Stanford Math Circle

Stanford University Stanford Math Circle




Stanford Math Circle

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a math circle?
    • Math circles are weekly gatherings of high school (or younger) students working on problems involving complex and advanced mathematical topics, guided by mathematicians and educators.

    • How do I join the math circle?
    To join the SMC, just show up at our next meeting and introduce yourself! We would love to see you!

    • What should I bring?
    Please bring a pencil, pen, and lots of paper to each SMC session. Occasionally, it will also be useful to have a calculator, so feel free to bring a calculator if you have one. There are water fountains in the hallways, so you may also bring a water bottle. Other than water bottles with lids, no food or drinks are allowed in the classrooms.

    • How much does it cost? How do I register?
    The fee for participation in the SMC is $100 per academic quarter. This fee will generate funding for honoraria for session leaders, website maintenance, administrative costs, and use of the Stanford University facilities. Please note that financial aid is available and that we will not exclude students due to financial hardship, so please let us know if the fee would cause financial difficulty for your family.

    To register:

  1. You need to have an EPGY individual student account. If you have previously been enrolled in an EPGY course and have an EPGY student number, you may skip this step -- however, note that if you only have a school-provided Open Enrollment account, you will need to create a new account.
    • Go to the EPGY webpage and click on Apply & Register.
    • The online application will ask you to submit test scores to EPGY, but it is not necessary that you do this to participate in the Stanford Math Circle. It is also not necessary to take the Mathematical Aptitude Test.

  2. Once you have an EPGY student number, log on to epgy.stanford.edu using your EPGY student number or ID.

  3. Choose "Course Registration" from the menu on the left

  4. Scroll down to the bottom of the registration page. The SMC is listed under "Registration for Mathematics Enrichment Courses." Please select and register for the appropriate SMC course (MCA0, MCB0, MCC0). Note the registration is for one academic quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring).


  • Can I join the circle now if I've already missed multiple sessions?
Yes, definitely! You're more than welcome to join us at any time during the year. We love to meet new people interested in math! In general, the sessions and topics are independent of each other. Some sessions will be harder and some will be easier, depending on the instructor and the particular topic.

  • Do I need to apply to become part of the SMC?
No! The SMC is open to all high school students interested in mathematics. Motivated middle school students are also welcome, though the content of the program is aimed at high school students.

  • Am I advanced enough for the SMC?
The SMC is open to all interested students, regardless of background or level. In fact, the participants' ages, preparation, depth of math knowledge, and maturity vary greatly. We try to provide problems and materials that are interesting to and suitable for everyone. If you're interested in math, we'd love to have you.

  • I didn't quite understand everything at the last session. Should I keep coming anyway?
Absolutely! As many practicing research mathematicians will tell you, it often takes several years to become an experienced problem solver. It's completely fine (and expected) if you need to see a particular topic or discuss a particular idea several times before it starts to make sense. Keep in mind that the material discussed in SMC sessions is very advanced and non-traditional.

  • How can parents help with the SMC?
Parents can help with various aspects of the circle, from providing refreshments during the circle breaks, to helping with the overall organization or donating to the circle. We are completely open to new ideas, and welcome any suggestions that you may have!