MathPath - How to Apply

Complete the online application form. This is an interest form and should be completed first, well before submitting the Qualifying Test or other components of the application. This form takes only about ten minutes to fill out, is non-committing, is free, and prepares the admission team to receive the rest of the application. The applicant and a parent/guardian should fill this form out together. Applicants should fill this form out even if they are not certain that they want to go to MathPath or that they will be available for the specific dates of the program. At the very latest, submit the online application form at least 48 hours before doing any of the steps below.

As part of submitting the online application form, the applicant will be asked to make up a 4-digit code number, which will then be given to the recommenders. This code is meant to verify recommender submissions and link them to the proper applicant. Please make a record of the code number, so as not to forget or lose it.

Request an academic recommendation. The applicant needs to ask a math teacher, or math coach, or someone else who knows them through math to complete the confidential online academic recommendation form. The recommender cannot be a parent of the applicant, or other close relative, except by special permission from Prof Maurer, who can be contacted at pastexecdir@mathpath.org. Give the recommender the URL of the recommendation form, which is

https://swarthmore.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bd8d0y9WkKdpRfn

along with the applicant's code number, explained above. Please make it clear that the recommender should not be writing a letter. They need to fill out a form, with checkboxes and short answers. The form should take around 15 minutes to complete. The recommender should look at the form before drafting any responses; otherwise they are likely to waste time preparing material for the wrong sort of recommendation.

Request a non-academic recommendation. The applicant also needs to ask a different adult who knows them well in a non-academic capacity to complete the confidential online non-academic recommendation form. This might be a family friend, music teacher, athletic coach, scout leader, chess coach, pastor, etc. The recommender cannot be a parent of the applicant, or other close relative, except by special permission from Prof Maurer. Give the non-academic recommender the URL of the recommendation form, which is

https://swarthmore.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8oFrutITyvVYVSd

along with the applicant's code number. As with #2, please make it clear to the recommender that they should not be writing a letter; they need to fill out a form.

Complete the Qualifying Test. Finally, applicants must submit their work on the 2020 Qualifying Test, aka QT. The test packet includes detailed instructions about how the QT must be completed and submitted. Remember, the QT must be completed by the applicant alone and representative of their knowledge only. Applicants should do their best original work for the QT, and should not rush to complete it, since this is the most important component of an application. It is better to take a few more days to think and write good solutions than to rush through the test and submit sloppy or incomplete solutions.

How to Submit Materials. We strongly prefer admissions materials to be submitted as attachments to email sent to Daniel Wallick, at admissions.assistant@mathpath.org. Admissions materials submitted as hardcopy should be sent to

MathPath
c/o April Verser, Program Director
265 N Oakhurst Ave, Apt 24
Aurora IL 60504 (USA)

When sending hardcopy, there is no need to use express mail or priority mail, unless it is very close to a deadline or the materials are being sent from outside the USA. In particular, do not use Cerftified Mail or any other service that requires a signature, as the post office will not deliver it if no one is home. All received mail will be acknowledged via email. If it is close to a deadline, please confer with the Program Director (april.verser@mathpath.org) before mailing any hardcopy.

Confirmations. Each time an item (online application, recommendation, QT, registration, forms required of attendees) is received, the applicant will receive an email acknowledgement. Applicants will also be informed by email when their file is complete. If you are expecting a confirmation, wait 5 days, and if it has still not arrived check with admissions.assistant@mathpath.org.

Rolling Admissions. For most of the application year, there is no fixed closing date for applications, which are reviewed in the order they are received. Once approximately 75 percent of students have been registered (typically in early March), the admissions process switches to a due-date system. At this time, the homepage of the website will announce two dates, 1) the last date up to which completed applications are guaranteed to get full consideration, and 2) a final closing date, after which the online application will be removed and applications that are not already complete will no longer be considered. In general, an applicant's chances are better if they complete their application prior to this announcement.

Registration. Admitted students will receive an email with their admissions decision and a Registration Form. To reserve a place, the Registration Form must be returned in a timely manner, along with payment. Earlier payments in full receive greater fee reductions. However, all that is necessary to reserve a place is a deposit of $1000, so long as full payment is received by May 31. If an applicant is eligible for financial aid, the admission notice will include information about determining the amount and due dates of payments.