<p>I don’t think AP chem is mandatory, but it may help you bluff your way through some types of questions.</p>
<p>AP chem was the only high school class where I had to do data-analysis questions like the semis. Also, the biochemistry practical topics I mentioned (kinetics, specs) have showed up on semis. At that level, they really ought to give some explanatory text, but the time you spend reading it is time you don’t spend answering questions.</p>
<p>And I’ve certainly salvaged a point or two by using brute-force chemistry - equation balancing and/or electron pushing - when I’ve forgotten the biochemistry at hand. But you aren’t going to get direct questions on chemistry, except the tiny bit in Campbell (deltaG, types of molecular interaction).</p>
<p>I’m kinda scared. I’ve only taken hon chem and hon bio. Hopefully, I can study Campbells this summer successfully. How many times do I have to read it in order to make camp?</p>
<p>it depends on how long it takes you to memorize and understand the material.</p>
<p>I have pretty good reading comprehension. Prolly like 6 or 7 times?</p>
<p>wait, the usabo website says to buy campbell’s 8th edition ([USABO:</a> Student Study Guides | Center for Excellence in Education](<a href=“http://www.cee.org/programs/usabo/study-guides]USABO:”>http://www.cee.org/programs/usabo/study-guides))… but there is already a 9th edition. which one should i buy?</p>
<p>I bought the 9th edition. It can only be better then the 8th. It is more updated and will provide you with the most accurate data.</p>
<p>
Of course, the later version the better. But think about the price you have to pay
~ $200.00 for ver 9
~ $20.00-$40.00 ver 8
~ $10.00-$20.00 ver 7</p>
<p>Hey guys I have the 8th Edition Campbell but it has “AP Edition” on it. Does that make a difference? Should I invest the money in purchasing an “actual” 8th edition, or will the AP Edition suffice? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>they are the same. Just the marketing scheme.</p>
<p>Thats really interesting, haha.</p>
<p>I think the AP Edition is around 1260 pages…</p>
<p>Is that the same with the original?</p>
<p>when I looked at older threads, some posters said that the AP Edition is more verbose…?</p>
<p>The regular 7th edition is 1231 pages + appendix+glossary+index
The regular 8th edition is 1267 pages + appendix+glossary+index</p>
<p>Not much different ! they uses different fonts, it may contribute to the difference of page numbers.</p>
<p>I just got my 9th edition in the mail. So pumped ;] I hope it’s not too hard! James how experienced are you in USABO? Have you made finalist?</p>
<p>Does anyone know how the camp is? I’m curious to see what it’s like from past members. Also, how does USABO finalist affect your college admissions chances?</p>
<p>Great info ! First time to know about this exam.</p>
<p>We need more people on this thread. Can someone answer my questions?</p>
<p>New to this board. Is there anyone show me how to get the past exam?</p>
<p>google and trading with others</p>
<p>Re: Campbell versions. This isn’t publicized well, but there’s apparently an “official” IBO version that is used as reference. This is typically a year or more behind the latest. I think we’re still on 8th, though I can ask the coaches about next year.</p>
<p>Re: camp. (I’m sitting in a room at Purdue now, trying to crank out a few last cell-bio questions.) It’s fun, but the students don’t sleep much either. There’s usually a morning lecture from the faculty, then an afternoon lab. The focus is towards things not done well in Campbell and/or by American high schools, like botany, stats, and taxonomy.</p>
<p>After dinner, there’s a lecture from the TAs (generally former IBOers), who go over tricky bits, problem solving strategies, and things we don’t have faculty for. (I just did ethology and phylogenetics with them tonight, for instance.) This continues for ten days or so; there’s typically a relevant field trip in the middle, like a visit to an arboretum. Then there’s a two-day exam and an awards ceremony. The team gets to stay a few days longer, mostly to practice lab skills.</p>
<p>Re: college admissions. I know for a fact that MIT called my USABO coaches to ask about me; apparently they said nice things, because I got in. It certainly helps to have recognition that you’re good at something. (And there’s a semi-regular USABO meetup in Cambridge, MA…because a whole lot of us end up at either MIT or Harvard. Correlation is not causation, but still.)</p>
<p>Also, re: old exams. Back in my day, the CEE used to post them; I didn’t know they stopped until I read this thread. I’ll bring it up with the management. (In my opinion, anything broadly released like opens and semis might as well be openly available.)</p>