Pre-College Programs

Pre-College Math Institute

  Overview

            The Pre-College Math Institute (PCMI) was founded in 1992 as a joint effort between Stanford University School of Engineering and Redwood City School District, as an outreach program to connect Stanford students to middle school students in their neighboring community. PCMI provides six weeks of intensive math curriculum for students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. The program offers four levels of math, ranging from basic math to algebra. Classrooms are run by certified teachers from Redwood City School District, and assisted by 6 Stanford student tutors, who act as role models and provide intensive math tutoring in support of the teacher’s lessons.

 On average, PCMI students gain over one year’s growth in math ability during the six-week program. The program, with the joint support of host campus Stanford University, and the Redwood City School District staff, has become a solid example of K-12 education initiative and community outreach.

Program Vision
The founders and staff of PCMI strongly believe that math can be an equalizing force among underrepresented minorities in an educational setting. PCMI attempts to build student confidence in math through daily testing, one-on-one staff interaction with students, and a positive, achievement-oriented environment.

The Pre-College Math Institute is designed to expose underrepresented minority students to the possibility of a career in math, science or engineering. Math classes are combined with science projects, such as construction and launching of bottle rockets, as well as with mentoring and advising, and recreational activities, like weekly swimming sessions, a T-shirt design contest, and weekly assemblies.

PCMI also engages students in a university environment, by contact with Stanford students, graduate students, and faculty. Finally, PCMI attempts to build skills that will assist students throughout their high school careers, such as study skills, self-teaching, test-taking, and a strong work ethic. 

For Redwood City students and parents:   

       Applications for PCMI 2008 will be available through Redwood City schools beginning in the spring of 2008.

       Please contact your school principals or teachers with questions about this program!

For Stanford tutors:
Applications to tutor for PCMI 2008 will be available online beginning in March of 2008. Please check back periodically for updated information!

K-12 Education Initiatives

Stanford Student Coursework Opportunities:

            Several other K-12 outreach efforts are organized and implemented by Stanford students, who have the option to enroll in individualized instruction (Engineering 199), for course credit. Through Engineering 199, Stanford students have the opportunity to provide “minds-on, hands-on” presentations that bridge the abstract nature of theories to practical examples. The presentations make math, science, and engineering more understandable, and therefore more accessible to young students. These instructional presentations also highlight the contributions made to math, science and technology made by underrepresented minorities.

Stanford University Initiatives:

            Stanford University firmly believes in the importance of educational programs for middle school and high school students. Research has shown that the best way to increase socio-economic diversity in higher education is to improve opportunities for students in their K-12 years.

More About Stanford’s Support of K-12 Education

Stanford Report: President Announces Stanford Challenge

More About Engineering Outreach in K-12

ASEE Prism: Year of Dialogue--Getting the Word Out