Olympiad Training for Individual Study (OTIS)
OTIS is a proof-based olympiad training program. (Students not yet ready for proofs may be interested in my list of mentors and programs.)
About OTIS#
Syllabus#
Other documents#
Read the above syllabus first if you’re new to OTIS.
- Video tour of website
- List of topics (now featuring artwork)
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Example materials from each of the three difficulty tracks:
The OTIS Excerpts#
Around the start of 2019, I posted publicly a collection of 202 problems and solutions based on materials for OTIS. This mini-book was named The OTIS Excerpts. It’s designed to mostly be beginner-friendly though some of the chapters are more challenging.
Application — Year XI (2025-2026)#
The application for 2025-2026 will be posted sometime in May/June 2025 and be due August 1, 2025. The homework problems will be the same as last year, so if you are sure you will apply you can look at the 2024-2025 application to get started.
Who can apply (aka, everyone)#
OTIS is open to anyone, including international students from all countries. Students from minorities and underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply. (I promise I don’t bite.) Full financial aid is available for all applications (even late) and admissions is need-blind. There are no age restrictions on OTIS in either direction.
Admissions are only done to ensure students have enough mathematical background and writing ability (due to sheer number of students, there is no “grading”), understand English, and are able to learn from Evan-style writing. In particular, admissions is not a merit-based competition. See the application PDF for more details.
People#
Staff#
Staff who were themselves alum’s have their years of participation as students denoted in parentheses.
Game master
- Evan Chen, director
Instructors
- Adhitya Mangudy
- Archit Manas (VII-VIII)
- Galin Totev
- Jeffrey Kwan (IV-V)
- Kanav Talwar (IX)
- Márton Borbényi;
- Michael Ren (I-II)
- Noah Walsh (V-VI);
- Rushil Mathur (VII-VIII)
Past staff
Anant Mudgal (III); Ankan Bhattacharya; Anushka Aggarwal (V); Arindam Bhattacharyya (V); Atul Nadig (VII); CJ Quines; Dávid Matolcsi; Gopal Goel (IV-V); Howard Halim (III-IV); James Lin; Pranjal Srivastava (IV); Ram Goel (V-VII); Reed LaFleche; Rohan Goyal (V); Sanjana Das (VI); Xinke Guo-Xue; Zack Chroman (II-III); Zoltan Gyenes
Photos#
