IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp

2024 IMA-MathCEP Math Modeling Camp for High School Students

How is math used to solve important problems facing our world today? Mathematical models help us to study the effects of traffic on a bridge, predict trends in population and disease, or estimate the climate’s impact on natural resources.

Format

For the Summer of 2024 we will be meeting in person on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota.  Students should expect to be on campus from about 9am-3:30pm each day; specific details will be sent in the weeks leading up to the camp.   Depending on demand, we may also offer a limited number of slots for students who wish to participate remotely.  Preference for those slots will be given to students from Minnesota, particularly those from outside the Twin Cities region who would be unable to commute to campus each day.  If you wish to attend online, you can indicate your preference on the application form, and we will notify you if a spot is available.

Eligibility

Students should currently be enrolled in high school and have completed a year-long course in single variable calculus by the end of the 2023-2024 school year.  High school seniors who will have graduated by July are still eligible!

The math modeling camp is not a residential program; we do not provide housing or meals to any students.  In-person participants live in or near the Twin Cities metro area and travel to and from campus each day from home.  We do not recommend that interested students travel from other states, unless they are already coming to Minnesota to visit relatives or some other similar situation.  If you are not from Minnesota, you should contact mathcep@umn.edu to explain your situation before filling out the application form.

Application

There are two steps to the application process.

1. Fill out the online application form. The application should be filled out by the student, not a parent/guardian!
2. Ask a math teacher to email a short letter of recommendation for you to mathcep@umn.edu.  You can tell them we're interested in your mathematical skills, but also your aptitude for problem-solving, ability to collaborate with others and to focus on tasks for a long stretch of time.  (Exception: if you are an UMTYMP student, you don't need to ask for a letter of recommendation; the UMTYMP faculty will go through the list of applicants.)

The application deadline is May 31, 2024.  The program may fill up before the deadline, in which case we will place people on a waiting list.  Students selected to participate in the program will be notified as soon as possible after the deadline.  Please note that there is no cost associated with the IMA-Math Center for Educational Programs (MathCEP) camp.

Questions about the program or submitting an application? Please contact the Math Center for Educational Programs at mathcep@umn.edu.