More Comments from Mathcamp Participants

From Mathcamp '99

Five weeks of the most awesome mathematics guided by the most brilliant mathematicians: that's what Mathcamp is all about. Whether it was friends, teachers, or some combination of the two, the things they taught me and the enthusiasm they exhibited gave me a renewed sense of interest and passion for mathematics. I learned so much in five weeks: from Fourier analysis to projective geometry, Mathcamp has it all!

Mathcamp was definitely the most fun I've ever had, not just because of all the things I learned, but because of all the new people I met. No other place can have that much talent, ability, and knowledge crammed into such a fun, relaxing, enjoyable, yet retrospectively, short, period of time. I would recommend applying early in high school and going back multiple times; there's nothing quite like it, and once you've experienced it, you're hooked.

The environment at a place like Mathcamp is paradise for anyone who has ever enjoyed solving intriguing and difficult math problems. It is especially beneficial to students seeking to qualify for such math contests as the USAMO and IMO. The professors here are experts in teaching advanced high-school students essential concepts for just about any field in mathematics.

During the five weeks of Mathcamp, I made more friends than in the two years since I came to the US [from Russia]. I learned more in those five weeks than in all my classes last year. And I didn't just learn math... I learned about teamwork, about friendship, about many things... I met people who are as interested in math as I am, and who know much more math than I do. I got to call Ph.D.'s by their first names. I got to interrupt teachers in class and be appreciated for it. I got to argue with famous professors, and they didn't assume they were right. Vin [one of the faculty] still tries to teach me to solve the Rubik's cube, all the way from England! Camp gave me the kind of freedom I had never felt before. I will never forget the experience and I will do everything possible (and impossible) to come back next year.

Mathcamp has provided me with tidbits of information that keep showing up in the strangest places. I'm in college now, doing a double major in mathematics and electrical engineering. The funny thing is how I usually have experience with the mathematics involved, even though you wouldn't realize it by looking at the courses I've taken. For instance, the big thing that we do in electrical engineering right now is using phasors... well, I inadvertently got my first taste of that from a problem I did at Mathcamp 98. I never even knew about the binomial theorem, or modular arithmetic, or the pigeon-hole principle, or what constitutes a solid mathematical argument for very many sorts of things, until I went to Mathcamp. Usually I ace the tests that the EE students fail, especially when the questions include the words "show that...." or "prove" -- which aren't as uncommon as one might expect in an engineering course.

Doing a project is an excellent way to get a glimpse into the way more advanced mathematics works. You don't just work on a problem for five minutes and finish it, but instead for weeks, months or even years. The projects give campers a chance to get a feel for working for extended periods of time on one problem.

Mathcamp was the best five weeks of my life. It wasn't just the math, which was incredible. It wasn't just the campers and the teachers, who were awesome. It wasn't just my project, which was cool. It was the whole experience together, along with late-night bridge and hikes and field trips, that made Mathcamp great.

Mathcamp? Who would consider going to a place with that name? Only a loser would go to Mathcamp!" Though this was my initial reaction, I decided to glance through the application I had received by post... I mentioned it to my friends, and was not surprised at their snickering remarks. Who would actually take this "GeekCamp" seriously?

Nonetheless, I attempted the quiz. After much work, I solved a few of the problems -- and experienced a thrill that I hadn't associated with mathematics, certainly not in my high-school classes. I decided that I enjoyed pitting myself against abstruse mathematics, so I submitted my application despite my friends' opinions. The dawning of a personal maturation began here, with me following my own dreams, not those of others. I realized that it did not matter what my friends thought; if I wanted to go to "GeekCamp," I could... Now I am enlightened in the most important concept I will ever learn: that the way to experience life to the fullest is "to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

From previous years

These comments were taken from anonymous end-of-camp surveys of Mathcamp students:

All mentors have wide knowledge of the topics they teach, and since they're young, they communicate well with students and they're fun. They made me realize that those people who go to the best schools in the world (MIT, Princeton, Harvard) are people (bone, flesh) like me. I have been inspired." (1997)

"What I really appreciated was the enormous amount of respect given to us by all the mentors and even the top professors. The atmosphere was challenging and the going tough, but the stimulation and motivation provided was useful to me." (1998)

"For the first time in my life I was surrounded by people about my age who wanted to learn for the pure sake of learning... This usually does not happen in my school. People are often interested in just getting the grade." (1998)

"While it was disturbing at first, not being the smartest person in the class, it turned out to be a great experience. Being surrounded by so many people who knew more than me, made me want to know more...." (1998)

"Even if I had the chance to change one thing about Mathcamp, I wouldn't change anything... it was unforgettable." (1998)

"This has been the most amazing summer of my life. I've learned things about areas of math I thought I'd never even touch." (1997)

"There is absolutely _nothing_ I would rather do during my summer than Mathcamp!" (1997)

Click here for more comments from anonymous surveys.