Summer Math Program for Young Scholars

CMT Summer Math Program for Young Scholars is an intensive three-week long summer program for high school students, with a competitive application process. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, group theory, number theory, graph theory, mathematics of web search, combinatorics, logic, and methods of mathematical proof. Each daily lecture is followed by a problem session where students work collaboratively in “Math Circles” to sharpen their mathematical thinking. One afternoon session every week is set aside for games and puzzles that are selected for their mathematical content and their ability to spark engaged learning.

Courant students play a large role in the success of this program. Here are two testimonials from actual students who have worked with the program:

As a master’s student in the department at the time, I found CMT to be very refreshing. I was able to reinforce my own understanding of mathematical rigor by helping teach it to students. Seeing where bright, motivated high school students had difficulty understanding the course material, and helping them through it, made me a better teacher and a better mathematician. Of course, there is also the fact that all of us, students and staff, had great fun in the process! (Harrison Hsu, Courant '18)

I am a PhD student in mathematics at NYU, and was involved as an instructor in the summer program. Coming from a university background, teaching high school students was both a big challenge and tremendously rewarding. As an instructor one had to take college-level math -- usually presented quite dryly! -- and transform it in such a way as to satisfy these high expectations. The program was an opportunity to have an impact on a group of young people with a lot of potential: to be a role model for them, to cultivate their intellectual curiosity, and encourage them to continue studying mathematics at the college level. (James Fennell, Courant "18)

Math in the Real World: At the end of each day Summer Program students also attend presentations and Q&A sessions on how math is used in different contexts, including: fields of academic study and science, professional careers, and other real-world applications of mathematical knowledge. Exposure to a Top-Ranked University: CMT’s Summer Program not only introduces students to the varied fields of mathematics and related careers, it also exposes them to the experience of being a real college student at a top-tier university. Every student receives an NYU ID card, and learns about college life, the college admissions process, and gets access to a variety of NYU resources and supports.

Because CMT is based at a top-tier research university, it provides its students with access to the highest caliber teachers, including NYU Courant Faculty and PhD students, who also serve as powerful role models for our students, many of whom are also experiencing college for the first time.

Center for Mathematical Talent (CMT) is an innovative non-profit afterschool program—housed at Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences— which provides high-caliber, engaging mathematics instruction to pre-collegiate students across New York City. Since 2011, through its full range of afterschool and summer programming, CMT has reached thousands of NYC students, the overwhelming majority of whom are from low-income and minority families who would not otherwise have access to high quality math instruction. Math enrichment programs supported by CMT supplement the math instruction taught in New York City public schools and improve students’ interest and performance in mathematical reasoning, problem solving, and logic. CMT engages students with mathematics to raise their mathematical sophistication level and enhance their skills by introducing mathematical topics with fun and engaging hands-on activities, games and puzzles. Students are exposed to problem solving that is different from what they usually experience in school.