University of Chicago Young Scholars Program

# University of Chicago Young Scholars Program YSP is the University of Chicago mathematics department's long-running outreach program, offering "mathematically talented 7th through 12th graders in the Chicago area an opportunity to explore mathematics that are not generally taught in schools." The Summer 2026 program ran June 29 through July 24 on the Hyde Park campus, with number theory as the mathematical content for the year. ## What You'll Do - Attend weekdays from 9:30am to 2:30pm in four 75-minute sessions per day - Take two lecture-based classes led by University of Chicago faculty members - Work in a small group session led by an undergraduate mathematics major - Study a single deep topic - Summer 2026 was number theory - for four consecutive weeks - Learn in a cohort matched to your grade band: grades 7-8, 9-10, or 11-12 ## Who Should Apply Chicagoland-area students who will be in grades 7-12 in the coming school year. Applicants from outside the region may apply but must arrange their own transportation and lodging, since the university does not provide housing for YSP participants. The program is a day camp, requires an application, and is significantly selective. YSP uses a tiered participation fee based on household income rather than a single price. ## Outcomes YSP students spend four weeks doing university-style mathematics with University of Chicago faculty - a level of depth and continuity a school year rarely allows. The tiered fee structure and Chicago-area focus make it one of the more accessible selective math programs in a major US city.