Hesa Li
Director, Co-founder
Ross alumni who set the competition calendar and handles outreach and website design.
An independent, student-led higher mathematics competition founded by alumni of the Ross Mathematics Program.
Founded by Ross Alumni
Bridging olympiad and modern mathematics.
About
A month to be spent beyond the syllabus.
ORBIT gives high school students several weeks to explore a single topic in higher mathematics, working through definitions, examples, and rigorous proofs alongside their teammates.
Rather than rewarding speed or computation, ORBIT asks participants to build an argument. A carefully sequenced problem set, written by students and alumni of the Ross Mathematics Program, leads each team from first definitions to results that would usually sit well outside a school syllabus.
4
Weeks
9+
Possible topics
$0
Entry fee
TOPICS THAT MAY APPEAR
Orbit's aim is to introduce mathematics beyond typical olympiad math or high school curriculums to mathematically talented students. To this end, each year, we select a singular topic in higher mathematics for students to explore deeply.
Competition
Competition format
MONTH-LONG · TEAMS OF UP TO 4
Team Competition
Teams of up to four work through a month-long, proof-based problem set. Teams may register together or ask to be matched by the organizers, then split the work, compare partial results, and assemble a single written submission.
Timeline
Competition timeline
Tentative 2027 schedule
DECEMBER 1, 2026
Registration Opens
Registration opens for team entries. Signing up takes an email address and a graduation year.
FEBRUARY 22, 2027
Registration Closes
Final entry deadline. Teams must be complete by this date, or ask to be matched before it.
MARCH 1, 2027
Team Round Begins
The expository note and the problem set are released, and the team round opens for the month.
MARCH 14, 2027
ORBIT Seminar
A live seminar introduces the year's topic and how to read and write the mathematics it asks for.
MARCH 31, 2027
Team Round Ends
Submissions for the team round close and grading begins.
APRIL 20, 2027
Team Round Results & Finalists Announced
Team round results are released and the finalist teams advancing to the final round are announced.
APRIL 24, 2027
Final Round
Finalist teams sit the final round. Full details will be published before registration opens.
LATE APRIL 2027
Final Results & Awards Ceremony
Final results are published and the awards ceremony recognizes winners and honorable mentions.
Team
Organized by Ross students and alumni.
ORBIT is written, graded, and run by high school students and alumni of the Ross Mathematics Program.
Anand S.
Problem Writer
Writes and tests the problemset.
Aaditya B.
Problem Writing Team
Hello everyone! My name is Aaditya. I enjoy doing mathematics in my free time as well as reading literature, such as classics or fiction series. I also enjoy soft drinks.
Kristen Z.
Schools and circles
Brings ORBIT to math circles, olympiad squads, and teachers in schools without an existing competition culture.
Megan H.
Site and materials
Builds and maintains this site, the submission portal, and the typeset problem sets and solution booklets.
Community
Discussion and office hours
Runs the reading threads, moderates the Discord, and schedules the office hours held throughout the month.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
WRITINGS
Announcements & writing
Updates from the organizing committee, plus longer essays on the mathematics behind each round.
Announcements
- July 30, 2026
Welcome to ORBIT!
Orbit is a math tournament created for especially motivated high school or below students interested in higher mathematics. Thank you for your interest!
Sponsors
Support the Inaugural ORBIT Tournament
ORBIT is seeking founding-year partners to help keep participation free while supporting student awards, rigorous mathematical review, educational programming, outreach, and competition infrastructure.
2027 Fundraising Goal
$6,000
Student Awards
Cash prizes, gift cards, mathematics books, and educational awards.
Mathematical Review
Support and honoraria for experienced reviewers and final verification.
Educational Programming
The ORBIT Seminar and related activities.
Outreach & Access
School, teacher, club, and community recruitment.
Competition Infrastructure
Website, registration, virtual-event, and communication costs.
2027 Founding Partners
We are currently seeking inaugural-year partners.
Contact
Write to us
Questions about eligibility, sponsorship, or the problem sets are all welcome.
- Elsewhere