<p>carolyn, what a coincidence: my S just said to me today that maybe he could be a CTY RA in a few years! Exciting to hear about the documentary crew: I'll be watching for it, I suspect the CTY staff will send out emails when it's imminent.</p>
<p>Alumother, the director at Loyola Marymount in LA told us today that this is now the second largest CTY location (after JHU in Baltimore). 13 of the 18 students in my S's academic class this session are 15 or 16 yr old boys -- there are also 2 girls and 3 boys who are 14. (The instructor said, "I'm going to try to rewrite the course decription next year to try to attract more girls." Interestingly, all the instructors in the biology, physics, and math sequence classes at LMU are women.) Some of the classes are typically more attractive to the older students, as is the second session: typically the younger students flock to the first session, and the second session is more older students. There were plenty of 15 and 16 years olds we ran into today who were there for their first CTY session. They always try to group them in residence halls based on age and course if possible. So I wouldn't rule out LMU as an option for your S next summer, if he wants to try it and they offer courses he's interested in. (Very convenient to get to from the Bay Area.)</p>
<p>They're going to have a great time, I can just feel it.</p>
<p>I only wish I had known about this sooner, or that as soon as I found out I had acted. Son's summer this year has consisted of sporadic soccer camps, lots of movies, and hanging with his best friends since toddlerhood. Not that that is wrong in principle, but it seems to me that this is the critical stage for teenage boys to form their identities as men, which role will they play? I want him to keep the part of himself that at the age of 3, when he couldn't yet read, memorized most of the insects in the thick California Insects handbook. Such that all the other kids in nursery school would come and ask him, S, what is this? Even the teachers asked him. I do not want his stellar characteristic to be diffidence, when he was so notable as a little boy for his enthusiasms.</p>
<p>Mootmom, Thanks for the info on LA. Will your son be there next year?</p>
<p>BTW, if I am hijacking this thread beyond common interest, please PM me instead. I was judging that at this point we are still in the realm where someone else might benefit from your answers...</p>
<p>Carolyn - It's exactly that pace thing. So S would have to give up a little of the too-cool-for-school pose and try for once. </p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. I sound tough but I'm not. He's my baby and I still kiss him every day I get the chance. And he lets me.</p>
<p>Alumother - Many smart kids suffer from the "not cool to be smart" thing during the school year, and then really stretch themselves with like-minded peers in selective summer programs. Look for the ones that require an application process. Avoid the ones that anyone who pays money can attend. Here's a list of some other than CTY if you are thinking about next summer -
<a href="http://www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ams.org/employment/mathcamps.html</a></p>
<p>My daughter started her first CTY experience yesterday and this thread has been a comfort to read. I'm sure she'll have some bumps along the way, but it's nice to read so many positive experiences. I hope she's not missing us half as much as we're missing her. I guess it's a good baby-step towards the letting go we'll have later with college.</p>
<p>My S had been going to overnight camp since 5th grade, so he was very primed for CTY. S also used to go to the second session to increase his chances of getting into the courses he wanted to take. CTY camps are very well run and they tend to the social aspects as well as to the academic side. They keep the kids busy with classes as well as games/movies and other activities. S never seemed to have time to call home! I'm sure your D will enjoy herself.</p>
<p>We dropped our youngest off at Lancaster on Sunday, after picking her up at Northwestern on Friday. She's done the CTD (Northwestern) camp for two years and wanted to try CTY this year. If you hear any news about Number Theory, please post! My dd's one of only three girls in this class, and maybe one of the youngest (at 14, entering 9th)? The other two girls were entering 10th grade, and the three boys whose parents I met were all 10th and 11th graders. </p>
<p>After she returns, I'll post a comparison note about the two programs if there is interest.</p>
<p>Although your daughter may be one of the youngest in that particular class, CTY classes (the ones we're all talking about anyway) are for 7th graders and older (they have a younger students program also). Sometimes there is a range of ages from 12 through almost 17 in the classes.</p>
<p>No first-hand info on Number Theory, sorry. (Probability and Game Theory gets two sets of thumbs-up from my sons, though.) Do let us know how she enjoys it.</p>
<p>If your D likes math, for next year, she may wish to consider PROMYS (number theory required of all first-years) or another math camp such as Canada-USA Math Camp or HCSSIM.</p>
<p>EconProf - One of my son's best friends from CTY both years is 2 years younger than Son. He had just turned 12 when they were in CTY last year (Son was 14). Son was surprised when he found this out as he really hadn't noticed any difference between him and his friend, socially or intellectually. I think they're all pretty much considered equals at CTY, regardless of age.</p>
<p>What did you think of the dorms at Lancaster? Last year, my son was at St. Mary's College of Maryland and had what we have taken to calling the luxury suite so Lancaster was a bit of a let down. He also complained a bit about the food at Lancaster but somehow managed. Hope your daughter has a great time --- my son wishes he could still be there!</p>
<p>My son was in CTY Lancaster second session when he had his twelfth birthday last year. He was the youngest in his Probability and Game Theory class (good class, I agree) by a whole year. His youth didn't seem to cause any social issues. </p>
<p>And ditto to Texas137's recommendation of the Art of Problem Solving Web site (which, incidentally, is where I learned about this College Confidential site).</p>
<p>The room at Lancaster looked heavenly after Northwestern. The room at Northwestern was about 180 sq. ft., and very old furnishings (falling apart old). One small closet for the two to share, and no air conditioning.</p>
<p>The room at Lancaster seemed bigger, with newer furnishings and air conditioning. The hallway, however, smelled of boiled cabbage. The Lancaster campus is very appealing, and much more manageable. She had a 15 minute walk to her class at NW -- just 2 - 3 minute walk at Lancaster. </p>
<p>I've looked at PROMYS, and will point it out to her for next year. I think she liked the idea of having three weeks of humanities ("The American Novel") followed by three weeks of math this summer. Of course, who knows what will appeal next year! Thanks for the ideas.</p>
<p>My son (16) just finished number theory at CTY Lancaster. It was a great course. Very difficult conceptually -- lots of proofs -- and it stretched your brain, according to him. However, it's taught in a very entertaining way (famous for inventive skits and each kid gets a theorem named after him/herself). Apparently, the two most experienced number theory teachers are teaching session two this year, so your daughter really lucked out! There were boys and girls in my son's class -- mostly older kids. My son's had calculus, but the course apparently doesn't require any math beyond algebra 2. He absolutely LOVES CTY -- both the courses and the social aspect, and is very sad that this is his no-more year. Let us know how your daughter does!</p>
<p>We picked up our dd last weekend from CTY-Lancaster. Honestly, I think this was the best experience of her life! Number Theory was very hard for her -- lots of proofs, and she was close to the youngest kid in the class (there were two boys with birthdays three months after hers). But she didn't seem to mind the challenge, and -- as the previous writer indicated -- the class was very entertaining. </p>
<p>Most of the other kids in the class were no mores (last year at CTY), but in our inexperience we didn't know that most kids take NT in their final year at CTY. Our dd has two more years to attend! Being in class with a set of no mores, she fell in with the "traditionalists" and participated in all of the Lancaster traditions (bathrobes on Thursdays, the Canon, passionfruit, etc.) </p>
<p>In any case, she can't wait to go back. </p>
<p>On another note: we live in Iowa, and our dd did not meet anyone else from the Great Plains. Most of her friends were from NY and CA. So she was able to dispel some myths held by the NY and CA kids: (1) yes, we do have cable TV; (2) yes, we do have the internet; (3) yes, we do have cell phone service!</p>
<p>My dd said that No Mores were kids that were in their last year of CTY and, because of age restrictions, could not come back. Nevermores were kids that could come back, but didn't for whatever reason. This is second hand information, and I may have misunderstood or gotten the two terms mixed up.</p>
<p>Oh well, it doesn't matter, I'm probably off-base. I just heard the term "nevermores" when my son went to CTY several years ago (he will be 21 this Sept.) and I thought they were kids who were too old to come back. I had never heard of "No mores" !</p>
<p>nevermores are too old to ever come back.
nomores arent too old but will not come back for any other reason.
5 year freaks are people who can come for 5 years iinstead of the normal 4 because they will not turn 17 untill after september 1st of their senior year of high school.</p>