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Has anyone had a child participate in any of the following summer math programs: EPGY, PROMYS or "MATH Camps"? Our S, a sophomore, has applied and we would like to know if anyone enjoyed it?

I have friends whose kids have done math camp and PROMYS, as well as Hampshire College's program. I have heard nothing but praise for each of these summer options.

My younger daughter was in PROMYS for two years (sophomore and junior summer). The kids who go to PROMYS are very self-selected. The entry test weeds out most who just want to have fun. The classes and homework are very intense to be sure. Basically it is 8 hour math a day on number theory which will challenge even the best of best. But the hard knocks that they get in PROMYS prepare them well for the tough road ahead as math/science major in places like MIT and Harvard.

As you would imagine, PROMYS has more boys than girls (75 vs 15). Girls are mostly Asians and they tend to form their little cliques (they would invite some boys). But strange enough, there were some fairly serious relationships coming out of the camp. PROMYS can definitely be fun if the kid can balance study and play. The fact that PROMYS is in Boston (at Boston U) gives students a lot opportunities to see different things and do all kinds of activities. Many of them visited MIT which is cross the Charles river multiple times. The program does not provide many organized activities. If they want to have fun, they have to take initiatives. One of PROMYS tradition is the annual Frisbee match with RSI (another elite science camp at MIT).

As for my daughter, PROMYS probably is the best thing that happened to her. She enjoyed summers of Boston and enjoyed the company of her camp-mates (most of them are smarter than she is, math wise, and she is totally okay with it). D probably forgets most of number theory or linear algebra by now. She needs to revisit the areas anyway if she decides to major in math but the methodology she learned and the study habit formed in the camp will stay with her.

Thanks for the great response about your D's experience. Did she like the counselors? You noted that there weren't many planned activities outside of the mathematics, but said that your D enjoyed Boston, I believe. Did she do some exploring on her own? Or with groups of kids on the weekends?

Most PROMYS counselors are current math students from some very elite schools (Princeton, Harvard). Many of them had been to PROMYS themselves. Counselors help students with their problem-set, correct their homework, etc. My D got alone with her counselors quite well although I don�t think that they are very close.

My D usually hung out with her little clique of 5-6 close friends (half of them boys and half girls). They went out a lot on both week days and weekends. They took subway �The T� or just walked to various places for movie, museum, shopping, etc. Sometimes they walked several miles a day. The group was formed in PROMYS 2008. Next year, one girl went to college and the rest went back to PROMY 2009. It just shows how close they were and how much fun they had in the program.

My son did the program at Hampshire College after several kids he knew had done PROMYS, Mathcamp and Hampshire and liked Hampshire the best. If your son is young, then Hampshire is probably not the best place since it is really for high school students largely ages 15-18. My son then met with kids from Hampshire in New York City and stayed in touch with them.