World Mathematics Invitational - USA
Disclaimer: This page is hosted by SDMC as a charitable service in support of the United States delegation to the World Mathematics Invitational. SDMC students do not receive any special consideration in the selection of US WMI participants.
WMI is an annual international individual (rather than team-based) mathematics competition taking place in real time at a single site. The 2014 competition will take place in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from August 9 - 13.
WMI's competition style is similar to that of Math Kangaroo in that it is a competition for individuals and is strongly stratified, providing age-appropriate math challenge for students in all grades. In fact, WMI has a distinct examination available for every grade level from K through 12. Unlike Math Kangaroo, however, WMI takes place at a single site with students converging from points around the world to share a common experience.
Cultural exchange is a significant aspect of WMI. This includes the incorporation of excursions to famed cultural and natural sites in and near Taipei and the opportunity for students from different countries to interact outside of competitive events.
General information about WMI can be found at the following links:
The preliminary announcement of 2014 WMI can be found here.
A brief itinerary indicating locations, excursions, and hotels can be found here.
Note that air travel to and from Taiwan will be through Taoyuan International Airport, which serves Taipei and the surrounding region.
Unlike team-based events, the US WMI delegation will consist of the simple aggregate of those students who participate, without particular organization into groups based on age or ability. The US delegation could thus range from a heterogenous aggregate of single students of different grade levels, to a homogenous group of students of one grade level.
While it is intended that US WMI participants be students of demonstrated math ability, there is no intention to apply rigorous screening criteria unless circumstances demonstrate a need to limit the total number of US participants. If it becomes necessary to limit the size of the US delegation, selection will be made on the basis of information provided on each student's application form (see below) and such other information as can be obtained from sources believed to be reliable.
Citizenship and Residency Requirements
The fundamental requirement for a student to be admissable to the US WMI delegation is that the student is a current full-time student in a US school, public or private. It is not specifically required that the student be a US citizen, legal resident, or green card holder.
It IS necessary that US WMI travelers possess a valid passport from the United States or another country from which a Taiwan visa can be issued. Under most circumstances, US passport holders do not require a visa to enter Taiwan, but the US passport should have six months validity remaining on the date of entry into Taiwan. We would recommend that students interested in participating in WMI or other international events go ahead and acquire or renew their passports since a valid passport is a good thing to have in any case.
Cost
There is currently no direct sponsorship available for US WMI participation, so students' families must be responsible for significant costs, including the following:
Registration - Each student is responsible for a registration fee US$35.
Local Costs - US$490 per student covers most meals for 5 days, 4 nights of hotel rooms, transportation (including airport pick up and drop off), sightseeing tours, translator/guide escort, certificates, medals, trophies, souvenirs, etc.
Travel Costs - Each student's travel expenses from their home to Taiwan is their own family's responsibility.
Some personal funds in Taiwan currency will be needed for shopping opportunities and one unstructured meal to be experienced in the context of a night market.
Parents or Other Family Members
Parents or other family members are welcome to accompany a participating student to WMI provided that the hosting unit is able to accommodate them. In fact, accompanying adults are an important part of the delegation; they are needed to help support the competition and to provide appropriate supervision of students throughout the trip. There are usually enough parents in the delegation that the adult/student ratio is quite low.
Accompanying persons do not have to pay the student registration fee, but otherwise are subject to the same costs as the participating students.
How to Apply (USA only)
Our principal tool for receiving applications is a Google Form accessed through the link below. You may indicate a general interest by completing just the first page of required information, or you may indicate your intention to be considered as a full participant by completing the form in full.
Access the Google Form application here.
IMPORTANT - our form is designed to permit you to return and edit or add information at later dates; however, for this to be possible, you must save the return link that is embedded in the confirmation screen that appears upon submission of your edited form, as illustrated in the graphic below. If you fail to preserve this unique link, you may have to recreate the entire form from scratch.
This confirmation screen is the only automated confirmation you will receive, but you will see this screen any time you edit your application form. Once you submit your application, we have your contact information. Most of the organization of the US delegation will ramp up near the end of the school year; you should not expect significant "live" communications until that time.
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