Residential summer math program for high school students

24th annual HSMC: June 23 - August 3rd, 2013

Read more about...

• Eligibility and Admissions
• Expenses and Financial Aid
• Sample Daily Schedule
• Course Descriptions
• Research Projects
• Activities and Camp Life
• Items of Interest
• Testimonials

The Mathworks Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC) is an intensive multi-summer program for high school students who are excited about doing mathematics-- the goal of the program is to develop talented youth of all backgrounds by an immersive and in-depth experience in an unique learning environment.  Students develop important skills for future degrees and careers in math, science, engineering, and many other fields.

The HSMC courses nurture

1. Rigorous reasoning and logic skills (through experiences in mathematical proof-writing)
2. Creative problem identification and solving skills
3. Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills
4. Mindsets to tackle open-ended problems
5. Great communication and presentation skills

Students are taught by university faculty, mentored by undergraduate counselors, and share the joy of exploring mathematics with their peers.

Support the Honors Summer Math Camp

To support the "Alumni Legacy Endowed Scholarship" for the Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC), donate here.  Thanks to a new match challenge pledged by the Kodosky Foundation, every donation to the Endowed Scholarship will be matched dollar for dollar.

The HSMC tuition fee is $2,945 for students who can afford it, but this amount only covers 80% of the true per-student cost of conducting the program.  We rely on the generous support of alumni, parents, and other thoughtful donors to provide mathematical opportunities to all interested students.

Participants of the 2012 Honors Summer Math Camp

Eligibility & Admissions

• We start taking applications in January each year, and the official deadline is April 30th.  Decisions are made on a quasi-rolling basis.  Applications will no longer be accepted once all spots are filled.
• We encourage students currently in the 9th or 10th grades to apply to our first-year program (Rare exceptions will be made based on mathematical level and maturity).
• Students are encouraged to apply early as enrollment is limited to 60 openings split between first-year and returning students.  Applications will not be considered until all parts have been received (application, teacher recommendation, and transcript).
• To maintain the quality of the program, we accept a maximum of 32 first-year (first time) students.  Our average acceptance rate for first-year applicants has been 20%.
• The typical ratio of boys to girls in the program is 1:1.
• Participants come from all over the United States.  We have also had a few international students from other countries, including Hungary, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Spain, China, and Indonesia.
• For further questions regarding eligibility, contact us at mathworks@txstate.edu or (512) 245-3439.

To Apply

1. Complete the online student application form.
2. If you have not attended the HSMC before, you must apply for the first-year program.  There are no exceptions!
3. Have your recommending teacher complete the Teacher Recommendation Form.
4. Send us a copy of your high school transcript.
   We encourage students to send in all their application materials as early as possible, well before the official deadline. 

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Expenses and Financial Aid

• The full tuition fee is $2,945.
• Mathworks offers camp scholarships based on financial need.  We make all efforts to ensure that students can attend regardless of financial background.  Simply fill out the financial aid portion of the application. 
• The program provides room, board, books, supplies and a copy of Mathematica for each student to use during the school year. Students will need approximately $20 per week for laundry and miscellaneous expenses. 
• Mu Alpha Theta summer grants: Accepted students who are members of their school's Mu Alpha Theta club are highly encouraged to apply to Mu Alpha Theta's summer grants.  They offer up to $2,000 for members to attend summer math programs.  More information can be found here.

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Sample Daily Schedule

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Course Descriptions

• Elementary Number Theory provides a solid foundation for all students in mathematics. This course covers basic properties of integer arithmetic, including unique prime factorization, Euclid’s algorithm, Diophantine equations, modular arithmetic, congruences, induction, well-ordering, quadratic residues and quadratic reciprocity.
• Mathematica Computer Lab enables students to explore the application of ideas discussed in the Number Theory and Problem Solving courses. Students use the Mathematica software to model real world problems. Specific applications include coding theory, public key encryption, testing for primes, and the Chinese Remainder Theorem.
• Honors Seminar - modeled after Honors Programs offered at many top-tier colleges, the Honors Seminar is an interdisciplinary course that challenges students intellectually through rigorous standards of analysis, preparing them to conduct their own research in the future.  Hands-on learning experiences introduce students to concepts of teamwork and critical thinking.  Reading discussions and guest speakers add fundamental and thought-provoking theories from multiple perspectives.  The capstone project for the course is an entrepreneurship activity that includes a final group presentation.
• Combinatorics, Abstract Algebra, Analysis, and Topology provide returning students with a firm foundation in fundamental areas of mathematics, while building on ideas from the first year.
• Study Group - students are assigned into groups of 3 or 4, and provided guidance by an undergraduate mentor (counselor) to work on the daily problem sets.  This intensive collaboration allows students to delve deeply into the mathematics, and think carefully about each question.  Teamwork and communication skills are developed as students work together in the exploration of mathematical theorems.

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Research Projects

Students who have gone through the HSMC's first-year program and are returning have the opportunity to conduct original math research projects in a team that can be submitted to various contests.  The Honors Summer Math Camp has a strong record of producing award-winning research projects.  In 2009, a team from the HSMC won first place at the national level of the Siemens Competition, sharing a $100,000 college scholarship.

From 2001-2010, students' team entries have achieved the following in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology:

• National Finalist: 4 teams
• Regional Finalist: 13 teams
• Semifinalist: 20 teams

A full listing of HSMC research papers and results in the Siemens Competition is given here.

Student projects have also received awards in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, as well as publications in scholarly journals.

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Activities and Camp Life

• Students live in a campus dormitory under the supervision of 15 counselors (undergraduate mentors) who are HSMC alumni.
• All students have free use of the University's Student Recreation Center, which offers basketball courts, volleyball courts, racquetball courts, an indoor track, and a swimming pool.
• There is a guest lecture each Friday afternoon by a speaker from academia or industry, followed by a picnic with games and socializing at the local park.
• Weekend activities include (subject to change):
  • Hiking Enchanted Rock
  • Shopping at San Marcos' famed Outlet Malls
  • Tubing down the San Marcos River
  • Visiting Bamberger Ranch
  • Watching a play at Austin's Zilker Park

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Items of Interest

1. Clothing: Warm weather clothing will be appropriate for most occasions.  Texas is hot in the summer! This includes casual and sports wear, such as shorts, swimsuits, cut-offs, and sneakers or hiking shoes for the weekend excursions. Some people also enjoy wearing a sweater in air-conditioned buildings. Finally, an umbrella or other rain gear may prove helpful in the event of rain. Note: Please bring non-marking athletics shoes for use in the University's Student Recreation Center.  Please also bring at least one set of formal/semi-formal wear.

2. Laundry: laundry machines are available in the Texas State University residence halls.  Please use high-efficiency (HE) detergent. 

3. Rooms: We are staying in a dormitory on campus. Separate sides of the dorm are provided for male and female students. The dorm is air-conditioned, complete with a lounge suitable for relaxing and small-group discussions, a small recreation area, and study rooms on the first floor. Counselors and students will be provided with access cards and room keys. There is a $40 charge for a lost key. If Internet access is desired, students should bring their own Ethernet cords.

4. Telephone Service: Each dorm room is equipped with a telephone line. Students need to bring their own telephone to plug into the line if they want a phone in their room. We recommend that students bring a calling card or cell phone. Emergency messages only will be received at the Mathworks Office at (512) 245-3439, or the University Police Department (512) 245-2805.

5. Mail Service: Please address mail to

[Participant's Name]
c/o Mathworks, ASB South 110
601 University Dr.
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX 78666

6. Personal Items: Students will want to bring the following

All personal items of value should be labeled with the student's name.  We recommend labeling all your items!

Students might like to bring a laptop, guitar or other portable musical instrument, binoculars, camera, board games, playing cards, Frisbees, and tennis or racquetball gear.

No skateboards or televisions are permitted.

7. Supervision: Fifteen to sixteen undergraduate mentors (counselors) will live in the dorm with the students. Counselors and faculty will be present at all of the program's activities.

8. Rules and Regulations: There will NO tobacco, alcohol, or drugs used by students while attending the Texas Mathworks Honors Summer Math Camp. Prompt class attendance and proper behavior will be expected from all students. Students will be allowed to leave campus only with written parental approval in advance, specifying date, time, and destination. Texas Mathworks Math Camp personnel will supervise all students. Students are expected to follow all campus rules and regulations and to respect university property and facilities. Parents will be billed for any damage caused by their children's negligence. Students not following rules or not participating in classes will be sent home immediately after parents/guardians are notified of their impending arrival.

9. Medical Treatment: An excellent Student Health Center is located near the library should medical treatment be necessary. Should your child require attention beyond the scope of the Student Health Center, the Central Texas Medical Center is a brief 5-10 minute ride from campus. Students are responsible for the cost of treatment provided by the Student Health Center. Parents must sign the Medical History Forms, which should either be returned with your acceptance letter or returned when you arrive. Note: The Texas Mathworks Math Camp does not provide any medical insurance.

10. Religious Services: There are several churches near campus. If you wish for your child to attend services, please let us know and we will make arrangements.

11. Absences:  Participants are required to attend for the full duration of the program and participate in all planned activities.  We strongly discourage overnight absences, as this takes away from the experiences of doing mathematics with peers and faculty.  Parents are welcome to visit for a day and take their student out to lunch or dinner, but we discourage longer absences. 

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Testimonials from HSMC alumni

• "Camp has taught me that little things make a difference, and that by traveling in small steps, you can still reach great and amazing things." - Amy, 9th grader
• "HSMC has taught me not only many new and interesting ways to solve a far greater variety of problems than I had ever seen before, but also to gain a new appreciation for mathematics." - Kevin, 9th grader
• "HSMC has taught me to never give up.  Now I can sit for hours and think about different methods of solving the question." - Jessica, 9th grader
• "From Study Group, I've grown to enjoy working in groups and realize that the simple act of bouncing ideas off other people can result in unexpected success." - Travis, 10th grader
• "At school, we're encouraged to speed learn and see knowledge just as knowledge, nothing else.  Here at HSMC we learned that taking your time to solve a problem is a good thing, and that in the end, what's most important is how deeply you understand a concept." - Lilly, 10th grader
• "HSMC helped me develop the ability to ask the person next to me no matter how intelligent they are.  It taught me that being the smartest person in the room didn't really matter as long as you put in as much effort as you possibly could." - Taylor, 10th grader
• "Because of HSMC, I am much more excited about math than I was before.  This camp taught me perseverance in the face of difficult problems, a skill that is easily applicable to fields outside of math." - Andrew, 11th grader
• "It was nice to see that there are people who really want to succeed just like me.  The expectations they have at camp are great and this has pushed me to succeed." - Madai, 10th grader
• "After just a half day at HSMC, I knew that I would never look at a math problem the same way again." - Anna, 10th grader
• "I now believe that for every problem there are multiple ways of looking at it, and multiple ways of solving it.  And finding a unique way of doing a problem is much better than a textbook solution." - Tyler, 10th grader
• "My school focuses so much on helping students pass, it leaves little time for teachers to show students advancements in subjects.  Here at HSMC I got to meet kids who not only had a passion for math, but for other things as well.  This was different than any other camp activity I had ever done.  This challenged me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of." - Leah, 11th grader
• "During these six weeks at HSMC I believe that I have developed my ability to do tough proofs and my perseverance has increased tenfold.  By working in groups, I learned how to deal with people who had different abilities and learning styles than me." - Alexandra, 10th grader
• "HSMC has made me realize that it doesn't matter how much you get done, but how much you actually learn." - Ignacio, 10th grader
• "HSMC has inspired a new curiosity in me to figure out not only how things work, but why." - Chloe, 11th grader
• "Coming to the HSMC has been such an amazing experience.  Now I see how beautiful mathematics is.  There is order, and I have a greater appreciation for even the most simple and basic facts." - Raven, 11th grader

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