Description
The Young Scholars Program (YSP) at the University of Chicago offers enthusiastic and talented math students from seventh through twelfth grades an opportunity to strengthen their mathematical powers through a deep experience in mathematical thought and effort. Our intention is to broaden and enrich the Chicago-area students' understanding of mathematics rather than to accelerate them through the standard high school curriculum.
Our summer program is a four-week day-camp that requires an application and is significantly selective. Chicago area students who will be in grades 7-12 next school year are welcome to apply. Students are divided into three cohorts: grades 7-8, grades 9-10, and grades 11-12, based on the grades they will be in during the 2024-2025 school year. We are looking for students who have scored well in school, enjoy participating in math competitions, or simply find mathematics to be an interesting and challenging subject.
The mathematical content of the program for Summer 2024 will be topics in Number Theory, and detailed information can be found below:
Summer Schedule Details
July 1 - July 26, 2024
(There will be No classes on July 4 and 5 in observance of Independence Day. The sessions will resume on Monday, July 8.)
The Summer 2024 Young Scholars Program will take place in person, and this years theme is Number Theory. The program will be offered on weekdays from 9:30am-2:30pm in four 75-minute sessions: two lecture-based classes led by faculty members, one small group session led by an undergraduate mathematics major, and one lunch/recess. (The exact order of these four components depends on the cohort.)
Because this summer's program will be in-person, YSP accepts students from Chicago, the surrounding suburbs, and Northwest Indiana. Applicants from outside this area are welcome to apply, and will be granted admission if there are spaces available, but the family would be respnsible for all local costs--YSP and the University of Chicago do not provide lodging.
Application Information
To apply, we require the following documents: (1) an Application Form for the appropriate grade level, (2) a short essay, (3) a completed teacher questionnaire, (4) a recommendation letter from the current math teacher, and (5) a transcript or grade report. The Summer 2023 application where all these materials can be found for 7-8 here, 9-10 here, and 11-12 here, and the teacher questionnaire can be found here. Lastly, the counselor application can be found here.
Please submit applications by April 12th. Applications received after that date will be considered only if there are spaces available. The decisions on the submitted applications and follow-up communications with applicants will be made late May - early June. Thank you in advance for your patience.
YSP is generously supported by various sources, but these do not cover the cost of the program. Our fee schedule is progressive and based on family income. The fee schedule can be found here. Please note that ability to pay does not affect the application process in any way. Financial assistance is available to qualifying students.