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MathILy

MathILy is a five-week residential program run by a nonprofit, where about 45 high school students spend roughly seven hours a day on college-level mathematics centered on discrete math. The admission exam is timed at four hours, and for 2026 the program guaranteed to meet every admitted student's financial need.

Open to international students
Tuition · aid available

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Size and selectivityAbout 45 students

Photo: Vitaly Gariev / Pexels

Eligibility: Open to international students
Cost: Tuition · aid available
Latest deadline: Apr 28, 2026

MathILy at a Glance

Host: Run by the nonprofit Mathematical Staircase, Inc.; in 2026 at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Field: Mathematics: undergraduate- and graduate-level material centered on discrete mathematics, including combinatorics, graph theory, affine geometry and theoretical linear algebra, taught through inquiry
Grades and age: High school students; others may apply, but high school students generally take precedence. Applicants outside the 14 to 17 age range may be asked for more information
Citizenship and residency: International students may apply but must obtain their own visas; the program provides instructions to admitted students. Priority for financial aid goes to US students.
Cost: $6,175 ($1,235 per week). Financial aid is based entirely on need and may cover the full fee; for 2026 the program guaranteed to meet the demonstrated need of every admitted student. Aid forms go only to admitted students.
Dates and format: Five weeks in residence, with about seven hours of class a day in morning and evening shifts, six days a week. Two weeks of Root Class are followed by a week of many short classes and then two weeks of advanced Branch Classes. The 2026 session ran June 28 to August 1.
Application dates: Rolling admission begins in the spring, with a decision about a week after an application is complete. For 2026, applications received before April 28 received full consideration, and later ones only if space remained. Dates for 2027 have not been announced.
Application materials: Three steps: a Short Form, the Exam Assessing Readiness completed within a 4-hour block, and the Not-as-short Form, followed by comments from a recommender. MathILy and MathILy-Er share one application, and admitted students are placed by academic fit.
Size and selectivity: About 45 students each year. The number of applicants and the admission rate are not published.

Verified against official pages on 2026-10-06 · mathily.org

About MathILy

MathILy is a five-week residential program for mathematically excellent high school students, run by the nonprofit Mathematical Staircase, Inc. The curriculum centers on discrete mathematics, covering undergraduate- and graduate-level topics such as combinatorics, graph theory, affine geometry and theoretical linear algebra. Each class is led by a mathematician with a PhD, supported by one or two math graduate students, and taught by inquiry. The 2026 session ran June 28 to August 1 at Bryn Mawr College near Philadelphia.

MathILy enrolls about 45 students a year and does not publish an admission rate. Applying takes three steps: a Short Form, the four-hour Exam Assessing Readiness and the Not-as-short Form, plus comments from a recommender. The fee is $6,175, aid is based entirely on need, and for 2026 the program guaranteed to meet every admitted student’s need, with priority for US students.

At the end of the summer, instructors write an individual evaluation for each student that describes the student’s work and progress and suggests improvements. MathILy says these can in most cases easily become letters of recommendation.

How to Apply to MathILy

The admission exam must be completed within four hours. Set aside an uninterrupted block and return it within a few weeks of receiving it.
Admission is rolling, and after late April new applications are considered only if space remains. International students who need a visa should apply well before the full-consideration date, as MathILy advises.
MathILy-Er prepares promising students for MathILy and other very selective math programs. The two share one application, and admitted students are placed in one or the other by academic fit.

Application Support for MathILy

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Listed by MIT AdmissionsSummer Programs Recommended by MIT AdmissionsThis program is one of the 23 selective summer programs listed by MIT Admissions. See the full list with eligibility, cost and selectivity for each.

MathILy: Frequently Asked Questions

Does an Irvine student need competition results to apply to MathILy?

The official application does not list competition results as a requirement. MathILy judges readiness mainly through the four-hour admission exam and the recommender's comments. An Irvine student interested in discrete topics such as combinatorics and graph theory can describe that study in the Not-as-short Form.

How much does MathILy cost, and is aid available?

The fee is $6,175, or $1,235 per week. Aid is based entirely on need and can cover the full fee, and for 2026 the program guaranteed to meet every admitted student's demonstrated need. US students receive priority for aid, and aid forms go only to admitted students.

When should an Irvine student apply to MathILy?

Apply well before the late-April full-consideration date. MathILy admits on a rolling basis from the spring and gives a decision about a week after an application is complete; for 2026, applications after April 28 were considered only if space remained.

Can an international student studying in Irvine attend MathILy?

Yes, but the student must obtain a visa independently, with instructions provided after admission. US students receive priority for financial aid.

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Sources3 sources · checked 2026-10-06

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