By Sara Mumolo, Director of Online Outreach Programs
An innovative center for pre-collegiate education at Stanford OHS, the Outreach Programs offer academically motivated pre-college students the opportunity to build connections with peers from around the world. Our learning communities foster critical thinking, celebrate diversity, and ensure that the next generation of global citizens have an opportunity for academic accomplishment and reward.
Outreach programs served over 1,700 students in 2021 through one academic year program and four summer enrichment programs, including Stanford Math Circles, Stanford University Math Camp, Stanford Humanities Institute, Summer Institutes, and Stanford Medical Youth Science Program.
Stanford Math Circles (SMC)
Serving pre-college students of all ages, from first graders through high school seniors, Stanford Math Circle is an enrichment program for mathematically motivated and curious students during the academic year. Stanford Math Circles bring students together with mathematically passionate instructors to introduce students to the elements of mathematical culture and ideas. Students work on interesting problems or topics outside the school curriculum, encouraging a sense of discovery about mathematics.
“Math Circles connect students to math as mathematicians see it; not as a dreary set of mastery drills... but as a rich, deep, beautiful field with a wide range of methods, concepts and applications that reward thoughtfulness and creativity. The details are different in our younger grades than in our high school program, but that mission resonates through everything we do.” Theodore Alper, Director, Stanford Math Circles and Stanford OHS Instructor
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)
SUMaC engages rising juniors and seniors in a deep, meaningful exploration of mathematics. Students develop as mathematicians by exploring topics central to mathematics through their historical significance and their relevance to current mathematical research. “Since its inception over 25 years ago, SUMaC has played a pivotal role in the development (mathematical and otherwise) of students who have attended. This program has attracted many excellent students to later studies at Stanford, either at the undergraduate or graduate level, and the Math department regards it as an important component of our overall profile. Fittingly, one of the more recent faculty members in my department is a SUMaC alum!’’ Rafe Mazzeo, Faculty Director, Online High School; Chair, Department of Mathematics and SUMaC co-founder.
“I found SUMaC Program II to be a highly intensive, enjoyable, and collaborative experience that allowed me to deepen my mathematical thinking skills and meet like-minded peers. In just three weeks, I went from having very little experience in topology and differential geometry to reading graduate level books on these topics. I would recommend this program to anyone who is interested in advanced mathematics and wants to explore it in an immersive and challenging way.” - SUMaC 2021 student.
Stanford Humanities Institute (SHI)
Stanford Summer Humanities Institute students are high school juniors and seniors who explore the big questions at the heart of the humanities. Through college-level lectures by Stanford faculty, readings, and discussion sections, students investigate philosophical questions and pursue research topics that excite them. SHI students work with students from around the world and grow as global citizens. “The goal of the Stanford Summer Humanities Institute is to bring together high school students who are particularly interested in the humanities so that they can experience what a humanities class and what humanities research is like at a top university.” Professor Dan Edelstein, Faculty Director of Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Summer Institutes Online (SIO)
Summer Institutes is an online summer program where participants engage in single-subject intensive study through two week courses. Offering over 35 courses to 8-11 graders in subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Business, Bioscience, Computer Science, Creative Writing, Engineering, Legal Studies, Math, Physics, and more, Summer Institutes, develops students' academic curiosity. Courses deliver advanced content not typically found in the high school curriculum.
“Classes and office hours are truly exciting. My classmates have probably fostered the most engaging learning environment that I ever experienced. Each class could have lasted ten hours.” - Summer Institutes 2021 student
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program (SMYSP)
SMYSP is an acclaimed biomedical pipeline program that aims to diversify the health professions by offering educational enrichment in the biological and medical sciences, as well as college admissions support to low-income high school students. SMYSP was founded in 1988 by a small group of committed Stanford faculty and students who believed in the need to reach highly deserving high school students from Northern California's low-income families and communities, and inspire them to attend college. SMYSP is comprised of students who are often missed by educational enrichment programs. Priority is given to students who have a strong desire to attend college and enter scientific and health professions, but lack the necessary preparation, financial support, and other resources to advance their education. The program introduces students to college life; it challenges them with advanced college-level work and provides a motivating academic and social environment that is often unavailable to them in high school. An intensive five-week academic enrichment experience, SMYSP is unique in its mission, success, longevity, and contributions to the local community.
“This summer at SMYSP I learned about imposter syndrome and how it truly is possible to make it to these top-notch schools like Stanford. I learned all about different parts of the medical career path, different jobs and specializations in the medical field, anatomy through a real-life human cadaver, public health, mental health, professional development, and tips for how to get into different top-tier schools. I developed crucial skills in SMYSP in researching and in group work; learning how to write a thorough research paper, how to conduct proper research, and how to efficiently work with a group in combining specific individual topics into a wider subtopic.”- SMYSP student ‘21
Outside of their academic coursework, Outreach Programs students build community with peers through student life seminars and social activities that center around health and wellness, leadership, career planning, design thinking, cross-cultural communication, and more.
Middle School Scholars Track
One of the goals of Outreach Programs is to design and implement programs that support Stanford and OHS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion goals. A new initiative launching in summer 2022 that supports this goal is The Middle School Scholars Program. This new program enhances the preparation of low socio-economic middle school students from diverse and intersecting communities to apply to college-preparatory high schools, including Stanford OHS. The initiative will bridge Summer Institute courses in STEM and Humanities with admission into Stanford OHS middle school courses. The 45 students who enroll will also benefit from access to resources from Stanford OHS, such as Admissions, Advising, Counseling, the Writing and Tutoring Center, and Student Life to foster a sense of community and belonging. Each Middle School Scholars student’s tuition will be supplemented, alleviating the financial burden to attend.
The Middle School Scholars Program is an example of collaboration between the Outreach Programs team and teams across Stanford OHS. We are excited to launch this new initiative in Summer ‘22 and, and we continue to explore more innovative ways to build meaningful bridges between the Outreach Programs and the Stanford OHS community.
Impact at a glance
Programs
Students Served
Math Circles
852
Stanford University Mathematics Camp
68
Summer Humanities Institute
264
Summer Institutes
567
Stanford Medical Youth Science Program
30
Total
1,781