"One thing I love about PROMYS is the freedom given to us on the problem sets to explore and choose what topics we'd like to study in more detail. From the plethora of topics presented as numerical problems in the problem sets, we can choose the ones which look the most interesting to us and study them deeply, supported ably by our counselor who also provides us with additional resources to guide our explorations. Along with the 3 lecture series and the one-off lectures given by visiting professors and people associated with PROMYS, it turned out be a pretty rewarding mathematical experience.
Staying alone for 6 weeks taught me to be responsible and take care of myself and my belongings. I'd never been away from my parents for that long before. I met many people with similar interests and hobbies and made good friends with them. PROMYS was way more social than I expected and I had a great time.
I found the PROMYS community welcoming and supportive. I made friends with many people whom I intend to remain in touch with for a very long time. Everyone was very warm, welcoming and supportive. Whether it be doubts on the problem set, on improving my proof writing style, or just asking where to take out pizza from, everyone was willing to help.
I haven't had any mathematical experiences similar to PROMYS. Nothing else comes close to it.
PROMYS doubtlessly was the most rewarding experience in my life, mathematically and socially. My academic experience at PROMYS changed the way I think about math problems and I discovered just how exciting and deep math can be. The lectures in Number Theory were packed with a lot of content relative to their length without compromising on their quality. The exposure I got in terms of the professors and peers I got to meet and interact with was invaluable.
Besides advising me on which areas to focus on based on my strengths, my counselor steered my thoughts by providing me constructive insights in his feedback. This guidance encouraged me to work harder and taught me how to approach problem from different angles."
