Year-round Live Math Courses

Math Overview

Starting Fall of 2023, we will offer our live Math year-round courses in two semesters. Our fundamental courses will be offered in two Parts:
Part-1 will be offered in the Fall semester and cover Algebra, Counting topics,
Part-2 will be offered in the Spring semester and cover Geometry, Number Theory topics.

AlphaStar Math Courses are great opportunities for interested and talented students to improve their math skills. Students are guided and trained by an expert faculty via utilizing national and international competitions in a fun and challenging environment.

In AlphaStar Math classes, students are provided with the necessary background in lectures and trained with different types of problems to master various problem-solving techniques. The classes are problem solving-based, whose curriculum is aligned with prestigious national and international competitions. Please check http://mathcounts.org/ and http://amc.maa.org/ for more information about these competitions.

Fundamental Courses

 

The Math Curriculum at each level has a fundamental course taught in two parts: Part 1 is usually taught in the Fall semester and teaches Algebra and Counting topics, and Part 2 is usually taught in the Spring semester and teaches Geometry and Number Theory topics. For example, the MC25 level (AMC 8/MathCounts Advanced) has the following fundamental courses: MC25F-1 (Part 1), MC25F-2 (Part 2), and MC25F (Parts 1 and 2).

Each part is taught in 16 two-hour live sessions. The courses have lectures with example problems and homework assignments. There is also a discussion forum where students can ask the Faculty and peers questions. The same course material is used for the courses with the same code & name regardless of the term (Fall, Spring, Summer, etc.) they are offered.

During the Live Classes, the Instructor will teach the topic with example problems and review some of the homework problems. Students will have access to recorded sessions from a past or current live class.

For each session, students are encouraged to work an additional 1-2 hours to review the material and work on the homework assignments, preferably on a regular basis when the material is taught fresh. However, there is no deadline for the homework assignments. Hence the students can submit them whenever they want during the 2-year time after the course enrollment. There will be a final exam that students can take online anytime after going through all the course material.

Note: MC15 and MC50 levels do not have homework assignments or exams.

Fees

☆☆☆ NEW ☆☆☆ Introduction to Elementary School Math Competitions Course:
late August – mid May
32 weeks, 90-minute sessions


– Online Live: $1,075 (~$22/hr)
– In-person: $1,495 (~$31/hr)

  • MC20-50 Level Fundamental Courses

    • Online Live Courses: $850 (~$27/hr)
      • Bundle (fall+spring): $1,445 (~$23/hr)
    • In-Person: $1,175 (~$37/hr)
      • Bundle (fall+spring): $1,995 (~$31/hr)

⇒ Online Live/In-person Super Early Registration for Spring courses
by November 30, 2023
Discounts:
Online live – $100, In-person – $150

⇒ Online Live/In-person Early Registration for Spring courses
by December 31, 2023
Discounts:
Online live – $50, In-person – $75

Available Discounts

Course Schedule

Register Now

Dates

Fall (16 sessions): Aug 23, 2023 – Dec 17, 2023

Spring (16 sessions): Jan 10, 2024 – May 12, 2024

Levels and Courses

Below is a short description of each level. For more details and diagnostic exams, please

click for details.

MC15 (Introduction to Elementary School Math Competitions):

For students in grades 4-5 who are good at school math

MC20 (AMC 8/MathCounts Basic):

For middle school students who are familiar with Pre-Algebra topics and want to start training for middle school math competitions

MC25 (AMC 8/MathCounts Advanced):

For middle school students who are familiar with Algebra-1 topics and want to master middle school math competitions

MC30 (AMC 10/12 Basic):

For middle and high school students who are familiar with Algebra-1 topics and want to start training for high school math competitions AMC 10/12

MC35 (AMC 10/12 Advanced):

For middle and high school students who are very comfortable with Algebra-1 topics and want to master high school math competitions AMC 10/12

MC40 (AIME Basic):

For students who are comfortable with AIME qualification and want to start training for AIME, ARML, and high school competitions organized by prestigious universities

MC45 (AIME Advanced):

For students who want to master AIME, ARML, and high school competitions organized by prestigious universities

MC50 (USA(J)MO):

An introductory proof writing course. For students who are confident about USAJMO/USAMO qualification and are willing to work one hour on a single math Olympiad problem.

Diagnostic Exams

If you have further questions about levels and courses, please send us an email at info@alphastar.academy

Please click for diagnostic exams.

Faculty

AlphaStar Academy mainly considers teaching, competition, and education background as well as passion and dedication for the subject when hiring full-time and part-time teachers.
We hire our instructors and TAs from a pool of High School, College, Ph.D. students, school teachers, and University Professors. Our faculty have teaching/coaching/tutoring experience and have expertise in the subject area, regardless of their age.
They have participation and/or training experience in national/international math competitions and Olympiads in Math, CS, and Physics such as USAMO, USACO, USAPhO, IMO, IOI, and IPhO.
They are role models and inspiration for students with their backgrounds and achievements.

AlphaStar Spring Math Course Faculty and guest lecturers for upcoming online/onsite camps and former camps are listed below with their most recent bios.

  • 2023
  • /
  • 2022
  • /
  • Former
  • /

Ali Gurel, Ph.D..

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Math Director (since 2017)
  • Ph.D., Mathematics, Caltech (2008)
  • International Mathematical Olympiad (1996: Silver Medal)
  • American Mathematics Competitions Advisory Panel Member (2008-2012)
  • USA Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) Instructor (2007-2012)
  • Scott Russell Johnson Prize for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, Caltech (2007)

Mehmet Kaysi.

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Math Program Director (since 2017)
  • American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) Problem Writing Committee (2011-2014)
  • Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – USA Team Leader (2013)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Academic Assistant (2012)
  • International Mathematical Olympiad (2004)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Silver Medal (2004)

Emre Gul.

  • AlphaStar Instructors (2021 – present)
  • 12+ years of teaching experience
  • MathCounts coach since 2009

Ali Adali Ph.D..

  • PhD, Mathematics, Ohio State 2017
  • AlphaStar Math Instructor (2011-2016, 2022)
  • EGMO 2014: Problem Grading Committee Member
  • Junior Balkan Math Olympiad (JBMO) 2013: Deputy Leader of the Team USA
  • International Mathematical Olympiad ( 2002: Bronze, 2003: Bronze)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad ( 2002: Bronze, 2003: Silver)

Ata Pir, Ph.D..

  • PhD, Mathematics, Texas A&M University 2018
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Served on Problem Selecting Committee (2012)
  • Academy for Future Faculty Certificate from the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning
  • International Mathematical Olympiad 2004, Bronze Medal
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2004, Bronze Medal

Bahattin Yildiz, Ph.D..

  • PhD, Mathematics ,CALTECH, 2006
  • Assistant/Associate professor, Northern Arizona University, 2017-Current
  • Coordinator in 29th Balkan, 17th Junior Balkan and 3rd European Girls Mathematics Olympiads.

Sylvia Jin.

  • A* Alumnus
  • AlphaStar Winter Camp Instructor (2019, 2020)
  • UC Berkeley Class of 2022 (Math, Statistics)
  • Berkeley Math Tournament Problem Writer (2018 – Present)
  • AIME qualifier (2015 – 2018)
  • Math Prize for Girls qualifier (2016 – 2018)
  • SMT (2018: 5th place team)
  • BMT (2018: 8th place team)

Keshav Ramamurthy (TA).

  • Alphastar Alumni
  • Homestead High School Class of 2025
  • AIME Qualifier(2021)
  • AMC 8 Distinguished Honor Roll(2020)
  • USAMTS Honorable Mention(2021)

Henry Yao (TA).

  • AlphaStar Alumni
  • USAJMO Qualifier
  • AIME Qualifier (2019-2022)
  • Stanford Math Tournament – Number Theory – 2nd Place Individual (2021)

Ali Gurel, Ph.D..

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Math Director (since 2017)
  • Ph.D., Mathematics, Caltech (2008)
  • International Mathematical Olympiad (1996: Silver Medal)
  • American Mathematics Competitions Advisory Panel Member (2008-2012)
  • USA Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) Instructor (2007-2012)
  • Scott Russell Johnson Prize for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, Caltech (2007)

Mehmet Kaysi.

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Math Program Director (since 2017)
  • American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) Problem Writing Committee (2011-2014)
  • Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – USA Team Leader (2013)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Academic Assistant (2012)
  • International Mathematical Olympiad (2004)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Silver Medal (2004)

Emre Gul.

  • AlphaStar Instructors (2021 – present)
  • 12+ years of teaching experience
  • MathCounts coach since 2009

Ali Adali Ph.D..

  • PhD, Mathematics, Ohio State 2017
  • AlphaStar Math Instructor (2011-2016, 2022)
  • EGMO 2014: Problem Grading Committee Member
  • Junior Balkan Math Olympiad (JBMO) 2013: Deputy Leader of the Team USA
  • International Mathematical Olympiad ( 2002: Bronze, 2003: Bronze)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad ( 2002: Bronze, 2003: Silver)

Saahil Sundaresan.

  • Stanford University Class of 2026
  • AIME qualifier with distinction (2 times)
  • 3+ years of math teaching experience
  • USACO Gold
  • USAPhO Qualifier

Hikmet Erdogan.

  • A* Math Instructor (2015: Summer Camp; 2016: Summer Camp)
  • B.S. in Mathematics, Middle East Technical University (2011)
  • MathCounts and AMC Coach, Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas (2010-present)
  • Las Vegas Review Journal and Sierra Nevada College (2015: Educator of the Month for April)
  • The Rogers Foundation Innovation Grant Recipient (2015)
  • Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grants (DMEG) Recipient, MAA Grants (2015)
  • Math Hero Award by The Raytheon Company Recipient (2014)

Isaac Li.

  • UCLA class of 2023
  • Five-time AIME qualifier
  • 199th place in 2019-2020 Putnam Competition
  • USA Computing Olympiad (USACO) Platinum division

Ali Gurel, Ph.D..

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Math Director (since 2017)
  • Ph.D., Mathematics, Caltech (2008)
  • International Mathematical Olympiad (1996: Silver Medal)
  • American Mathematics Competitions Advisory Panel Member (2008-2012)
  • USA Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP) Instructor (2007-2012)
  • Scott Russell Johnson Prize for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, Caltech (2007)

Mehmet Kaysi.

  • AlphaStar Co-founder and Math Program Director (since 2017)
  • American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) Problem Writing Committee (2011-2014)
  • Junior Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – USA Team Leader (2013)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Academic Assistant (2012)
  • International Mathematical Olympiad (2004)
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Silver Medal (2004)

Yalcin Udun, M.Ed..

  • AlphaStar Math Instructor (since 2017)
  • Ph.D. Program, Mathematics Education at U. of Arizona
  • MS.E. in Gifted and Talented Education at ASU
  • Raytheon Math Hero Award (2015)
  • Arizona Mathcounts Team Coach (2012)
  • Math Teacher

Hope Chen.

  • MIT Class of 2019
  • MIT DynaMIT Middle School Science Camp Mentor
  • MIT Global Teaching Labs Instructor

Sinan Kanbir, Ph.D..

  • AlphaStar Academy Instructor since 2017
  • Ph.D. Mathematics Education, Illinois State University (2016)
  • Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin
  • Author of eight research/math contest prep books
  • Item Writer for CWML, MathCON, WMC State Math Contests
  • Math Contest Coach for AMC 8,10,12, AIME, USA(J)MO (20+ years)

Edward Jin.

  • International Chemistry Olympiad Gold Medal (2019)
  • USACO Platinum
  • HMMT February Integration Bee Winner (2019)
  • AIME qualifier (2015 – 2019)
  • CHMMC individual award (2017)
  • BMT individual award (2018)
  • PUMaC team award (2018)
  • MIT Class of 2023 (Double Major in Math and Chemistry, Minor in Computer Science)

Abby Knepper.

  • College of William and Mary Class of 2019, Applied Mathematics major
  • Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Education (2017)
  • William and Mary private math tutor since 2016
  • YMCA summer camp assistant director (2017)

Richard Spence.

  • AlphaStar Alumni
  • A-Star Math Instructor (since 2012)
  • Ph.D., Computer Science, U. of Arizona (2021)
  • B.S., in Math with Computer Science, MIT (2016)
  • USAMO qualifier (2010)
  • MathCounts National qualifier (2007, 2008)
  • National “Who Wants to be a Mathematician” qualifier (2011-2012)
  • Perfect score on AMC 10 (2009)
  • National Scrabble Championship – Div. 2 (2011: Winner)

Joey Heerens.

  • MIT Class of 2023
  • USA(J)MO Qualifier (2015-17: USAJMO, 2018-19: USAMO)
  • AMC 12 Perfect Scorer (2018: AMC 12 A/B, 2019: AMC 12 A)
  • HMMT (2018: 7th place in Algebra & Number Theory, 24th place individual)
  • ARML Tiebreaker Round (2016-18, 2018 12th place individual)
  • USAPhO (2018 Bronze Medal)

Cory Hixson.

  • MIT Class of 2021
  • AIME qualifier (2016, 2017)
  • HMMT Problem Committee
  • Individual High Score Award for Florida A1 (ARML 2017)
  • Perfect Score on 2015 AP Statistics Test
  • Individual Placement at 2017 CMIMC

Andrew Cai.

  • AlphaStar Alumni
  • AlphaStar Math Instructor (summer 2018)
  • UC Berkeley Class of 2022
  • 2016 USAJMO qualifier
  • 2014-2018 AIME qualifier
  • 2017 CHMMC 6th place individual
  • 2017 USAPhO Honorable Mention

Sylvia Jin.

  • A* Alumnus
  • AlphaStar Winter Camp Instructor (2019, 2020)
  • UC Berkeley Class of 2022 (Math, Statistics)
  • Berkeley Math Tournament Problem Writer (2018 – Present)
  • AIME qualifier (2015 – 2018)
  • Math Prize for Girls qualifier (2016 – 2018)
  • SMT (2018: 5th place team)
  • BMT (2018: 8th place team)

Vefa Goksel, Ph.D.

  • Marshall H.Stone Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts-Amherst (2020-Present).
  • Ph.D, Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2020).
  • Honored Instructor Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Fall 2015).
  • Math Graduate Teaching Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2017).
  • Coordinator in the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad 2014, Turkey.
  • Deputy Leader of Turkish National Math Olympiad Team, Balkan Mathematical Olympiad 2012, Turkey.
  • International Mathematical Olympiad – Silver Medal (2009).
  • Balkan Mathematical Olympiad – Silver Medal (2009)

Guanpeng Xu.

  • MIT Class of 2023
  • USAMO Winner (2018,2019)
  • MOP (2016)
  • Putnam Honorable Mention (2020)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2014-2019)
  • USAPhO Silver (2017,2018)
  • Perfect USAMO Index (2016)
  • Coach, CCES MathCounts team (2016)
  • National Mathcounts Written Champion, Countdown Runner-up (2015)

Stanley Wei.

  • UT Austin Turing Scholars Honors Program, Class of 2023
  • Head Coach, Sartartia Middle School MathCounts Team (2nd place at Texas state competition)
  • Putnam Top 350 Scorer
  • USACO Platinum
  • USAPhO Honorable Mention
  • AIME Top 200 Scorer
  • USNCO Semifinalist
  • AMC Distinguished Honor Roll
  • Texas ARML Gold Team Member

Justin Stevens.

  • A* Math Instructor (2015: Summer Camp; 2016: Summer Camp; 2017: Summer Camp)
  • Author of the paper for Olympiad Students, Olympiad Number Theory Through Challenging Problems
  • 4 time AIME Qualifier
  • Mathcounts National Qualifier (2012)
  • SMT (2013: Top 10 General; 2014: Top 5 Algebra)
  • Nevada Prize Exam in Mathematics (2014: District Winner; 2015: State Winner)

Shreyas Ramamurthy.

  • UC Berkeley Class of 2025
  • AlphaStar TA (2018-2021)
  • AlphaStar Academy Alumni
  • USAJMO Honorable Mention (2019)
  • USAMO Qualifier (2020, 2021)
  • USAJMO Qualifier (2018, 2019)
  • AIME Qualifier (2017-2021)

Jieun Lim.

  • Carnegie Mellon University class of 2026
  • AlphaStar Alumni
  • AlphaStar Math Curriculum Developer (2020)
  • AlphaStar TA (2020 – 2021)
  • AIME Qualifier (3 times)
  • Math Prize for Girls Qualifier (2 times)

Jeannie Wang.

  • UC Berkeley Class of 2024 applied mathematics and statistics major
  • AIME Qualifier
  • Stanford University Mathematics Camp 2019
  • United States Chemistry Olympiad 2019
  • Ross Math Program 2018
  • Florida ARML 2018-2019

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