About

PROMYS (Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists) is one of the most prestigious summer programs in the U.S. for mathematically gifted high school students. Founded in 1989 at Boston University, it is a pure mathematics immersion, often described as a boot camp for number theory. Unlike many research programs that emphasize labs, PROMYS emphasize proof-based reasoning and theoretical exploration. Tuition is significant ($6,000~ without aid), but the program provides substantial financial aid and scholarships for qualifying students.

Each year, PROMYS enrolls about 60 new students alongside 20 returning students, drawn from a large international applicant pool. The acceptance rate is estimated at 10% although this is misleading because the applicant pool is so self-selecting and the application so rigorous. Instead of traditional essays, applicants complete an infamously challenging problem set in number theory and proofs, designed to filter for genuine mathematical creativity. PROMYS is open to both U.S. and international students, although the great majority of attendees are American.

The program begins with an intensive number theory sequence, where students spend weeks wrestling with progressively more complex problems. Long collaborative problem-solving sessions, daily lectures, and small-group discussions form the core. As the summer progresses, students transition to research seminars and advanced projects, mentored by faculty and professional mathematicians. The culture is deliberately austere—calculators and computers are discouraged—in favor of deep, conceptual engagement with mathematics, and PROMYS explicitly favors a “depth over breadth” mindset. However, despite the intense independent effort required, PROMYS prides itself on fostering a community-based, collaborative atmosphere between students, counselors, and faculty.

PROMYS alumni often continue to top undergraduate programs at Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Oxford, and beyond. Many later appear in elite competitions such as the Putnam Exam or contribute to research in mathematics and theoretical computer science. The program is recognized by admissions officers as a mark of exceptional mathematical ability, and PROMYS is generally regarded as one of the most rigorous high school math summer programs in the world.