• Cheng-3/4: 3rd and 4th graders should sign up for this level.
• Haynes-5/6: 5th and 6th graders should sign up for this level.
• Brahmagupta-7/8: We’d like all 7th graders and many 8th graders to sign up for Brahmagupta-7/8.
• Cantor-A1/G: This program is meant for 9th and 10th graders enrolled in Algebra 1 or Geometry, and 8th graders that have completed or are enrolled in a high school level Algebra 1 course.
• Kovalevsky-A2/PC: Students who have completed a high school level geometry course should enroll in Kovalevsky.
• Euler: Fall 2025--we will not be holding Euler this fall, but it may return in the future. Euler is meant for students who have completed the two year Kovalevsky cycle.

Our Hubs (open to all 3rd to 12th graders) run in the fall and winter. If you have good attendance in the fall you can re-enroll in the winter and vice-versa. We also have summer camps; our Hubs do not, however, run in the Spring (in Chicago, that's the time of year to get outside before it gets too hot). Find a Hub on the map to see the specific days that site holds sessions!

Our After School Program math circles run during the seasons determined by the teacher leading the individual program; some run fall, winter, and spring, and a few even run their own MC2 summer camps.

If you are new to MC2, when you register you will be informed that you have entered the lottery. On the priority deadline day, a lottery is run. Students in public schools in Chicago fill spots first; otherwise, each student in the lottery has an equal chance for admission. Admissions emails are sent out that day.

‍

If you attended math circles the previous semester, attending at least three sessions, you can re-enroll at the same site. You must do so before the priority deadline to re-enroll. Note that there is no re-enrollment for summer--all students applying for summer enter a lottery; students can enroll after the lottery runs if space is available.

‍

Students who miss the first day of math circles and who do not notify their site coordinator via email prior to that day will be dropped if that program has a waitlist. Students who are admitted from the waitlist will be notified at least one week before the corresponding site’s second meeting.

No. Historically the high school programs–Kovalevsky-A2/PC and Euler–have not had waitlists. The programs that have had waitlists most frequently are Cheng-3/4 and Haynes-5/6 at our Saturday sites.

Our sessions are designed to challenge all students, especially advanced ones. Because math circles are a social experience and an educational experience, students are learning to be in a math community with their peers in age.

Cheng is for 3rd and 4th graders

Haynes is for 5th and 6th graders

Brahmagupta is for 7th and 8th graders

High school students can choose to register for Cantor if they have less previous experience with math circles, and Kovalevsky is encouraged for advanced math students in high school.

‍
We do rarely make exceptions, but only for students who have already taken at least one year of the program at their appropriate grade level, i.e. a 7th grader who takes a full year of Brahmagupta will have a stronger case petitioning to take Cantor as an 8th grader.

Yes! Our new 3rd/4th grade program launched in the fall of 2023! This program is called Cheng-3/4 and is offered at all of our Hubs.

We're sorry, but we do not admit 2nd graders into our programs.

Generally, yes. You do need to have good attendance (no more than 3 absences in a quarter), and you are only guaranteed a spot at the same location. Please note: Because we do not have nearly as many spaces available in our summer camps as we do in our academic year program, no one is guaranteed a spot in the summer. However, we generally give priority to students who have strong attendance during the school year priority in our summer lottery as much as we can.

Yes! We continue to allow students enroll (if space is available) up until 2 days before the 4th session of the semester.

Yes! Our Hub programs are open to students from anywhere.