Canada/USA Mathcamp: A Complete Guide

Maybe you love your math classes at school and still spend evenings tackling more challenging math puzzles online or dreaming up your own problems to solve. If you want to find out what else the world of math can offer you, why not try the Canada/USA Mathcamp? This math summer program lets you immerse yourself in different math topics, from number theory to calculus.

In this article, we’ll tell you about what awaits you at Mathcamp, why you should join, and how you can apply.

• What Is the Canada/USA Mathcamp?
• Canada/USA Mathcamp Acceptance Rate
• Canada/USA Mathcamp Application Deadline
• Canada/USA Mathcamp Requirements
• How to Get into the Canada/USA Mathcamp
• Why Join the Canada/USA Mathcamp?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Canada/USA Mathcamp?

Canada/USA Mathcamp is an intensive five-week summer program where mathematically talented high school students explore advanced topics in mathematics. It’s held each year on a different college campus in the United States or Canada. For 2025, Matchcamp was held at Lewis & Clark College in Oregon. The program dates were June 29 to August 3.

The program offers a wide variety of classes and workshops. Each weekday, multiple courses are offered simultaneously at different difficulty levels—and the fun part is you get to choose which classes to attend and how many! On top of that, there are no required courses or grades. This means you can tailor your classes to your interests and energy level for the week.

If you’re passionate about number theory, you can load up on number theory-related classes. Or, you could have a mix of geometry, some computer science, and a dash of physics. You can also decide how intense you want your week to be: maybe three classes per day one week, but only one class per day the next week so you can focus on a research project.

Aside from classes, you and your peers can also do independent or group projects under the guidance of faculty. A project might involve anything from reading about an unsolved problem to building a physical model of a mathematical concept or coding a program that explores a mathematical idea. These projects are presented at a camp “Project Fair” at the end of the five weeks.

Student life at Mathcamp is also fun. You’ll live in a college dorm with roommates, eat in the dining hall, and enjoy a level of flexibility and personal responsibility similar to college. On weekdays, the schedule is filled with classes and math activities during the day and downtime in the evenings and on weekends. There’s actually a giant schedule board in the main lounge where anyone can post events!

Canada/USA Mathcamp Acceptance Rate

Mathcamp accepts only around 120 students each year, making admissions extremely competitive. So, if you want to get into the program, you’ll need to stand out through your application problem solutions and personal essay and show the admissions officers why they should accept you over other applicants.

Canada/USA Mathcamp Application Deadline

Here were the important dates for Mathcamp’s 2025 application cycle:

The timeline is similar each year, where applications generally open in early January, are due by late February, and decisions come out in mid-April. Check again in December 2025 for important dates for the 2026 application cycle.

Canada/USA Mathcamp Requirements

Before you apply to Mathcamp, you should first see if you’re eligible and be aware of the requirements you should pass.

Eligibility

To be eligible for Mathcamp, you must:

• Be 13 to 18 years old
• Be a middle school or high school student
• Have a strong foundation in high school mathematics up through precalculus
• Be passionate about math and ready for a challenge
• Be fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Required documents

To apply to Mathcamp, you’ll only need to submit these requirements:

• Online application form. This is the main application where you fill in personal information and your educational background.
• Short essay. This is in the “About You” written section of the application form where you’ll talk about yourself, your interest in math, and why you want to attend Mathcamp.
• Qualifying Quiz solutions. The Qualifying Quiz is a take-home math test with 5–10 challenging problems that you’ll need to solve as part of your application.
• Reference contact/s. Rather than traditional recommendation letters, Mathcamp asks for the contact information of a mathematical reference (at least one adult who knows you in a mathematical context like your math teacher or a coach from a math team. And your school counselor.
• Financial aid form (optional). There will be a separate section or form in the application to provide details about your family’s financial situation.

Program cost

For Mathcamp 2025, the full program cost was $6,600 (which covers all five weeks of instruction, room, and board). However, many students pay much less than that, thanks to Mathcamp’s financial aid. In fact, Mathcamp is free for students from US and Canadian families with household incomes under $100,000.

How to Get into the Canada/USA Mathcamp

Mathcamp looks for students who are good and passionate about math. Here’s how you can show the admissions team that you’re a good fit for the program:

1. Work on the Qualifying Quiz problems.

The Qualifying Quiz has around 5 to 10 problems that range in topic and difficulty. Don’t be intimidated if they look different from problems you’ve seen before since they’re supposed to be fun but challenging brainteasers that require deep thought.

Despite having a Quiz as part of the application, Mathcamp isn’t actually just looking at whether you got the correct final answer. In fact, the program is more concerned about seeing how you think. That means your solution write-ups should include explanations and proofs of your reasoning for each problem. Even if you can only solve part of a problem, explain what you did and where you got stuck.

Because of that, you don’t necessarily have to solve every single problem to be admitted, but you should aim to submit as many as you can with well-thought-out reasoning.

Give yourself plenty of time to work on them. You can start by picking one or two problems that appeal to you and work on them for a few days, then try the others. It’s normal to have ideas that don’t work out at first. If you’re faced with a hard math problem, try approaching it from a different angle, simplify it, or even take a break and come back later.

2. Write your essay.

Mathcamp’s application includes an About You essay section where you get to tell your story. There’s no word limit, but applicants typically answer in 400 to 1000 words. You can also get creative with how you answer. If you don’t want to submit a formal essay, the admissions committee mentions that they have also received lists, poems, puzzles, short stories, plays, and letters.

Regardless of how you choose to fill in this section, keep the following tips in mind:

• Be genuine and specific. The readers want to get a sense of what excites you about math and who you are as a person. Include personal details like a cool anecdote about the first time you solved a really hard puzzle, or you want to share how you and a friend started a small math club at lunch.
• Highlight your passion and curiosity. Mathcamp is looking for students who are passionate and curious, not necessarily those who have won every competition. Because of that, be more focused on showing why you enjoy math and that it’s something you still actively engage with outside of school.
• Explain why Mathcamp. There are many math programs, so why is Mathcamp in particular appealing to you? Maybe it’s the freedom to learn unusual topics, or the chance to meet peers who also love math, or the mix of serious math and fun. Show the admissions committee you know what you’re getting yourself into at Mathcamp and that you’re excited to experience it yourself.
• Edit and proofread. Mathcamp may not require a formal essay, but you should still check your writing for clarity and typos to make sure your ideas come across well. Ask a friend or mentor to proofread your work and give feedback. However, avoid excessive editing and make sure the final product is still written in your voice.

You can ask a college essay expert for more guidance in polishing your response.

3. Talk to your potential references.

Ask your school counselor and at least one teacher if they could be your references for Mathcamp. Explain what the program is, why you want to join, and why the admissions officers might contact them. You should also inform them that they might not be contacted at all.

4. Submit your application.

When you have everything ready, submit everything through Mathcamp’s online application system. Double-check your documents and the information you input.

Once you hit submit, you won’t hear back until decisions are released. If you’re admitted, you’ll need to confirm your attendance by early May. Meanwhile, if you’re waitlisted, you might have to wait until as late as May for a final answer. Mathcamp tends to admit a few students off the waitlist as seats open up if some accepted students defer their slots.

Why Join the Canada/USA Mathcamp?

Spending five weeks of your summer doing math might sound intense, but there are huge advantages to participating in Mathcamp. Here are some of the benefits:

1. Immerse yourself in advanced mathematics.

At Mathcamp, you get to live and breathe mathematics every day. The program exposes you to areas of math usually reserved for undergraduates or even graduate students, but in a very approachable way.

There are no grades either, so you can focus on discovering and understanding without the pressure of being immediately perfect. You’ll be able to go deep into advanced, fascinating math topics purely for the joy of learning.

2. Build mathematical skills and confidence.

It’s definitely exciting to learn new formulas. But more than that, Mathcamp helps you grow as a problem solver since the challenging classes and problems will push you beyond what you thought you could do.

Mathcamp encourages you to ask questions, think deeply, and not give up when faced with a challenge. After struggling through a tough problem set or finally grasping a complex concept, you start to realize that you have what it takes to take on whatever math throws at you. You’ll leave camp with a portfolio of cool problems you solved and ideas you conquered, which is a real confidence booster.

On top of that, you’ll be ready for advanced coursework and math competitions. Even if you don’t end up pursuing math, you’ll still be confident in approaching hard intellectual tasks since you’ve cultivated analytical thinking skills and perseverance.

3. Direct your own education.

One of the most unique aspects of Mathcamp is the freedom you have in directing your own education. Most academic programs will require everyone to follow a set schedule. However, Mathcamp lets you create your own schedule. Every week, you get to choose from dozens of classes and workshops, deciding what you want to learn.

The freedom extends beyond academics as well. You choose how to spend your free time, what activities to join, and how to balance work and play.

4. Join a like-minded community.

Because everyone eats, sleeps, studies, and plays in the same community, you really get to know people on a deeper level than in a typical class or club. There’s also a great cultural exchange that happens, with international students bringing their perspectives into the mix. You’ll also certainly meet classmates who love what they’re learning since you’re all choosing which classes appeal to you the most.

Beyond the summer, Mathcamp has an alumni network (and even regional alumni reunions) so that the sense of community continues. You can come back to Mathcamp as an undergraduate tutor when you finish high school so you can keep meeting and guiding more students who love math.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How hard is it to get into Mathcamp?

It can be quite hard to get into Mathcamp since it only accepts around 120 students a year. To stand a chance at getting accepted, you’ll need to have a genuine love of math and put effort into the application to show it.

2. How long does Mathcamp last?

Mathcamp lasts for 5 weeks. In 2025, it ran from June 29 to August 3.

3. What makes Mathcamp unique?

Mathcamp lets you choose your own classes and create your own schedule every week, so you get a truly personalized experience.

Takeaways

• Canada/USA Mathcamp is a five-week summer program where you join a community of peers and mentors who love math. It’s an immersive experience that lets you tailor your weekly classes and schedules according to your interests.
• Some of the reasons you should participate in Mathcamp are that you’ll immerse yourself in advanced mathematics, build mathematical skills and confidence, direct your own education, and join a like-minded community.
• Looking for other extracurriculars that can challenge and improve your math skills? We can help you choose summer programs according to your current skill level.