Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists
Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS) is a 6-week summer mathematics program designed to encourage strongly motivated high school students to explore in depth the creative world of mathematics in a supportive community of kindred spirits.
PROMYS is run at Boston University in partnership with the Clay Mathematics Institute.
Application
Participation is determined by applicants' solutions to a challenging problem set, high school transcripts, teacher recommendations, and student responses regarding their interest in the program.
All high school students must be at least 15 years old by the start of the program.
Need-based financial aid is available which can cover the full cost of tuition, room and board. There are also some scholarships including the Mehta Fellowships for students from India.
Course structure
A typical day starts with a Number Theory lecture.
Most students work individually or in small groups on problem sets throughout the day and night. The first-year students generally work in groups led by counselors. Returning students choose to attend one or more advanced classes, from which they also receive problem sets. They also work on research projects.
Other activities
Dorms are supervised by counselors per 3 or 4 students. The students live in an actual college dormitory.
PROMYS offers recreational activities in students' free time, including volleyball, basketball, and jogging. There are also weekend field trips to sites such as MIT Museum, Boston Museum of Science, and film festivals.
Because of the slightly more balanced nature of the program, PROMYS is thought to be somewhat less intense and demanding than The Ross Program.
