamp does not offer official credit, for high school or for college – it's purely an enrichment program.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:42:35
The upside, of course, is that there are no exams, and students have full control over determining their own curriculum: each student chooses the classes, research projects, and other activities that suit them best.

BrickBadger 2024-02-13 19:42:56
Gabriel / 15 / Brooklyn: will we have to buy our own food while staying or will meals/food be provided?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:43:05
Meals will be provided! It's a fully residential program.

Ar_Sh347 2024-02-13 19:43:12
Aryan / 15 / Maryland: Will foods be double-checked for allergies/ is there multiple options for people with allergies?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:43:36
Yes! We work closely with the dining hall staff to handle individual dietary restrictions on a case-by-case basis, and make sure all of our students with food allergies can eat safely, both in the dining hall itself and when we take boxed lunches on field trips.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:43:43
In the past, we've been able to accommodate students with strict allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, gluten -- even strictly kosher and halal. And of course there are always vegetarian, vegan, and plain options. All stations label their ingredients. (Here's what their labeling system looks like: https://www.pugetsound.edu/dining-event-services/diner/allergens-special-dietary-needs)

jizert 2024-02-13 19:44:01
micah / 15 / new york: is there a gym

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:44:03
Yes!

Apersoma 2024-02-13 19:44:09
Colin Linzer / 16 / Long Island NY: are dorms co-ed?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:44:22
Yes! We have all-girls, all-boys, and mixed-gender halls.

math_on_top 2024-02-13 19:44:28
lalith/ 9/ wa: do we hv to share a dorm

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:45:02
Share a dorm room? Yes, most students live in doubles.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:45:12
(We have a few singles and a few triples.)

applematics 2024-02-13 19:45:20
Will it always be on the Northwest side of the states?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:45:38
Nope, we move around locations. You can see past locations here: https://www.mathcamp.org/past_summers/

therootuser 2024-02-13 19:46:12
Gyurin / 13 / Ann Arbor: Why do you accept half alumni? Is the bar for alumni lower or are they just more experienced?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:46:43
Ah, good question! Students are *automatically* invited to return as alums throughout their time in high school, and in fact more than half of our students return for multiple summers.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:47:04
(Once you attend camp, you don't have to reapply.)

Nimi123 2024-02-13 19:47:07
Adwita/13/Ghana: How do you select 55 alumni to invite?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:47:22
In case you really want to get into the details: https://www.mathcamp.org/alumni/return_policy/

arceuspokemon 2024-02-13 19:47:57
BH / 12 / NYC: how large is the campus?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:48:13
It's pretty compact, actually: you sort of feel like you have the run of the place.

phoenixxxxxx 2024-02-13 19:48:17
Aidan / 13 / Georgia : Are we able to leave campus during the duration of the camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:48:25
Yes! There's a system for that.

MisakaMikasa 2024-02-13 19:48:28
Will Mathcamp ever be hosted in Canada again?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:48:40
Not in the immediate future, but you never know!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:48:53
(It's harder mostly for logistical reasons related to staff visas.)

wildfire7 2024-02-13 19:48:58
Ishan/11/Massachusetts Is the camp open to sixth graders

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:49:03
As long as they are age 13 or above.

BluePhoenix88 2024-02-13 19:49:06
Jean/13/Massachusetts: Is everything covered in the camp (food, hotel rooms, etc.) so it's basically like a college type thing?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:49:11
Exactly, yes.

DouDragon 2024-02-13 19:49:27
Anonymous/1X/private: what is the schedule structure, and how much time would be spent working on problems vs. free time?

whitestallion666 2024-02-13 19:49:27
Melody/parent/ what is a typical day like?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:50:01
These are good questions! So, here's the outline of a typical day: https://www.mathcamp.org/about_mathcamp/typical_day_at_mathcamp/

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:50:23
And here's an example of a typical academic week: https://www.mathcamp.org/files/yearly/2023/academics/Week1Schedule.pdf

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:50:55
but the important thing to say here is that there is really no such thing as a typical day at Mathcamp, because everybody sets their own schedule: you decide how you want to spend your time, academically and nonacademically.

yekolo 2024-02-13 19:51:06
How does picking one's course schedule work?

balllightning37 2024-02-13 19:51:06
what's the difficulty level of the courses? hs level (calculus, geometry) or college level (differential equations, multivar, group theory)

Saerious 2024-02-13 19:51:06
Michael/16/China: What kind of math will be mainly focused on in Mathcamp? And to what extent would prior experience in competitive math be helpful?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:51:41
Let's dig into some of these academic questions!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:52:25
Picking one's course schedule is something you do in conversation with your Academic Advisor. Here's how it works: before each week starts, you'll get a schedule and descriptions of all the upcoming classes: usually it's 4 or 5 options per hour, in each of the 4 or 5 hour-long class blocks of the day. You'll then have a chance to meet with your Academic Advisor (a staff member with whom you're paired at the start of camp - see https://www.mathcamp.org/math/academic_advising/) to discuss what you want to take. Every week, you get to repeat this process: reflect on the previous week, decide what you want to do for the upcoming week, and pick the classes you think you'll want to take.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:53:11
About the difficulty level: think "college" more than "high school," but it really varies a lot. Every Mathcamp has a different class schedule, but the classes always come from a range of topics appropriate to a range of different mathematical backgrounds. Many classes will have no prerequisites (other than high-school algebra or precalculus); others will require some pretty intense knowledge of advanced mathematics. (Though almost always, the appropriate prerequisites will be offered as Mathcamp classes earlier in camp!) The result is that you can fill a schedule that works for you and your math background, whatever it may be. To get a sense of the variety of class offerings, take a look at last year's class schedule and descriptions: https://www.mathcamp.org/2023/classes/

nutch 2024-02-13 19:53:51
Isaac / 12 / NJ: what kinds of math-related non-classroom activities are there at math camp? e.g. research project guidance or similar

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:54:51
Lots! First, there are tons of informal math activities happening all the time. But in a more structured way, in addition to classes, "Projects" are a big (optional!) component of Mathcamp's academics.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:55:11
Here's more about projects: https://www.mathcamp.org/math/projects/

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:55:23
Some classes might touch on open problems in research mathematics, and there's also the opportunity to pursue a topic in depth. These could be reading projects in a particular field or original research projects on a topic, or a variety of lighter options.

Oiolosse 2024-02-13 19:55:47
Do I need to cover the knowledge up to high school for the camp

Oiolosse 2024-02-13 19:55:47
Is high school maths required as prior knowledge?

Nimi123 2024-02-13 19:55:47
On the website, it is mentioned that we should be well versed with Pre-calculus. Should applicants have this knowledge before applying or does it mean that they should have it before camp starts?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:56:06
We expect all Mathcamp students to be comfortable with high-school math through Precalculus. (Many applicants have already seen lots of Calculus, but others have not, and there are plenty of classes that do not require this.)

therootuser 2024-02-13 19:56:39
Gyurin / 13 / Ann Arbor : Do students write papers at mathcamp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:56:43
Occasionally!

yhl._. 2024-02-13 19:56:49
Livia/ 15/ Are there any policies about phones or electronics at the camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:57:33
Just the same policies that apply in every context at Mathcamp: be excellent to each other; don't do stupid stuff. (So for example: it would be rude to use your phone during class. Don't be unkind to instructors.)

Mak100101 2024-02-13 19:57:37
Matan / 17 MA: if you come into camp knowing the advanced topics would you still be required to take the classes that give the prerequisites for other classes or could you take the other classes without?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:58:07
You can take any classes at Mathcamp! You do not need to first take an official prereq at camp in order to take a follow-up class.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:58:19
(And you can talk to the instructor to make sure you're feeling solid about the background material.)

BrickBadger 2024-02-13 19:58:27
Gabriel / 15 / Brooklyn: If I am not yet comfortable with precalc but will be at the end of the school year (currently taking precalc in school), can I still apply?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:58:35
Yes! If you're currently taking Precalc, that suffices.

Sacgupta 2024-02-13 19:58:40
Lena/13/NJ: What is the age distribution? Are there many 13 year olds?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:58:53
Most students at camp are in the 16–17 range, but we have students as young as 13 and as old as 19. The distribution will give you a better sense, so here's some data:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:59:02
On the first day of Mathcamp 2023, there were:

3 campers age 13

3 campers age 14

19 campers age 15

35 campers age 16

41 campers age 17

17 campers age 18

3 campers age 19

Total 2023 campers: 121

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:59:10
On the first day of Mathcamp 2022, there were:

0 campers age 13

5 campers age 14

16 campers age 15

41 campers age 16

42 campers age 17

18 campers age 18

1 campers age 19

MarisaD 2024-02-13 19:59:15
Those are pretty typical distributions of ages at Mathcamp.

applematics 2024-02-13 19:59:28
Alex/ 13/ NY: How many classes does the average student take?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:00:13
I'd say a typical plan is to take three classes per day.

Hypothetically, you *could* take a class every hour (e.g. 9 - 9:50, 10 - 10:50...), and some campers choose to. Generally, though, we encourage you to take a break at some point so you don't get overloaded (and to have some time to think about and absorb the math in the classes you do take).

Apersoma 2024-02-13 20:00:21
Colin Linzer / 16 / Long Island NY: What things are we not allowed to bring?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:00:46
No weapons! But anything reasonable is totally fine.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:01:04
Here's what we recommend you do bring: https://www.mathcamp.org/current_program/what_to_bring/

jizert 2024-02-13 20:01:11
what do i do if i oversleep

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:01:44
It's okay, sometimes that happens at Mathcamp! You can always find your instructor later to say "hey, I didn't make it to our 9am class today, but I'd love to catch up" and they'll be happy to help you get back on track.

BrickBadger 2024-02-13 20:01:49
Gabriel / 15 / Brooklyn: what are some rules that nobody thinks to ask about?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:02:17
Wow, such a mood

medeas 2024-02-13 20:02:25
Rayann / 17 / Toronto: will campers have roommates?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:02:28
Yes!

Oiolosse 2024-02-13 20:02:34
Sarah/15/China: will I be able to change my selected course if it does not suit me

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:03:28
Oh, yes! You don't have to register for classes; you just go to them. In particular, we often suggest to our Academic Advisees that they try four classes on the first day of the week, and pick their favorite three to stick with – which means all the instructors know not to be sad if students change plans.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:03:35
(It's a little like "shopping" for classes at college.)

themn 2024-02-13 20:03:50
Mofan/15/New York: How big are the classes usually?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:04:08
The average class is around 15 students, but some are really small (say, 5) and one or two will be really big (say, 50).

Ar_Sh347 2024-02-13 20:04:22
Aryan / 15 / Maryland: Are the classes all STEM related?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:04:38
Yes! They're essentially all math classes (with a little bit of computer science, physics, etc thrown into the mix for fun).

Apersoma 2024-02-13 20:04:42
Colin Linzer / 16 / Long Island NY: Are most instructors profs. college students, graduates, etc.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:05:07
Instructors are mostly grad students and professors. You can read more about that here: https://www.mathcamp.org/math/faculty/

docandoob 2024-02-13 20:05:11
Alice / 16 / New York: What items should students bring to the program that Mathcamp will not provide?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:05:37
This year, you should bring sheets and towels. (And see the packing list for our suggestions of other things.)

jyao_usa 2024-02-13 20:05:40
parent/CA: how late do students usually stay in the night?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:06:22
That varies a lot! Some students choose to go to bed pretty early (and so do I); others like to stay up later (and that's allowed). There are two flavors of dorm area: "quiet after 10pm" and "quiet after midnight." Lounges close at midnight, so that's usually when the night owls turn in.

MisakaMikasa 2024-02-13 20:06:25
How much homework does one get everyday?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:06:52
The amount of homework really varies! But most students do a couple hours of math outside of class each day.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:07:15
Not every class at Mathcamp has homework, but since doing math is often the best way to learn math, many classes will hand out at least *some* problems at the end of each day. Sometimes, these problems will introduce new definitions or concepts, and you absolutely need to keep up with the homework to keep up with the class. For most classes, though, the homework falls somewhere on the scale between optional and recommended: it's a good way to reinforce the material, but not necessarily mission-critical. (Each class will indicate how important the homework is to understanding the material, so you'll get to take this into account when designing your class schedule.)

mathematics-person 2024-02-13 20:07:29
Sean / 14 / Outside North America: Average amount of "home"work / time provided for it?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:07:37
And there's time provided for it, yes!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:08:24
On weekday afternoons, for two hours, there's time set aside called "TAU": Time, Academic, Unscheduled. That's for doing math – with friends, by yourself, or with your instructors, as you like.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:08:32
(More info: https://www.mathcamp.org/math/tau/)

therootuser 2024-02-13 20:08:47
Gyurin Hwang / 13 / Ann Arbor : Are there any fun math competitions?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:09:17
There are a few fun math competitions at Mathcamp! It's not a big focus for us, so the overall atmosphere in which we do math at Mathcamp is not competition-oriented. But we do have two weekly problem-solving competitions at camp, and both are team competitions. (Participation, like everything else at camp, is optional!) More about problem solving at camp: https://www.mathcamp.org/math/problem_solving/

balllightning37 2024-02-13 20:09:23
Kalan/14/VA: What are the social activities like? do students get to know each other well?

medeas 2024-02-13 20:09:26
Rayann / 17 / Toronto: What kind of activities can campers do in their spare time?

blubird271 2024-02-13 20:09:36
alice/9/china: what kind of activities are there aside from mathematics?

Mak100101 2024-02-13 20:09:50
Matan/17/Massachusetts: what kind of activities are done besides the math?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:10:55
There are so many non-academic activities at Mathcamp, I hardly know where to start. Evenings and weekends are absolutely bursting with energy.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:11:27
On weekends, staff organize field trips of all sorts: hiking, whitewater rafting, laser tag, trips to museums and bookstores– you name it.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:12:38
Every evening, students and staff organize informal activities of every variety: cooking, baking, dancing, crafts, board games, more board games, different other additional board games, crosswords, weirder crosswords, puzzles in the technical sense of the word, frisbee, ping pong, soccer, basketball, capture the flag, choir, the camp a cappella group, chamber orchestra, rap ensemble, hip-hop cardio...

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:13:08
And that is basically the tip of the iceberg: one of the best things about Mathcamp is that everybody brings their whole self to camp.

axusus 2024-02-13 20:13:16
andrew/13/cali wow thats a lot of board games

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:13:19
Honestly yes

docandoob 2024-02-13 20:13:25
Alice / 16 / New York: Could an alumni end up being roommates with a new camper?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:13:28
Yes, that's very common!

femijung 2024-02-13 20:13:32
Ian/15/cuba Are there any sports as recreational activities

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:13:58
Yes, for sure, and there can be as many as the campers organize! (But the staff will organize some, too, and we'll provide equipment.)

ibhat2010 2024-02-13 20:14:07
What kind of food is there?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:14:20
The dining hall at UPS is a pretty classic college dining hall: pizza; a station called "Chef's Table" where I usually start (think family-style meals); there's a "Wok" station, a salad bar, a grill – all the basics. Here's the current menu: https://netnutrition.cbord.com/nn-prod/UPS …and it's pretty similar over the summer, as I recall.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:14:27
Oh! There's also a coffee shop on campus, staffed by college students over the summers. I spend a lot of time there.

applematics 2024-02-13 20:14:37
Alex/13/NY: Do students with similar ages often share a room, or is it random?

docandoob 2024-02-13 20:14:37
Alice / 16 / New York: How are roommates decided at Mathcamp if the students have no preference?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:14:54
First, you're matched by age and gender. Then we send a questionnaire to our admitted students (it's part of registration) to get info about second-order considerations: how tidy do you prefer to keep your room? Do you like to have friends hang out in your room in the evenings, or use your room as a quiet study space? What time do you like to go to bed and get up? And: which of these things is most important to you?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:15:00
You also have the option to request to have specific roommates (which we'll honor if they request you in return, so coordinate in advance!) or to avoid specific roommates (which we'll always honor). We offer options for both single-gender and mixed-gender halls.

jizert 2024-02-13 20:15:03
can i teach a course if im a camper?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:15:33
Yes, actually!! This is considered a "project" at camp: it's a teaching project. Several campers taught classes in Week 5 of camp (our last week together) last year!

arceuspokemon 2024-02-13 20:15:41
BH/12/NYC: Are there counselor groups/advisory groups?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:16:45
Yes, in two senses: you'll have an Academic Advisor, who helps you navigate your summer mathematically, and a Residential Advisor (https://www.mathcamp.org/student_life/residential_advisors/) who lives on your hall. RA groups tend to hang out a little and often go out for ice cream together.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:17:07
OK, thanks for all the questions about the program, everybody!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:17:17
Let's spend from now until 8:45pm ET on questions about applications and financial aid: eligibility, the application process, scholarships. (And then we'll open up to any kinds of questions before we wrap up.)

jizert 2024-02-13 20:17:28
can i start a cult around the number 700 at mathcamp

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:17:33
Totally, why not

medeas 2024-02-13 20:17:36
Rayann / 17 / Toronto: Are the results of the qualifying quiz released after applications are closed? I want to see if my answers were close

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:17:54
Actually, yes, in a sense: we will have a Math Jam about the Quiz solutions later this spring!

yhl._. 2024-02-13 20:18:10
Livia/ 15/ When are application results posted

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:18:31
Decision day this year is April 18. Here's the calendar: https://www.mathcamp.org/admission/deadlines/

JTmath07 2024-02-13 20:18:35
J /16/UT: If you applied, got accepted, but then did not end up going to the program, will you have to re-apply?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:18:48
Yes, but we'll be very happy to hear from you again!

hans01pd2027 2024-02-13 20:18:56
Hans / 13 / China: Will any contest qualifications or awards be taken into consideration during the application process? If so, what kinds of contests or awards fit this criteria?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:19:21
The Mathcamp application has an optional box for you to tell us about your competition background, but it's not a major part of the application. (There are plenty of Mathcampers who left that box blank when they applied!) It's just one more way for us to learn about the kinds of math that you do. What you do in the Qualifying Quiz and what you tell us about yourself, mathematically and otherwise, are what are most important to us.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:19:38
(And: any kind of contest or award that is meaningful to you, we're happy to learn about.)

MisakaMikasa 2024-02-13 20:20:02
Yu Qiao/16/Vancouver: You said that 15% of applicants are qualified but only 7-8% are ultimately admitted. How does Mathcamp decide which qualified applicants to admit? Is it based on the personal part of the application or will Mathcamp staff decide who is even more qualified based on the Qualifying Quiz

miguel00 2024-02-13 20:20:02
Seomgeun/ 14/ SC: Are the essays the second most important aspect of the application?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:20:48
The Qualifying Quiz is our primary tool for understanding whether an applicant is ready for Mathcamp's curriculum, and it's a way for us to get to know you mathematically.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:20:55
The essay is a way for us to get to know you personally!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:21:14
(We're trying to get people away from the standard essay format, so we're shifting to calling it an "About You" section.)

mm999aops 2024-02-13 20:21:20
Aditi/15/NY: (similar to miguel00's question) how is essay/QQ answers balanced/weighed/considered in the application? Do you look at one before the other?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:21:50
We really balance both of those components: we're trying to get a holistic view of an applicant, not just read their stats.

docandoob 2024-02-13 20:21:53
Alice / 16 / New York: The website says that applicants should not disclose their name in the About Me section. Does this also include other personal/demographic information like gender, race, age, etc.? What if I would like to include that as part of my essay?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:22:20
You're welcome to share information about your identity markers – thanks for asking.

BluePhoenix88 2024-02-13 20:22:22
Jean/13/Massachusetts: How do we submit the qualifying quiz and the "about me" section?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:22:40
They're both part of the online application! Visit https://www.mathcamp.org/admission/how_to_apply/ for details.

phoenixxxxxx 2024-02-13 20:22:54
Around how many problems solved is a good number to be admitted?

PolynomialWantsACracker 2024-02-13 20:22:54
Anonymous/14/CA: if you don't solve a problem on the quiz, should you submit what you have tried?

jizert 2024-02-13 20:22:54
do you think if i leave a couple of the qq answers blank, but 2 of my answers are super creative i could still get in.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:23:37
So, first, let me emphasize that people post on AoPS a lot saying stuff like "Oh I solved five problems" when, reader, they did not solve five problems, they worked on five problems.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:24:31
So, I encourage you to share partial progress! Submitting what you've tried is great. (Just don't send us 15 pages of scratch work and then a note that says "yeah and then this doesn't work at all." Be kind to the reader.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:25:27
We don't expect eveybody to fully solve every problem, and it's even okay if you don't try every problem (though I strongly encourage you to try every problem– there's plenty of time!).

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:25:36
It's mostly hard to say "you need to answer this many questions" because when we look at the entire Quiz taken as a whole, we're looking for more abstract qualities: persistence; creativity; sound reasoning.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:25:47
In broad strokes: most successful applicants do try every or almost every question, and make significant progress on several. But you'll find anecdotal evidence on all of the extremes: we have admitted students who solved only a few Quiz problems, and not admitted students with very strong Quizzes.

jizert 2024-02-13 20:25:51
you said that 15% of qualified campers get in, does that mean its like a lottery system after you determine who is qualified, or like how do you determine who gets in out of the qualified answers

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:26:21
Oooooh it's very far from a lottery.

The admissions committee thinks really hard about all of the applications!

PolynomialWantsACracker 2024-02-13 20:26:33
Anonymous/14/CA: How do you judge persistence when grading: you can't see how long the applicants have worked on the problems for

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:27:26
Ah, good question. What I mean here is willingness to sit with a problem whose solution you can't fit into a paragraph (or even a page).

docandoob 2024-02-13 20:27:31
Alice / 16 / New York: How long is the average (successful) solution set for the QQ?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:28:06
That really varies: some are one paragraph per problem, and some are several pages. But the problems themselves vary so much from year to year that I can't predict for 2024 yet!

rantaccountcs 2024-02-13 20:28:11
Anonymous/15/Canada Are there a hard cap on the minimum amount of problems that one must solve in order to be accepted

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:28:18
Nope, no hard cap.

gy1234 2024-02-13 20:28:23
Bob/ 16 / TN: For QQ problems, if I’ve solved the generalized case, do I also need to answer the specialized case that can be deduced from the generalized case separately?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:28:56
Just help the reader to understand how you would get to the specialized case.

ianrod 2024-02-13 20:29:17
So someone could only solve one problem but be persistent and creative on others and get in?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:29:44
I really, really doubt that we've ever admitted a student who only submitted one problem. Try them all!

EvilDragon 2024-02-13 20:29:48
Anonymous/13/NY: How many applicants are estimated per year?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:30:02
It's been growing in recent years; we're expecting ballpark 1000 this year.

rantaccountcs 2024-02-13 20:30:13
Are there only one correct answer for every problem? Will multiple answer receive full credit?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:30:58
I'll let you decide this for yourself! Here are the Quiz problems for this year: https://www.mathcamp.org/qualifying_quiz/current_quiz/

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:31:21
But if you mean are there different proofs, then yes, often there's more than one way to prove something (and that's true for Quiz problems).

Rasberry_0_1 2024-02-13 20:31:24
With regards to the about you essay, should we focus more on ourselves as a whole or our mathematical background/experiences

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:31:59
That's completely up to you! Really, it's just our chance to meet you. (But we do recommend that you spend a little bit of time talking about your mathematical interests; that helps us understand why you want to come to Mathcamp.)

docandoob 2024-02-13 20:32:02
Alice / 16 / New York: How are the QQ's graded by the instructors? Is there a specific point/ranking system?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:32:32
It's quite convoluted, actually, and one of the most important parts is the comments that graders write to the admissions committee – so much of the "grading" is actually non-numerical.

jizert 2024-02-13 20:32:36
are you gonna increase the accepted applicants if more people apply

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:32:46
No, we're committed to the current size of camp.

Cerberusman 2024-02-13 20:32:52
Sacha/14/Toronto: What percentage of applicants are accepted?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:33:01
That depends how many people apply this year!

Saerious 2024-02-13 20:33:11
Michael / 16 / China: To what extent would prior experience in competitive math be helpful at Mathcamp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:33:42
It might be helpful to have experience writing proofs (e.g. as practice for working on Quiz problems!), but Mathcamp isn't about competitive math.

Columba 2024-02-13 20:33:44
Lera/14/CO: are resumes requires? If so, what should go on them?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:34:18
Resumes are not required. There's a section of the application called "Math background," which more or less stands in for a resume, where we walk you through a set of questions that will help us understand your mathematical experiences thus far.

rbcubed13 2024-02-13 20:34:23
How long do we have to apply?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:35:04
The application is open now, so you can get started already, and the deadline to apply is March 6.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:35:08
(All applications received on or before March 6th receive equal consideration.)

ometole 2024-02-13 20:35:21
How long do we have for the quiz.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:35:24
It's untimed.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:35:51
(I'm seeing a lot of questions about the program itself in the queue; I'll answer a few more about the application process and then we can open it up to all topics.)

PolynomialWantsACracker 2024-02-13 20:36:03
Anonymous/14/CA: What's the average number of problems fully and correctly solved by a accepted applicant

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:36:21
Really hard to say! Probably "most but not all problems."

amuthupss 2024-02-13 20:36:24
do many 12th graders get admitted as new campers? or are they typically returning alumni?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:36:33
We do admit a handful of 12th graders, yes.

therootuser 2024-02-13 20:36:41
Gyurin Hwang / 13 / Ann Arbor : Can you give us a grade breakdown of applicants? (Or your estimation of one)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:37:25
This doesn't quite answer your question, but I did happen to look up something related, which were last year’s admissions rates by grade:

7th grade – 0.00%

8th grade – 4.80%

9th grade – 6.80%

10th grade – 7.00%

11th grade – 11.90%

12th grade or above – 15.60%

(The "above" meaning things like CEGEP in Quebec.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:37:33
So, you might interpret these data as admissions being skewed more in favor of older students, but I think the truer story is that students with more years of experience are more likely to be prepared for Mathcamp.

phoenixxxxxx 2024-02-13 20:37:43
What format should we send our solutions? Do you prefer LaTeX or PDF?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:38:27
The format of your upload should be a PDF file; how you create that file is totally up to you. (Many students typeset their Quiz solutions in LaTeX; many students use a word processor like google docs; and many students hand-write their solutions. Any of the above are fine.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:38:45
OK, let's take a few more questions about the application process and then we'll open it up to questions on any (Mathcamp-related) topic.

Kai321 2024-02-13 20:39:11
How formal and thorough should the proofs be? Do I need to name every theorem/postulate or should I just have a logical path of reasoning?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:39:29
A logical path of reasoning sounds good! Just make sure the reader will understand you.

themn 2024-02-13 20:39:49
Mfoan/15/NY: What kind of applicants are you looking for, or who would be the best fit for the camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:40:21
This question gives me an excuse to send you to my favorite page on our website, which is about the mission of Mathcamp: https://www.mathcamp.org/about_mathcamp/mission/

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:41:19
We are aiming to find students who will thrive in this program, mathematically and personally, and for whom we think we can really make a difference.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:41:41
So part of the decision is more about us that you: do we think we can play a big role in your mathematical and personal trajectory?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:42:05
But thinking about it more from the applicant perspective: we're looking for students who are going to love Mathcamp.

PolynomialWantsACracker 2024-02-13 20:42:08
Anonymous/14/Bay Area: I'm from the bay area in CA, is geography a factor in admissions i.e. always accepting around 4 students from CA

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:42:17
No, geography isn't a big factor for us.

The_Eureka 2024-02-13 20:42:20
Will the camp admit students from other countries, like China or Japan?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:42:24
Yes! We often do.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:43:11
In fact, I looked up some stats on this. The largest number are (unsurprisingly) from the US, followed by Canada, and then we generally have around 15% of our students from outside North America, give or take. Here are the home countries of last year's campers, just for fun:

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:43:15
United States – 94

Canada – 11

Poland – 4

China – 3

England – 2

Aruba – 1

Belgium – 1

Georgia (the country, not the U.S. state) – 1

India – 1

South Korea – 1

Spain – 1

Vietnam – 1

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:43:20
The specific list tends to vary a fair amount from year to year!

therootuser 2024-02-13 20:43:27
Gyurin Hwang / 13 / Ann Arbor : Does this mean a student who is already outstanding would be passed up for a student who would benefit more from mathcamp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:44:22
Ah, good question, and the answer is: it's complicated. We often find that Mathcamp is the best option for students who are very, very strong mathematically: partly because we can provide a community of likewise-strong students, and partly because we can provide really challenging classes.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:45:36
We also find that Mathcamp can be a great option for students who are really sharp, and don't have a lot of mathematical experience, but will dive in and really take to the classes.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:45:43
There are a lot of kinds of students who thrive here!

helloworld0 2024-02-13 20:45:48
Connor L/15/CA: If we manage to solve a problem, should we include things that didn't work and/or anything more than a full proof?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:46:00
Only if you think it's really really interesting and illuminating.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:46:17
Okay! Thanks, everybody, for all the questions about the application process.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:46:21
The field is open for *any* questions you have about Mathcamp, and we'll wrap up around 9pm ET.

therootuser 2024-02-13 20:46:28
Gyurin Hwang / 13 / Ann Arbor : Is my submission going to be given less due if I do not use LaTeX?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:46:33
Nope! Handwriting is fine.

therootuser 2024-02-13 20:46:50
Gyurin Hwang / 13 / Ann Arbor : What is the teaching faculty : student ratio? If you have no statistics, can you give an estimation?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:46:57
It's about 1:4.

phoenixxxxxx 2024-02-13 20:47:04
So if we have bad handwriting, you would much rather prefer a document

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:47:19
Please do make it easy for us to read your Quiz solutions, yes.

Apersoma 2024-02-13 20:47:23
Colin Linzer / 16 / Long Island NY: What are the qualifications needed to be an instructor?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:47:44
You have to be really good at both math and teaching!

jizert 2024-02-13 20:48:07
if i start a cult around the number 700 would you join

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:48:12
Absolutely

SiddK 2024-02-13 20:48:15
are the bathrooms good

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:48:24
They're quite standard for college buildings.

Cappytheturtle 2024-02-13 20:48:33
Eggy’s mother/parent/ Oklahoma covid vaccinations, booster, masks, testing be required?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:49:05
Short answer: Yes, we will require all participants (students, staff, and guests) to be fully vaccinated. A full initial course of any WHO-approved vaccine is acceptable,and we strongly encourage boosters. We'll do a lot of testing; masks will be optional (unless you are sick!).

Martin2001 2024-02-13 20:49:27
Kevin/ 13/ New Jersey: Does mathcamp prepare us for olympiad-level problems?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:49:40
Hmm – we don't really think about it in terms of contests at all. Sorry!

emzhou 2024-02-13 20:49:42
What sort of supervision is in Mathcamps?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:50:07
Students live on halls with RAs, typically at a 1:6 ratio, and have easy access to communicating with staff at all times, day and night.

BluePhoenix88 2024-02-13 20:50:14
Jean/13/Massachusetts/What type of math does this specialize in?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:51:08
One of the most interesting things about Mathcamp is that the curriculum changes every year! We let faculty decide what they're excited about teaching.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:51:13
We're doing our hiring right now (at the same time as camper application season!), and then our instructors will start designing their classes and shaping them into a full schedule. Typically, the list of the summer's courses gets finalized in June. Since the classes change from year to year, returning students always have something new to explore!

applematics 2024-02-13 20:51:31
Alex/13/NY: Do you have a course catalog of all class options?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:51:58
Yes, though this year's won't be published for a few months for summer 2024. Some things, however, are constant each year: there's always one class that covers basic Proof Techniques, and others will cover core introductory material that other Mathcamp classes often use as prerequisites, like Graph Theory, Group Theory, Linear Algebra, and Number Theory. These introductory classes are often the starting point for what we call "clusters," collections of courses on core topics in pure math, like Algebra, Analysis, Combinatorics, and Topology.

Niudashu 2024-02-13 20:52:09
If we don't make it in this year, will we still be able to apply next year?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:52:25
You're eligible to apply up through the summer after you finish high school!

vrao2010 2024-02-13 20:52:28
What is the price of the camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:52:36
The cost for our 2024 program will be between 0 and $5,500, depending on financial aid.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:52:40
(That includes tuition, room and board, field trips, local transportation – everything except your plane tickets to Tacoma. And we offer travel grants for families that need help with the plane tickets, too.)

Rasberry_0_1 2024-02-13 20:52:45
Can we go anywhere on campus at mathcamp, or are we restricted to specific areas of the campus?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:52:55
Anywhere on campus! (But not into other people's dorms, that would be rude.)

Oiolosse 2024-02-13 20:52:59
What are the COVID regulations for international student?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:53:10
Same as for U.S. students. (Good question.)

Cappytheturtle 2024-02-13 20:53:16
Does Mathcamp accept religious exemption for the covid vaccination?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:53:30
Yes, we will honor documented medical and religious exemptions. However, if there is an outbreak of Covid-19 at camp, unvaccinated students will be asked to leave campus (for their own safety as well as the safety of others) at their own expense.

vrao2010 2024-02-13 20:53:37
not bad, how is financial aid applied for?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:54:12
It's really straightforward! Your family submits a (very short) application at the same time that you submit your application for admission.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:54:24
And to give some more context about financial aid: Mathcamp is completely free for US and Canadian families with household incomes below $100,000 (with typical assets) and tuition is on a sliding scale for middle-income and international families.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:54:28
We give lots of partial and full scholarships, as well as travel grants. We can also cover incidentals like visa fees and health insurance as needed.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:54:33
The bottom line: don't let money prevent you from applying. For lots of details about scholarships: https://www.mathcamp.org/admission/scholarships/

Cappytheturtle 2024-02-13 20:54:36
Are kids allowed to have cellphones while at mathcamp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:54:52
Yes! Almost everybody brings a cell phone; it's very helpful for staying in touch with family during camp.

Aki.L 2024-02-13 20:54:55
What are we going to do if you are not living in the US? Can you still join it?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:55:02
Yes! We welcome applications from international students.

the_mathmagician 2024-02-13 20:55:10
What do you think is most special about Mathcamp compared to other math camps (other than things like prestige or location)?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:56:11
I've been thinking a lot these days about the various other summer programs, and getting to know all of the program directors. I think what's most unusual about Mathcamp is the extraordinary amount of academic and personal freedom that students have. You design your own curriculum; you decide how to spend your time.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:56:35
In a way, all of the summer math enrichment programs are places where you get to dive into interesting math and meet like-minded peers. You might think of these programs as sorting in terms of mathematics topics into three categories -- competition-oriented programs (like AwesomeMath, say); single-focus programs (like PROMYS and Ross, which have a Number Theory curriculum, or SUMaC, which has two tracks); and broader programs (like HCSSiM and MathILy), which offer a variety of course topics.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:56:39
Mathcamp is in the 'broad' category: we teach classes on every area of math. (Here are a few examples: https://www.mathcamp.org/math/course_topics/)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:56:52
You might also think about the style of doing math at each program: e.g., at Ross, your main activity is doing problem sets (pretty much all day); at MathILy, your main activity is doing math collaboratively, and communicating your ideas about math with your peers (in an inquiry-based setting).

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:57:09
At Mathcamp, there are lots of options for how you do math: some classes that have a lot of homework, and other classes that don't have any; inquiry-based classes; seminar-style discussion classes; classes focused on proof-writing, or on how to give a math talk; individual or small-group projects – the idea is that you find the style that works best for you (maybe you already know, or maybe you try a few things to find out!), and you and your academic advisor create a plan for your summer that meets your specific needs and interests.

themn 2024-02-13 20:57:31
Mofan/15?NY can we leave campus by ourselves? like to watch a movie?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:58:10
Here's the system: students can "check out" to leave campus in groups of three or more; they have to let a staff member know where they're going, how they'll get there, when they'll be back, and so on, and then check back in when they return to campus.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:58:44
There's a lot in the vicinity right around campus, so I expect people to check out on a regular basis! The UPS campus is in a lovely neighborhood of Tacoma (I've spent five summers there, it's great), and it's a short walk to local coffeeshops (Valhalla is our favorite) / pizza places / ice cream spots, and there are several big grocery stores very close to campus. Oh! And a cute movie theater, https://bluemousetheatre.com/.

mm999aops 2024-02-13 20:59:08
what kind of cookies are there

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:59:26
Every day at TAU, there are both cookies and carrots, and the cookies are typically the delicious kind.

SiddK 2024-02-13 20:59:34
how do the cabins look

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:59:42
Here's what they look like: https://www.pugetsound.edu/halls-houses-0/smith-hall and https://www.pugetsound.edu/halls-houses-0/oppenheimer-hall

MarisaD 2024-02-13 20:59:58
Which is to say: Mathcamp 2024 will be housed in two adjacent dorms at UPS, Oppenheimer and Smith.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:00:02
(After summer 2023 when we rented out a movie theater to watch the Barbie movie, alums were very entertained that one of our new dorms is called Oppenheimer. Total coincidence, I swear.)

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:00:15
We've had Mathcamp in these dorms before, and they're great: there's a big central lounge that serves as the heart of camp, plus a few other small lounges around the dorms (which will get special purposes, like "the Academics Lounge" and "the Crafts lounge"); a full kitchen; and we always set up a ping-pong table and a piano for singalongs.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:00:26
I find them a lovely place to spend the summer.

GdoggsPro95299 2024-02-13 21:00:44
Do you have to fly to Washington to be in the camp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:01:14
Yes! It's a residential program, and everybody will fly / drive / take the bus / take the train / take a sea plane / bicycle / etc their way to join us at Puget Sound.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:01:32
(We do coordinate airport pickups: see https://www.mathcamp.org/parents/how_travel_works/ for more info.)

rohanbamini 2024-02-13 21:01:41
How good is the food in the camp? Is there different food for people with dietary restrictions?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:01:57
The food in the dining hall is not bad, and it is very accommodating for dietary restrictions.

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:02:12
That said, if you ever need a break from dining hall food: there is a kitchen in the dorms, which students are welcome to use with staff supervision. (And staff are always excited to help with cooking and baking activities; this is a very popular thing at Mathcamp!).

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:02:20
Recently, people have been very into making dumplings and also challah. If you walk by the schedule board (it looks like this: https://www.mathcamp.org/student_life/campus_life/), there are kitchen events on most days.

yhl._. 2024-02-13 21:02:32
Livia/15/ You said that people post on AoPS, is there a chat channel on the website?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:02:58
There *is* a chat channel here! You can post questions in the Mathcamp forum here on AoPS; the Mathcamp staff will post replies once in a while, and you'll get student opinions, too. Here's the forum: http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/community/c135_mathcamp

medeas 2024-02-13 21:03:21
Rayann / 17 / Toronto: What do you think is the best part of Mathcamp?

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:03:32
Hands down, it's the amazing people. <3

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:03:43
Okay, everybody - time to wrap up. Thanks for spending your evening with us!

MarisaD 2024-02-13 21:04:04
If we didn't get to your question, feel free to email admissions24@mathcamp.org and we'll be happy to continue the conversation. (And feel free to post in the forum, too.)

jwelsh 2024-02-13 21:04:45
Thanks to all our guests for spending time with us tonight to tell us all about Mathcamp, and thank you all for coming!

jwelsh 2024-02-13 21:04:57
Sorry we couldn't get to all of your questions tonight; there were more than 400 participants, so you can imagine how many questions came in during the discussion.

jwelsh 2024-02-13 21:05:13
As Marisa said, you can email admissions24@mathcamp.org with additional questions!

jwelsh 2024-02-13 21:05:21
If you joined us late (or even if you didn't), a complete transcript of the discussion will be available shortly on our Math Jam Transcripts page at: https://artofproblemsolving.com/school/mathjams-transcripts.php

2024 Mathcamp Math Jam

Facilitator: Marisa Debowsky