Programs

Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) asks the question, "What does it really take for students to succeed in science, mathematics, engineering, or programming?" and then, "How can we provide advanced math learning opportunities to students who wouldn't otherwise have access to these resources?"

BEAM’s programming begins the summer after 6th grade with a 5-week nonresidential camp for students to try out deep and interesting math and problem solving. Our flagship program, which takes place the summer after 7th grade, is a 3-week program on a college campus to dive into proof-based mathematics. In 8th grade and high school, students can participate in math enrichment classes, STEM and career exploration, and get help with applications to high school, college, and other rigorous STEM programs. For STEM majors, BEAM provides advising and networking through college to access research opportunities, internships, and careers. All BEAM programs are free to students and families.

BEAM brings together top instructors from across the country to teach advanced mathematics and build abstract thinking skills. Students choose from courses on topics such as graph theory, number theory, and combinatorics, as well as applied courses such as programming and astrophysics. A key element of the program is student choice, and students are invited to take the courses that most interest them.

The program (originally called the Summer Program in Mathematical Problem Solving) first ran in 2011 at Bard College with 17 students, and now serves 400 students every summer at programs in New York and Southern California. BEAM students have attended selective high schools such as Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, Brooklyn Tech, and Bard High School Early College. They have also attended rigorous summer programs such as Canada/USA Mathcamp, Center for Talented Youth programs, MathPath, Jane Street AMP, PROMYS, and the Summer Science Program.

BEAM students have attended a diverse list of colleges, including highly selective schools such as Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, MIT, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of Chicago, Wellesley, Yale, and more, majoring in biology, computer science, economics, engineering, mathematics, medicine, physics, and many other STEM fields. The oldest BEAM students are pursuing advanced degrees and have entered careers at Blackrock, GE, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and more.

The USA Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS) is a free mathematics competition open to all United States middle and high school students.

The competition consists of 3 rounds of 5 problems. Students have approximately one month to work on each round and must provide carefully written justifications of their answers. The contest promotes mathematical writing and deep thinking about difficult problems.

The goal of the USAMTS is to help all students develop their problem-solving skills, improve their technical writing abilities, and mature mathematically while having fun.