Williams College Math Camp Application Letter

Dear Williams College Math Camp Admission Team, Since my introduction to your math camp by my father, I have constantly been intrigued about the idea of working and learning with a group of students who are as interested in math as I am. The last time I’ve been among such a group was at the 2017 New York State Math League Competition, and even then, I felt like I couldn’t enjoy the environment and community as much as I could have because of the pressurized, competitive mood. At WCMC, I expect nothing less than a rigorous learning experience, but I am also looking to be able to spend time with like-minded peers who share my passions. Throughout my high school and even middle school careers, I've always been looking to push myself and do everything that I can. Perhaps it is driven by the spite that must fill many women headed into male-dominated fields, or maybe it is the empathy and responsibility I feel towards people who have fewer resources than I do. I’ve cultivated my math skills throughout the five years I’ve spent on school math teams, and I can truly say that I’m proud of the growth I’ve made

I’d say that I am good at explaining my thoughts and reasonings, skills which I’ve built up through writing and teaching middle schoolers violin techniques. I am also very organized, which I think would prove to be useful in a camp setting, especially in an educational one. I have leadership skills from my work as co-president of MathLeague and editor of my school newspaper, and I can work efficiently under pressure. On the social side, I’d consider myself a positive person, but also a realist. I understand the world through my observations and experiences, but I also love to make people laugh with cat stories and bad puns (a cat-astrophic combination, some might say). I work well with others and I am good at coming up with plans and working out