PROMYS: A Promising Mathematical Journey
PROMYS is a six-week residential program for high school students with a passion for mathematics. PROMYS goes through advanced mathematical concepts during summer break. On the social level, this program looks for individuals in minority or marginalized communities to spread the message of equality.
PROMYS was founded in 1989 and continues to be hosted by Boston University. PROMYS takes students from across the globe and fosters an explorator community driven by math.
General Overview of PROMYS
All students across the globe with ages 15-19 can apply to PROMYS. Annually, around 80 students get selected for the program, with 20 being returning members. The difference between PROMYS and a regular mathematics course is that at PROMYS, you are not just learning math, but rather EXPLORING it. You develop your mathematical critical thinking skills and can even delve into personal research. As PROMYS is held at Boston University, program participants will get a feeling of college life, from class-style lectures to social gatherings.
The total cost for attending PROMYS is $4200. This includes food, board, supervision, and learning materials. Students who require financial assistance can contact the PROMYS organizers and attend the program at a more affordable rate.
The application for Summer 2024 has not been released yet, but when it does, it will be due sometime in March.
Daily Schedule at PROMYS
Morning:
PROMYS begins with a lecture about number theory given by professors or scientists who frequently used advanced mathematics.
Afternoon/Evening:
After the number theory lecture, students are free to choose their PROMYS-related activity. They will have mandatory number theory problem sets to complete. These practice problems can be completed individually or as a group. Afterwards, camp counselors will evaluate the accuracy of the problem sets. Other than problem sets, students take part in challenging exploratory labs with the guidance of their counselors.
Returning students get extra PROMYS-ing perks! These students can participate in independent research and attend seminars hosted by Boston University staff.
But…there is more to PROMYS than the math
Every week, PROMYS staff will host “mandatory fun” activities, such as museum visits and tours of historical sites around Boston. As for residential life, students will have a roommate- just like college dorms. This allows PROMYS participants to form strong friendships. Moreover, the overall relaxed schedule lets participants create their own timetable. It is entirely their choice whether they want to spend their weekend afternoon doing problem sets or their early morning on math. PROMYS provides all students with a glimpse of the adult world while letting one dive into mathematics exploration!
Is PROMYS right for me?
The first question to ask yourself: Do you LOVE math? To attend PROMYS, you don’t need to have a PhD in math- but you must have the passion for math. Remember, this program lasts for six weeks and you will be doing math pretty much all day. Are you willing to spend your summer vacation, during which you can be pursuing other passions, with math?
If the answer to this question is “yes,” then PROMYS is perfect. Otherwise, you may want to find another way to spend your summer.
However, if you are not yet sure about your opinion on PROMYS, take a look at some of the problem sets on their website. Try working through some of the math questions. More than whether you answer the question correctly, are you enjoying solving the problem? The problem sets at PROMYS will 100% guaranteed be challenging- possibly more challenging than the question you chose to work on. If you truly enjoy the mathematical process, the journey of solving the problem, PROMYS is perfect for you!
About Inspirit AI
AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) program that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.
