<p>skibum4,
RSI is not a math camp. It's an eight-week program at MIT that deals with intensive research with a mentor. The first couple of weeks are focused on research methods, and general info, which some posters on CC (as well as people we know IRL) find limits their ability to get substantive project work done while at RSI. About 1200 apply, 50 are accepted. If your local community offers great research opportunities, we've found that can be just as (if not more) useful than RSI. </p>
<p>S1 was an RSI alternate, instead chose to work with a prof at the local flagship and did extraordinarily well w/his research.</p>
<p>The previous summer, he attended HCSSiM (Hampshire Summer Studies in Mathematics), which is a terrific program for kids who like to play with their math. It is not geared to the competitions, though S found that the things he learned helped with competitions and in post-AP math courses. Size is about 40-50 kids, many staff, and is six weeks long. It changed my S's life. S was 15 when he attended. The kids spend mornings and evenings doing math; afternoons are for hanging out, napping, sports, etc. No homework assignments.</p>
<p>Thanks Tokenadult and Counting down for the info -- sounds like you have some very talented children! </p>
<p>Tokenadult -- how does your S like the program so far? My S attended a select math program in our region, and we were told by the head (who is well known mathematician), that Ross is program to do, if you can handle the 8 weeks. </p>
<p>Counting down, now that I realize that RSI is research, my S will likely try for it during the 2010 or 2011 summer. I'll look into the Hampshire program too for next summer. Another posting about a program at Brown also looks interesting. Many thanks for the advice.</p>
<p>Is anyone going to Mathcamp at Portland this year?</p>
<p>Answering the question asked above, I'll report that my son seems to be liking Ross quite well this year. It was his first choice program this summer (he was there as a first year two summers ago) and once he got in he didn't apply anywhere else. He seems to be pushing through his problem sets fairly steadily and to have made a fresh group of friends to hang out with this summer. I'll note as a parent that the financial support for Ross is lavish, so no one need fear not having enough money to go.</p>