The Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS) is one of the world’s premier summer programs for high school students passionate about mathematics. This post covers what PROMYS is, its acceptance rate, and tips for getting in.
For clarity, this post focuses on the U.S. program, not the newer PROMYS Europe and PROMYS India programs.
What is PROMYS?
Founded in 1989, PROMYS is a six-week residential summer program hosted on the campus of Boston University. With a strong emphasis on mathematical exploration, a typical day includes a morning lecture on number theory, independent time on problem sets, and the chance to work on lab projects.
Image Credit: PROMYS official website
PROMYS is open to both domestic U.S. and international students, though students in Europe and India are welcome to apply to the partner programs, PROMYS Europe and PROMYS India. Participants must be at least 14 years old and have completed 9th grade, but not yet be enrolled in college, by the start of the program.
From day one, we treat all participants as mathematicians. Over six immersive weeks, participants practice the art of discovery through their intensive efforts to prove fundamental mathematical ideas.
PROMYS Website
Tuition for PROMYS is around $6,100 (confirm the current figure on the PROMYS site). For U.S. families earning less than $80,000 a year, full tuition is waived. Otherwise, financial aid and scholarships are available, up to the full cost of participation.
What’s the PROMYS acceptance rate?
PROMYS is one of the most competitive high school math programs in the country. It varies year to year, but the acceptance rate is often cited at around 10%, based on a holistic review.
Each year, about 80 students are selected, roughly 60 first-year and 20 returning. Students who aren’t admitted on their first try are encouraged to apply again the next year.
What are the requirements for PROMYS?
Since PROMYS is so competitive, make sure your application is complete and includes everything required. The components are:
- Solutions to that year’s problem set, uploaded as a PDF.
- One teacher recommendation who can speak to your enthusiasm and aptitude for mathematics.
- A high school transcript (unofficial is fine).
- Around five short essays, with prompts ranging from your mathematical experiences to your interests and hobbies.
- A financial aid form, completed after the main application, if applicable.
PROMYS Problem Set
See an example of the PROMYS problem set from the 2019 application cycle below.
Image Credit: PROMYS 2019 Problem Set
These problem sets usually have around 10 questions.
Though they can all be solved with no more than a standard high school mathematics background, most of the problems require considerably more ingenuity than is usually expected in high school.
You should keep in mind that we do not expect you to find complete solutions to all of them. Rather, we are looking to see how you approach challenging problems.
PROMYS Website
PROMYS does not release solutions to its past problem sets. Applicants are encouraged to use resources on their own to sharpen their problem-solving skills and number sense.
How Do I Get into PROMYS?
Because PROMYS is so competitive, you need an exceptional application to stand out. If you’re a hopeful, follow these steps.
Start early.
Giving yourself ample time to prepare, including solving the problem set, shows in the quality of your application. Starting early also ensures your recommender and counselor have enough time to prepare their materials.
The rule of thumb is to ask for letters of recommendation or transcripts at least three weeks in advance.
A typical PROMYS application timeline looks like this (confirm the exact dates on the PROMYS site):
- Early January: applications open.
- Early March: application deadline.
- Mid-March: financial aid deadline.
- Late April: admissions decisions released.
- Late June to mid-August: the program runs.
Highlight your personality and achievements.
Use your application to your advantage. Personalize your essays as much as you can to convey who you are and why you deserve a spot. Your extracurriculars matter as much as the character you show in your essays. Since this is a math-centric program, think about the role math plays in your life and the steps you’ve taken to explore it.
Fulfill all application criteria.
Make sure you’ve met every requirement before the deadline. Don’t risk a void application over late or missing materials.
Concluding Remarks
Summer programs are a great way to explore a field you love and add a boost to your college application. PROMYS is one of many strong options.
And don’t worry if a program doesn’t work out. Check out Rishab’s Student STEM Guide for how to land independent research internships and enrich your summer.
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