不知道从何时起，罗斯数学训练营（Ross Mathematics Program）、斯坦福数学夏令营（Stanford University Mathematics Camp，简称SuMaC），以及青年科学家数学项目（Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists，简称PROMYS），被称作美国三大顶尖数学营地，or美国Top3数学夏令营，or全球三大顶尖数学营地。这种说法应该是国内独一份，美国数学协会列出的数学夏令营/项目中，这三个跟其他很多项目并列出现。
反推其原因，我觉得有这么两点：
第一，本身的难度和含金量，这三大营地的申请难度比较高，入营后坚持下来并且有成绩不容易，含金量自然高，适合数学能力强，对数学有极大热情的学生；
第二，在中国的知名度，得益于项目本身的推广和广大机构（数学培训、留学服务）的推广。而这里也有个难以说清是因是果的事情，参与项目并且最终成绩突出的学生本身就比较优秀，所以申请结果自然不会太差，但是在大家看到申请结果的时候往往会计算这些学生的过往活动和竞赛，然后得出：“参加这些竞赛就可以进入xx大学”的简单结论，这就有些本末倒置了。
闲话说完，我们来看下这三个数学项目。
01 Ross Mathematics Program
录取率：about 20% （2021年）
申请开放：2023年1月2日
申请截止时间：2023年3月31日
美国本地：（六周，两个地点可选）
俄亥俄州奥特本大学，2023年6月11日-7月21日
印第安纳州罗斯-霍曼理工学院，2023年6月18日-7月28日
亚洲营：（五周）
举办地点：菲律宾首都马尼拉
适合学生：15-18周岁学生
申请网站：https://apply.rossprogram.org/apply/background
申请材料：
✔ 基本信息
✔ 家长信息
✔ 个人陈述（针对五个小问题的陈述）
1) What aspect of mathematics draws your interest and attention? Are you interested in math for its own sake? For the thrill of solving puzzling problems? Or because math has important applications to other fields?
2) Do you have some strong academic interests in addition to math? For instance, are you intensively studying physics? Or economics? Are you serious about Chinese literature, paleontology, or modern dance?
3) What do you hope to gain by attending this challenging summer program?
4) How do you like to spend your time?
5) What are your hobbies or interests outside of school?
✔ 小作文（挺多的）
1) Projects
Have you worked on some interesting mathematical projects? If so, what were the topics? For the project you enjoyed the most: How much time did you spend on it? Were you working alone, guided by a mentor, or as part of a team? What benefits do you feel you gained from doing that work?
2) Competitions
Have you recently participated in some math competitions? Which ones? Did you do well on them? Do you feel that the process of preparing for math competitions to be more interesting and worthwhile than the math courses you have taken in high school or in other venues?
3) Other programs
Have you participated in academic programs outside of school? This might include another summer math camp, a local Math Club, or a Math Circle at some nearby college. What sorts of activities were involved? Did you enjoy those experiences? Were the programs online or were they in-person?
4) Books and websites
What have you read recently about mathematics? Which math books are your favorites? What parts of them were most enjoyable or interesting to you? What interesting mathematical websites have you visited in the past year? What aspects of math have you learned by reading the material on those sites?
5) Future goals
What do you plan to major in at college? What are your career goals? Do you feel “driven” toward one type of work? (Like an academic career in math, astronomy, or economics? Or a career in finance? etc.) Or will you take a variety of courses in college and see what areas seem most interesting?
6) Collaboration
When you work on hard math problems do you usually work alone? Or with a group of friends? Reminder: when you work on the Ross Application Problems, please be sure to work by yourself.
7) Other coursework
Have you taken math courses outside of the standard high school curriculum? Those courses could have been at a local college, in a residential math program, from an educational website, etc.
8) Being away from home
Are you eager to spend many weeks away from home, with with no distractions from non-mathematical activities, focusing all of your energies on one narrow area of mathematics? Ross students live in a college dormitory, with no access to televisions or electronic games. Most of their waking hours are spent working on challenging math problems. Does this intensity and focus appeal to you?
✔ 入营测试题（官网已挂出）
✔ 成绩单
✔ 数学老师推荐信
✔ 其他额外材料（简历、过往修读课程、或者你觉得能够让招生官更了解你的材料）
个人简历比较丰富的学生，或者做过科研、其他project的学生，建议上传这个optional attachments，让招生官对你有更多的了解。
02SUMaC
录取情况：线下课程招收40人，线上课程招收64人
申请截止时间：2023年2月1日
录取通知时间：2023年4月中旬
线下项目：4周，6月25日-7月21日
线上项目：3周，两时间段任选其一
Session1：6月19日-7月10日
Session2：7月17日-8月4日
适合学生：申请时10或者11年级学生
申请网址：https://sumac.spcs.stanford.edu/sumac-admissions#application
申请材料
✔ 个人信息
✔ 家庭信息
✔ 高中信息（成绩单、学校profile-optional）
✔ 意向课程阶段（online or offline）
✔ 课程选择
✔ 三个小问题
1) How many ways are there to make groups of three students out of 16 SUMaC students?
2) If 16 SUMaC students all shake hands with each other once, how many handshakes take place?
3) Find the smallest integer k such that the following statement is true for all n > k: n^2<2^n
✔ 入营测试题
✔ 问答题/小作文（很多）
1) List any extracurricular mathematics activities you have participated in (e.g., math clubs and camps). If none, enter N/A.
2) List all mathematics courses taken in the last two academic years, including the current year/term, and the grades you received.
3) Participation in math competitions is not necessary to be eligible for SUMaC. If you have participated in any of the following math competitions in the past two academic years, provide the date, score, and/or ranking: AMC12, AIME, USAJMO, USAMO, or international equivalents. Do not enter in scores from other or older math competitions. If you have not participated in any of these competitions in the last two academic years, enter N/A.
4) List all other summer programs you are applying to for this upcoming summer. (Optional)
5) Describe the kind of student you are. What strengths are you proud of? For example: curiosity, classroom engagement, or dedication. How have you pushed yourself to grow in your study of mathematics? Include specific examples from academic experiences. (300 words maximum)
6) Describe a memorable experience in which you engaged meaningfully in mathematics outside of class. (200 words maximum)
7) What are your personal goals for the next five to ten years? What impact would you like to have on your community, or on society in general? (200 words maximum)
✔ 数学老师推荐信
✔ 课外活动列表（最多写10个，对你的重要程度从上到下排列）
✔ 视频小作文（video essay，optional但是学校强烈建议学生录制）
Video essay prompt: What are you looking forward to about being a student at Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Programs?
✔ 标化成绩递交（optional，如果你有ssat，sat，isee，psat，PreACT，act，ap这些能拿得出手的成绩，建议递交）
03PROMYS
录取情况：每年招收80人，新生60，老生20
申请暂未开放，2023年回归线下
申请截止时间：2023年3月5日
放榜时间：2023年5月初
项目时间：2023年7月2——8月12
适合学生：G9-12，14周岁以上，中学生或者在gap year的学生，但不能是大学生
申请网址：https://promys.org/programs/promys/for-students/application/
申请材料：
✔ 入营测试题
✔ 老师推荐信
✔ 高中成绩单
✔ 申请表（包含短问题/小文书）
印度学生有自己的申请通道。
中国学生可以申请一个针对中国人的奖学金：Yongren Fellowship，申请这个奖学金需要满足以下条件：
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a citizen of China and a resident of China attending high school in China;
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in grade 9, 10, 11 or 12 when applying. (University students are not eligible, though they may be eligible to apply to be a counselor at PROMYS.)
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at least 14 (and no older than 18) by the first day of the program;
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unable to participate in PROMYS without financial assistance; and
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proficient in English: Able to participate fully in mathematical discussions held entirely in English (a TOEFL or IELTS score is not required or accepted nor are SAT scores)
无论从以上三个中选择哪一个进行申请，或者意向其他高质量数学项目如AwesomeMath、UPenn Mathematics Academy、Canada/USA Mathcamp等等，学生和家长需要直面以下三个问题：
✔ 数学能力是否足够？（通过在校数学成绩、过往数学竞赛成绩、入营测试题）
✔ 对数学是否足够热爱？（数学营地不同于数学竞赛，基本每天就是作题、作题、作题，讨论、讨论、讨论，如果只能应付一两场竞赛，但是想到持续高强度作题就头疼，那你不适合）
✔ 英语能力是否足够？（数学营地是一个短期课程，需要使用英文上课、讨论，所以英文读写听说要过关）
【竞赛报名/项目咨询+微信：mollywei007】
