Calculus and Congress
Landing a Summer Internship in D.C. Became an Integral Part of Math Major’s Education
When Austin Smith walks through the halls of Congress and passes Vice President Kamala Harris, or senators such as former presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Bernie Sanders, he keeps calm and, well, carries on.
Smith, 18, is a nontraditional 幸运快三 student in a nontraditional way.
A product of dual enrollment, Smith began taking high school courses in middle school and college courses his sophomore year. He enrolled at U of I in Winter 2023 as a junior while his former high school classmates prepared to graduate from Coeur d’Alene High.
Once on campus, Smith promptly participated in — the math department’s annual integral-solving rodeo while also applying for an internship with Senator Mike Crapo on Capitol Hill.
Smith earned third place in the calculus event and — after being turned down for a Congressional internship as a high school sophomore — was invited to Washington D.C.
The experience confirmed two things. He had chosen his major and minor, math and political science, wisely, and the university in Moscow was a great place to pursue those passions.
“U of I accepted me right away and took all my credits,” Smith said. “All of that just from sending my transcript and a phone call with my advisor; it was just one less thing to worry about.”
Because the U of I Math Department’s online schedule shows exactly when certain classes are offered, Smith was able to map out his remaining semesters online. His advisors accommodated Smith’s goal of graduating within a year.
