Impacts of MathILy-Er Experiences

Our alumns are going places! They've gone to MathILy (of course), Mathcamp, HCSSiM, the Ross program, and PROMYS in subsequent summers, and to UC Berkeley, MIT, the University of Chicago, Williams, Carnegie Mellon University, Hamilton, Rice, Stanford, Oberlin, Yale, Oxford... and more places, for college.

"I think the summer at MathILy-Er shaped my academic and personal journey quite significantly. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and the tremendous support from all instructors." David M., MathILy-Er 2019, at UK University of Cambridge (2023), expecting to proceed to a PhD in mathematics

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multiplying spoxen

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displaying fractal drawings

Comments on MathILy-Er 2023:

Anika K.: MathILy-Er provided the once in a lifetime opportunity to openly explore math in an inclusive and encouraging environment and highly collaborative way. Its exploratory way of tackling different concepts and getting your hands dirty was a really effective method that allowed for an understanding of problem-solving and why things work rather than the usual "here's how you do it". I learned so much, math-wise but also life-lesson-wise, and the instructors and Daily Gather guests were truly amazing!

Alan: I definitely believe that MathILy-Er has helped me for the rest of my academic journey and even outside of it. Of course, the actual math I have learned here has made me more interested in math by far and realize that I could possibly pursue it as a career. I have learned about the importance of working on math with other people and listening to their different perspectives as they all have something important to say that I should consider.

Cindy Wang: I'm so grateful to be given the chance to meet other incredibly talented students and supportive instructors. I felt that I learned to think outside the box more and the impact the 5-week program made on me was evident as I continued to pursue math after summer. I appreciate how the instructors made their lessons interesting and fun and that definitely made my experience more engaging!

Connor Cruz: During MathILy-Er, I believe that I have become more confident in expressing my thoughts or questions, as well as communicating and working with other people in problem solving.

Sophie Z.: I loved being able to spend time with so many amazing people who shared an interest in math. The topics covered are new yet fascinating, and they're taught in a unique way where the students are the ones that get to discover different mathematical concepts. These 5 weeks have definitely inspired me to pursue the field of math in the future, while teaching me valuable skills that go beyond the classroom.

Immanuel: One way I think my work here has already helped me in the rest of my studies is that I'm now a stronger communicator. I have been helping my friend back in Washington with math, and I've noticed that when he's stuck, I have better intuition of what to say or ask him so that he gets unstuck. Because I've watched the instructors teach so long and have gotten the opportunity to communicate complex mathematical ideas succinctly verbally and on paper many times, I think that I have gotten a lot better at getting my ideas across.v

Ella Scheinler: I started a math club at my school this year and modeled the format of meetings after MathILy-Er daily gathers. I loved the interactive way of learning through discovery, and it's been really fun getting to share that with my peers. I also try to stick with the MathILy-Er way of silly anecdotes and terminology because it's really funny to be in physics and hear my members conspiring about how to support a hamster rebellion for math club.

Darren Yilmaz: Over the course of MathILy-Er I feel as though I have had a good amount of mathematical (and other) development. This program has helped me to better understand the diversity, excitement, and depth behind what I would refer to as "pure math."

Zack Berchenko: Overall, my experience at MathILy-Er has taught me many things and will be helpful in my endeavors for the rest of my life! I have significantly improved in my problem-solving, teamwork, and explaining my ideas. Not to mention that because of MathILy-Er, this summer might be the most fun summer I've had yet!

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holding up spherical objects

Comments on MathILy-Er 2021:

Tassos: I've really loved my time here with MathILy-Er. I've learned some important skills (mathematical and otherwise), and I believe that the bonds that I've formed with people will be invaluable. I'm very grateful to have been able to have this experience. It's been a fun, wacky, and surprisingly exciting summer---one that I know I'll never forget.

Yoyo: In the two weeks of Root class, I got to know a completely new universe of math, where we ourselves propose theorems, prove any conjectures, and even make up problems and name our own terms in the problems. ... Furthermore, I met people from different places who all love math. We got to know each other and discuss problems and thoughts with one another. It is very interesting to hear different perspectives from others and share my own thoughts.

Cam: I have never been so 'close' to so many passionate, intelligent students. ... This has been an amazing journey into the skills and processes it takes to be a proper mathematician and logical thinker.

Maureen: I've heard of mathematical modeling before, but I've never had a hands-on experience with it until MathILy-Er. I felt a sense of accomplishment when we came up with a model for diseases and used Sage to estimate a real disease's peak and duration!

Arnav: I thought that as a mathematician, you would just have the questions given and you would work on finding an answer. However, as the program went on, I realized that you are the one who needs to come up with areas to explore and questions to answer.

Estelle: I know the skills I learned in MathILy-Er will help me not only become a better mathematician in the future, but generally a better thinker.

Olivia: I've learned a lot in my time here. Not only content wise but also how to learn math better. Before going to MathILy-Er I rarely worked with other people doing math, and I realize now that I would like to start doing that.

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Finding patterns in SZOOMs

Comments on MathILy-Er 2019:

Lola Seibert: Overall, I have grown tremendously as a math student and as a person. I have become more independent and view math in a new way. I am especially proud of all of my work in class and how hard I work. I have made friends who I have laughed with until my stomach hurts and my eyes are tearing. I have learned so much in as little as five weeks.

Aaron Mesa: I think one of the most valuable things MathILy-Er has taught me is that it is possible to actually be a mathematician and that if I work hard it is something I am capable of doing. ... I have a much better sense of how to explore mathematical ideas on my own and what to look at if I am exploring a problem.

Lindsey: I've learned a lot about learning and how to learn how to learn. So, after this program, I feel significantly more prepared and confident in doing math, and it has been a truly valuable experience as I look into studying math in the future.

Saraphina F.: I love this kind of math/learning, it's so different from anything I've ever done before. I really enjoyed game theory---playing games and figuring out the strategy is so interesting and I love all the parts to observing, finding patterns, thinking outside the box, and thinking about how to prove them. ... This has shown me a whole other kind of math I had never seen before, so I feel like it opened the door to something I never thought possible in a math class. I can't wait to do many more problem sets like the one in class, and just think about all of the other cool math!! Just the way we do things is really what makes such a difference---building them ourselves, letting the problems teach us concepts instead of being told them, and the instructors are just incredible.

Cole: I really enjoyed my time at MathILy-Er; the people and the instructors were great, and the classes were fun and engaging. I'm definitely looking forward to doing similar types of things in the future.

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classifying matrices

Comments on MathILy-Er 2017:

Karol M.: I can't even begin to express how important MathILy-Er was for me. I built so many wonderful relationships with people, and I had so much fun! Throughout the school year, it is easy to drown in schoolwork, so this was an amazing break where I could actually interact with a lot of nice and funny people. Along with that, I learned so many cool ideas which I will probably remember for a long time. Last but not least, this style of learning was so amazing! I have never been in class where it was so student led and people got to build off each other's ideas and go up to the board so much.

Shardul C.: Along with the mathematics itself, I learned a lot about how mathematics actually works (if asked to compress that understanding I would put it as "free yet focused foraging coupled with continuous collaboration").

Stacy Godfreey-Igwe: These 5 weeks have given me some of the best moments of my life. It's surreal. I learned so more math that I ever imagined, took long walks in the morning and explored the city, made some awesome shots in ping pong, played the best game ever... and was able to create memories that will last me a lifetime.

Milleno Pan: I came here expecting math that would be much less interesting, and instead got problems and solutions that were quite surprising to me. Before coming... I think I had a much lower interest in studying math in the future, where it was, to me, just something I was kinda good at compared to the small group of people around me, and something I didn't completely hate... I am very sure that I will be continuing math in college.

Julia T.: There's something wondrously beautiful about being in a room full of people who do mathematics purely for indulgence, and I will never forget the joy and love and laughter that I felt in our classrooms.

Nathan: I've been able to experience mathematics I had never heard of while immersed in a mathematical community, the likes of which I could never encounter at home. I've learned much not just about different fields of mathematics, but the nature of learning and expressing mathematics itself. Before this program, my work was incomprehensible and full of technical symbols. I had difficulty explaining math to my friends, or helping them understand why I found joy in exploring it. Now, I feel more whole in these respects. I've really learned how to treat mathematics as a study, not simply as a set of numbers and definitions.

KaiYuan Chi: It feels very satisfying when we were the ones to create the rules instead of having someone telling us directly, and I believe that is the most important academic skill I gained in the past month.

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discussing wallpaper patterns

Here's some of what was said about MathILy-Er 2015:

Alice Wei: Overall, the relationships I've created in this program with people who appreciate math like I do helped expand my interest in math! Being surrounded by friends everyday made classes and activities an enjoyable environment.

Pirooz Fereydouni: MathILy-Er teachers use a quite different and more affective teaching strategy than other schools. After a brief introduction to what we are doing, the teachers stand aside and the students do all the work. Just when you think you have reached your mathematical limits, you can head to the dormitories and challenge your brain with card games, board games, or even engage in communications with other mathematically motivated students.

Mia Taylor: I knew that I was going to have fun when I came, but I was still surprised at how much fun I had.

Stephen: I've met fun mathematics-oriented teenagers, which are quite scarce where I live, so this has been one of the most interesting experiences of my life!

Clarissa X.: I felt that because the environment was very open and you were able to discover things on your own, I was able to look at concepts in a different way, and hence my problem solving abilities improved.

Emma Y.: MathILy-Er is like a big family, and I'm so happy to be a part of it.

Comments on MathILy-Er 2022:

Madison: Attending MathILy-Er was one of the greatest and most impactful events of my life. I have always enjoyed math, but having the opportunity to work on math with others has made me love it even more.

Jason: I was originally a little anxious about going to a faraway summer math program full of strangers, but that feeling was dispelled on day one, and I quickly realized MathILy-Er to be the best summer experience of my life. I got to interact deeply with so many interesting people, friendly peers and fantastic instructors alike. I learned math in a journey-like way I've never felt before---every proof, every definition, and every problem set made me feel like I was the one exploring the sprawling fields of mathematics.

Aishani: The Mathily-Er experience was one-of-a-kind: I learned to look at Math from a mathematician's point of view, and we got to "invent" math unlike how we are taught at school. I wish there were similar programs for all other topics, and I wish schools ran like this program. It definitely changed my perspective of how I learn not only math but other subjects as well. The instructors were very supportive and helpful throughout the entire program.

Rohan: I learned some skills that I would have never thought of trying if I didn't come to this math program. I think I will be able to use the format of working on math for longer periods of time to propel my growth outside of this program. ... I think I had a lot of fun in this program and I wish I could do something like this again in the future!

Nacho: I have seen perhaps a dozen or more new topics and learned about all of them, enhancing my thinking skills in the process. In addition, the heavy focus placed on rigorous proofs has led me to try to naturally structure my thoughts more clearly, giving me a more effective approach for attacking a new problem.

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presenting a proof

Comments on MathILy-Er 2020:

Evan: The subjects taught at MathIly-Er broadened my view of mathematics. Math has so many subtopics and branches that usually never get covered or even mentioned in a typical course. Something that was also curious to me was that I had thought about some of the ideas covered in MathIly-Er before, but I had never spent the time to actually explore those ideas and find out more about them. All in all, MathIly-Er has definitely been one of my favorite summer experiences and without question the most rewarding online program I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

Emily: MathILy-Er was a phenomenal experience for me, and I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend five weeks with such a talented group of students under the guidance of fantastic instructors. I applied to MathILy-Er desiring a challenge, the opportunity to explore math that I had not studied before. Indeed, MathILy-Er fulfilled my expectations and more, and I left MathILy-Er even more enthusiastic about math. One of the highlights of my experience at MathILy-Er was definitely the people. Although MathILy-Er 2020 was on Zoom, the instructors did a fantastic job making us students feel connected. The instructors at MathILy-Er care deeply about each students' growth as individuals and mathematicians---they are also really cool and more than up to having some fun! Students at MathILy-Er are all eager to help each other---at MathILy-Er, I met a group of extremely bright and friendly people, and we still stay in touch!

Jamin: MathILy-Er has been a great experience for me to grow and learn more math, and working with my classmates has been especially helpful in striving towards a better understanding of math concepts. The wide range of math topics the program covered were very different from what I am used to in school and competitions. Most importantly, I love that Math is Infused with Levity!

Lydia: My biggest failures were things that later became some of my favorite successes (which is not a coincidence).

Andreea: Who knew that such a far-spread group of kids and people could become so close (from many many miles away) through a computer screen? I was nervous, at first, that it would be difficult to spend so many hours with practical strangers, but I proved myself wrong quite quickly. This program was, simply put, very awesome.

David: I liked math. Now, after MathILy-Er, I like math even more. MathILy-Er, most importantly, taught me how to express mathematical ideas in a clear, concise manner and how to be a better thinker and collaborative learner.

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contemplating a tangle

Comments on MathILy-Er 2018:

Efe Inan: When I came here, I wanted to learn about math that I wasn't taught in school, and I feel that it has been fulfilled beyond what I could have expected.

Youbin Cho: In general, I feel like I accomplished a lot of things I wouldn't have without MathILy-Er. Personally, it was my first time with inquiry-based learning, and I'd say it is the way I want to be taught for everything else because you get more out of it. It forces people to actively participate in a good way. I made good conjectures and proved many things. Seeing my name often on the problem set assured me that I have done a lot to contribute to the class, which made me proud of myself.

Joeli L.: My five weeks at MathILy-Er have honestly been great. [...] I feel like I've finally met the goal I set when I applied [...] : Make friends. Learn math. Have fun.

Rory Erlich: I feel that I overcame an initial lack of confidence to come to a place where I could find solutions that contributed to the class's overall progress. I was also proud of the times, however, when I pushed myself to struggle with and work to understand a concept despite knowing that others has already developed it or might come to it faster or more easily than me. ... in large part what I have actually taken away from my time here is that I want to pursue Math more seriously in the short term, perhaps through the Math club at my school or other extracurricular venues. [...] I know when I leave I will miss being in an environment that constantly fosters intellectual growth and encourages me to apply myself as a mathematician, both inside the classroom and out.

Paola V.: After realizing that I can in fact do what I didn't used to think I could do, I probably would reach for the problems that seem impossible more often.

David Z.: When I came to MathILy-Er, I was extremely resume-orientated. I thought that this would help improve my number theory (which it did) and I could do better in math competitions as a result. However, as time went on, I quickly realized that I didn't care about doing well in competitions nearly as much as learning about the wide variety of fields mathematics had to offer. By looking at how the instructors talked about their field of work, I saw and felt the passion they had for mathematics, and so I also wanted to have that same kind of passion for math.

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investigating hyperbolic geometry

Comments on MathILy-Er 2016:

Max E.: I can't believe it's already been 5 weeks and my time at MathILy-Er is over. During my time here I grew as a mathematician and as a person in so many ways. I had never experienced a teaching style like what we went through in Root and Branch class, but it was a style I thoroughly enjoyed and it really worked for me. Not only did the instructors expand my mathematical horizons, but outside of class they treated me as a peer, which is something I've never really experienced with adults before.

Yuchen Fan: When I asked Jonah the first day when our lectures would be, he looked at me and said that he wouldn't ever lecture. At the time, I wasn't sure how he would lead a class and teach us without doing so, but he, like all of my teachers, has never done so. ...allowing us to discover and prove conjectures is definitely worthwhile, even if it does make me want to tear my hair out sometimes.

Steven Santos: I've never called a teacher by their first name before so it was totally a new thing for me. It made me feel more welcomed than anything into the program... [My classmates] are the best group of people I have ever met in my life. They showed me that there are people that share a common interest with me in math and that I actually can have fun and make progress at the same time. There's no other group I'd rather be in.

Cam Harrington: MathILy-Er has been a great experience for me. I am glad that I had the chance to meet everyone here. I have enjoyed learning about numerous topics like slinkys, SOZOMs, graph theory, staircase number, combinatorics and much more. The teachers here are gifted and truly furthered my knowledge in areas of mathematics I had not previously encountered. I was also amazed at the talent of the students who were adept at problem solving and were all very creative and approached problems in multiple ways... Classes here were not something I had been exposed to prior and it was a fascinating new way of learning.

Andrew K.: I can't, no matter how hard I try, express how much I have enjoyed these past five weeks... I have learned more than I could have ever expected here, from donut-man generating functions and forbidden colorings to cake-cutting and balanced numbers. But what I'll treasure the most are the experiences I have had ...and I couldn't have hoped for a better summer.



MathILy, MathILy-Er, and MathILy-EST are projects of the nonprofit organization Mathematical Staircase, Inc..