Math competitions/camps qualifying ACT scores

[lewber]

DS 8th grade just took his ACT and I'm just curious if his math scores would qualify him for any competitive math camps. Does anyone know where I could find the info on this. He might be interested in something like that, but I have zero idea what he could qualify for? 

 

ETA - I found the CTY scores, looking for other ideas. Thanks! 

Edited April 20, 2017 by lewber

[Kathy in Richmond]

The competitive math camps that I'm familiar with (MathPath, Mathcamp, Promys, Ross, HCSSiM, SUMaC) don't care much about standardized test scores. They are looking for problem solving ability instead, especially on problems that take some time & thought.

 

The camps listed above each have an entrance quiz, which usually consists of several tough, open-ended problems. They look to see how you approach each problem, your insights, and the elegance of your solutions. The quiz is the most important factor in admissions, and successful applicants usually spend a month or more working on it.

 

Other requirements often include a personal essay and one or two recommendation letters. Here is Mathcamp's How To Apply page; it's typical.

 

We sent kids to MathPath and Mathcamp, so if you have any questions about those camps, I'd be happy to help.

[lewber]

The competitive math camps that I'm familiar with (MathPath, Mathcamp, Promys, Ross, HCSSiM, SUMaC) don't care much about standardized test scores. They are looking for problem solving ability instead, especially on problems that take some time & thought.

 

The camps listed above each have an entrance quiz, which usually consists of several tough, open-ended problems. They look to see how you approach each problem, your insights, and the elegance of your solutions. The quiz is the most important factor in admissions, and successful applicants usually spend a month or more working on it.

 

Other requirements often include a personal essay and one or two recommendation letters. Here is Mathcamp's How To Apply page; it's typical.

 

We sent kids to MathPath and Mathcamp, so if you have any questions about those camps, I'd be happy to help.

 

That makes sense. Thank you - that is very helpful. 

[epi]

There was some discussion of this in this thread

http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/635093-summer-camp-time-already/

 

I understand that the entrance quiz is the crucial thing, and I understand why, but I do wish they would give some rough rules of thumb as to what other measures of academic strength (contests, test, courses taken) that might suggest one could be a suitable candidate (though I also understand why they don't want to give these indications either).

[Arcadia]

I don't think any of the maths camps run by the talent searches (Duke TIP, CTY JHU, Northwestern CTD) are competitive. Both my kids do qualify by their ACT scores

 

I understand that the entrance quiz is the crucial thing, and I understand why, but I do wish they would give some rough rules of thumb as to what other measures of academic strength (contests, test, courses taken) that might suggest one could be a suitable candidate (though I also understand why they don't want to give these indications either).

The impression I had was that the people doing the selecting are gauging frustration tolerance through the quiz and the recommendation letters more than worrying about the academic strength of the candidate.

 

My 7th grader had no one to write recommendation letters this academic year which was one reason for us to up the number of outsourced classes back to our usual amount next academic year. Luckily the non-competitive math camp he wanted to go to is a day camp and they are not so strict about recommendation letters for the day camp site since they can "boot the kid home" safely.

 

I am tempted by the SUMaC one because it is commuter distance for us. However it is up to my kids if they are interested in applying when the time comes. Still a few more years away.

Edited April 21, 2017 by Arcadia