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The Mathcamp Academic ProgramThe Mathcamp academic program gives students the opportunity to study advanced and unusual topics in mathematics in a challenging and fun environment. Throughout the day, there are activities at all levels, beginning to most advanced, on all sorts topics in pure and applied math, and in lots of different formats:
There is so much going on at every hour of the day and night that no one could possibly do it all! With the help of a faculty advisor, students design their own schedule and select the activities most appropriate to their level and interests. However, if you're really fascinated by a topic, don't worry about not having all the necessary background: we'll work with you to help you learn it! ClassesThe Mathcamp schedule is so packed that it may seem daunting at first. However, it is important to remember that none of the classes are mandatory. We assume that you are at Mathcamp because you want to do math, but exactly how much time you spend in class is up to you. In fact, we discourage students from going to too many classes. Some of your most important learning experiences will take place outside of class: thinking about what you've learned, doing homework, talking to the visiting lecturers, solving problems with friends, or working on your independent project. Our goal is to put an enormous amount of fascinating mathematics within your reach, so that you can do as much as you want, in the way that is most enjoyable and productive for you. To get an idea of what classes at Mathcamp are like, check out the course offerings from this year's Mathcamp at Current Summer Academics. (Previous years' schedules are available here.) You'll notice there are usually at least 4 classes (often more!) offered at any one time, so you can choose the ones that interest you most. (Read the detailed weekly class descriptions to find out more.) Each class has a "star rating" to indicate its difficulty: from * (accessible to everyone) to **** (very advanced). The "one-star" classes aren't any less interesting than the "four-star" classes -- they just move at a more relaxed pace and assume less mathematical experience. (We like to say that in a "one-star" class, every student has the right to follow what's going on all the time; in a "four-star" class, the strongest students have the right to be challenged at all times.) You can choose the level you are most comfortable with or experiment by taking classes on many different levels; your academic advisor will help you choose courses that best match your background and interests. Course offerings vary from year to year, depending on the interests of the students and faculty. Some of the topics taught in previous years have included:
ProjectsStudents at Mathcamp are encouraged to work on a project, supervised by one of the mentors or faculty. Projects range in scope from creative applications of simple techniques to advanced problems connected to faculty research. Usually the mentors and faculty propose project ideas, and students can choose one they want to work on. However, if a student wants to propose a project of his or her own, there is usually someone on the staff willing to serve as an advisor. Selected projects from previous years:
One of the projects from Mathcamp 2004 resulted in a research paper coauthored by a student and two staff members (to appear in the Journal of Discrete and Computational Geometry). You can take a look at specific projects from the last few years:
Past Course OfferingsHere are some weekly academic schedules and class descriptions from previous Mathcamps:
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