RYSP
Rutgers Young Scholars Program
in Discrete Mathematics
July 8 - August 2, 2024
An in-person residential program. All participants comply with Rutgers health requirements in effect at the time.
- Are you fascinated by mathematics?
- Do you like to solve challenging and puzzling mathematical problems?
- Are you curious about what mathematicians do?
- Would you enjoy living on a college campus for one month and exploring mathematics?
If you answered yes to these questions, the Rutgers Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics invites you to join other talented and highly motivated high school students for an academically challenging summer at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
About the Program
The Rutgers Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics is a summer program for mathematically talented high school students. It provides a mathematically rich environment to students interested in mathematics, and is designed to encourage them to consider careers in the mathematical sciences.
Selected students participate in an intensive four-week residential academic program that provides a challenging introduction to discrete mathematics -- a growing area of the mathematical sciences with many applications on the cutting edge of modern research.
During the program, you will develop and enhance your problem-solving abilities by applying mathematical concepts to a wide range of problems. You will also meet distinguished professionals in the field of discrete mathematics who will serve as role models and mentors and help you decide if mathematics is the right field for you. Teaching assistants who are embarking on their own careers in mathematics will provide additional academic support.
Click here to see a sample schedule and program notes.
The program is held on the Busch campus of Rutgers University. Students are housed in a modern, air-conditioned residence hall. The classroom building, computer laboratories, student center, and recreation center are within walking distance of the residence hall. Residence life staff members coordinate the residence program and recreational activities. This program has taken place at Rutgers every year (except two) since 1990, and its participants have consistently given it very high ratings.
Tuition and Fees
The cost of the program for 2024 will be $4,500; that includes tuition, materials, housing, and meals from Monday lunch though Friday lunch each week.
Students return home each weekend. Students who live at a distance are welcome to apply if they have relatives or family friends who live in the area and with whom they can stay on the weekends, or can make arrangements outside of Rutgers for weekend home hospitality for the three weekends (9 nights) during the program.
A limited number of scholarships will be available for students in need; international students are not eliglible for scholarships.
How to Apply
Note: The 2024 RYSP has now been filled with qualified applicants (and there is a waitlist of qualified students to fill any spots that become open). So the application process is now closed. Please check this page in December for information about the 2025 RYSP.
When you apply for admission to the program, you will be asked to solve a set of interesting mathematical problems (click here to see a sample problem). Your responses to these problems and other application information will be reviewed by our staff.
Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis for as long as space is available. Students from underrepresented groups in the mathematical sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.
Click here to get the Application Kit.
Click here to get the 2024 Problems to Explore.
For additional information, contact the program director by email at
| For links to math programs nationwide for high school students, visit http://www.ams.org/opportunities |
Sponsorship and Funding
The Rutgers Young Scholars Program in Discrete Mathematics is sponsored by the Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences Department of Mathematics and the Center for Discrete Mathematics and Computer Science (DIMACS).
The program was initially funded by the National Science Foundation. It received additional support from the AT&T Foundation, Google, Hewlett-Packard, the Mathematical Sciences Department of the IBM T J Watson Research Center, the Prudential Foundation, and the National Security Agency.
