By Doug Ensley
The MAA’s annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition has been running since 1938, and in the past 50 years, only 10 different institutions have won first place, with Harvard and MIT achieving the feat in two-thirds of those years. The competition is considered to be the most prestigious undergraduate mathematics competition in the world, and it is notoriously difficult. With twelve tough “proof problems” to solve in six hours on a Saturday, a median score of 0 has been fairly common in the past. Of the 4,000 participants in 2024, roughly 40% scored either a 0 or 1 point out of 120 points maximum. And of the 500 or so participating schools, less than 20% of them had more than 10 students competing.
Clearly, most are competing in the Putnam competition not because they believe they will win or even be recognized in the rarefied air of honorable mention glory, but out of intrinsic motivation, a love for mathematical problems, or the inspiration of faculty mentors. In this way the activity is akin to something like running cross country or playing in the school band. These activities require discipline and practice to do well, they can be enormously enjoyable on social and intellectual levels even for those without great aspirations, and they probably involve some coach or director motivating and encouraging students along the way.
California State University - Northridge had 12 students compete in the 2024 Putnam, a very high number for a school that is neither an R1 nor an ultra-competitive liberal arts college. CSUN attributes its turnout to its larger strategy of engaging students in many meaningful problem-solving activities throughout the year. Mathematics Department Chair, Katherine Stevenson, credits multiple individuals for this holistic approach, beginning with Silvia Fernandez and Daniel Katz, who have been teaching a problem-solving class for the past few years. “The popularity of the class has broadened the group of students who see themselves as capable of mathematical inquiry,” Stevenson explains. “One of the ways that has manifested itself is in the number of students taking the Putnam exam each year.”
CSUN faculty members Turbo Ho and Michael Neubauer have advised Putnam-interested students in recent years, and they have focused their efforts on making it a fun, community-building experience instead of worrying about the actual scores. Just ask CSUN students Christian Villalobos and Michael Ward.
Christian Villalobos is a senior mathematics major at CSUN:
“In our department the math rarely just stops in the classroom, and neither does community building or problem solving. Serving on the board of our Math Club I see how much our professors want our students to grow together as a community and to solve problems together. They showed up for our club in every way imaginable from getting us free pizza for our meetings to supporting our student presentations and problem-solving sessions, and much more. Additionally, our professors make themselves available for direct mentorship and guidance whether it is for office hours, preparing for the Putnam Exam, or getting involved with research. I believe that our professors are the foundation of our community and without their expertise, character, and encouragement we’d be unable to consistently grow as problem solvers.”
Michael Ward completed his CSUN degree in 2024 and is now in the mathematics PhD program at the University of California - Riverside:
“I first heard about the Putnam Exam from Christian, whose passion for problem solving is contagious. Our conversations led to the idea of reviving the math club at CSUN — a project made possible by the help of many others. Over time the math club became more than just a meeting place—it strengthened the sense of community within our department, creating connections not only among students, but also between students and faculty who engaged with our activities. Even beyond coursework and club meetings, the CSUN math community was welcoming and supportive. Working alongside my peers taught me that mathematics is more than just finding solutions — it’s also about sharing ideas and learning from each other. Some of my favorite undergraduate memories are from studying with my peers. During those times I learned more efficiently, but I also enjoyed the process of learning. Having passionate people around me made learning mathematics so much more engaging.”
In many colleges and universities with high levels of participation in the Putnam competition, it is not unusual to hear stories about such broad programs of engagement and activity. Berry College (GA) has fewer than 10% of the overall student population of CSU Northridge, but they regularly have even more Putnam participants, clocking in with 16 students for the 2024 edition of the competition.
Berry College math professor Ron Taylor notes that their highly engaged group of math students is anchored by their very active recreational math group, which they call the Dead Poets Society. “We work hard to recruit students to step up and give it a try, and we let them know in advance that the Putnam is going to be a challenge,” Taylor explains. “But a zero score is better than someone who does not even show up.”
The Berry College faculty also believe in the social aspect of mathematics, including the power of free pizza. All of their participating students get t-shirts and shiny new school supplies, and there’s even bonus swag for their top three scorers. At this point, Berry College has been doing it for so long that, as Ron Taylor puts it. “The students know that sitting for the Putnam is just part of our departmental culture.”
The Putnam exam is more than a competition. It is an annual event that can be folded into a year-round celebration of mathematics and problem solving that elevates the mathematical experience for entire departments, large and small.
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Doug Ensley is the MAA Director of Competitions and an emeritus professor of mathematics at Shippensburg University. He has been a member of the MAA since receiving a student membership from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 1984.