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<p>^ That would be awesome if you could do that. Also, thank you for all of the informative and helpful posts so far- I think many of us on this thread appreciate them a lot.</p>
<p>Just out of curiosity…</p>
<p>Would those 20 individuals who made camp be restricted from accepting offers from summer science research programs? Obviously, those who are top 4 would continue on for IBO…but how about those other 16 individuals?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>quick question ~
when should you start studying?
like, for AP tests, your teachers tell you to start seriously studying at least two months in advance.
so, for opens, can you skim over the material over the summer and then start really studying in december? or will that not work?</p>
<p>thanks :)</p>
<p>bluerose I highly appreciate your posts. Btw, how familiar are you with USABO because you seem to know everything. Are you like working for them or somting?</p>
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<p>Less than two weeks since you joined, your posting number is already 148. I doubt if you read other posting at all. I doubt about your reading comprehension ability.</p>
<p>^??? What is your problem dude? Leave me alone you’re such a creep. You private messaged me like 10 times, just leave me alone. jeez</p>
<p>Omg, so I’m trying to get through Campbells during the summer and its soo detailed. Are we actually expected to know all of this stuff? This is INSANE!</p>
<p>Literally, this is insane.</p>
<p>After many day searching the web, I only found 3 USABO open exams, find no full semifinal. Any one want to trade open USABO exam and semifinal with Campbell Biology test bank or Raven Biology of the Plant test bank.</p>
<p>no trading, against rules</p>
<p>no cheating, against rules</p>
<p>Yes, it’s all fair game, and the people who make camp know most of it.</p>
<p>I can tell you that I read Campbell a whole lot more than 6 or 7 times. When I was in competitive form, I could read the whole book in a couple of hours - I knew what it said, so I didn’t actually have to process every word. (I find that reading textbooks is soothing ) Don’t mean to discourage anyone, but that’s the truth.</p>
<p>Also, I asked about the opens and semis. Apparently the opens are in the “teacher resources” site, so whoever registered your school has access to them. Those are fair game. The semis are being reused, so not fair game. I’m glad that they aren’t all over the torrents, because I haven’t had time to check. But really, it is almost impossible to stop someone from saving copies of the exam and sharing them with a few buddies. I’m going to push this one - if not full rewrites, then some actual security/obfuscation/etc. Just hoping this doesn’t end with "fine then, you write the semis" mutter grumble do not want.</p>
<p>Also, no you can’t go to RSI (or comparable) and also go to camp. But you can qualify, and then put that on your applications.</p>
<p>WHOLE BOOK IN A FEW HOURS!!! It’s gonna take me the whole summer to read this 3 times!!!</p>
<p>Re: exam sharing. I’ve said it last time, and I’ll say it again: CEE officially frowns on sharing exams. If you want to share, be really careful that your identity doesn’t get out. Don’t post on the chance forum with the account you share with, etc. </p>
<p>I’m a two-time veteran and on this year’s team (I’m actually sitting in the Indianapolis airport right now, on my way home from camp), but since I’m going to be heading off to college come fall, I don’t know how helpful I can be. Feel free to PM me, but be warned, I suck at answering promptly. Just ask the three people I still have to get back to.</p>
<p>Campbell is the most important textbook, but the most important thing to learn (and memorize) is the IBO guide. </p>
<p>There were multiple people at camp who had never taken a formal AP or honors level biology yet. It’s possible to self-study.</p>
<p>@Practical - stay away from Raven’s 9th. It may be newer, but it has some really stupid errors in it. I dunno about Campbell’s 9th (never seen it), but 8th is decent. Just be forewarned: later editions may not be better.</p>
<p>I’ll answer the rest of your questions when I get back home…they’re calling boarding right now…</p>
<p>Wow, that’s awesome! You just got back from camp! How many times did you read Campbells in order to get to camp?</p>
<p>@Practical:</p>
<p>Camp is fun. And somewhat challenging. And really really hectic. And absolutely awesome.</p>
<p>Oh, and of the four going to the IBO this year, one’s going to Hahvahd, and the rest (including me) are going to the more awesome school in Cambridge. We’re all “returners” who’ve been to camp before.</p>
<p>I didn’t know that opens were available on the TRC part of the site either, but hey, that’s good, right? If you’re studying off of those, save the 2009 one for last. That one was…quite difficult. </p>
<p>Personally, I don’t think they should repeat questions, but since I have no/little influence over the matter, there’s nothing I can do, really.</p>
<p>Oh, and bluerose does know her stuff. Very well. Listen to her. </p>
<p>Finally: yes, you are expected to know it. All of it. Any of it is fair game. Memorize the charts, the figures, the graphs, everything. No detail is too small or pointless.</p>
<p>Number of times I read Campbell: I rarely read textbooks from front to back, but I went through Raven’s Plants three times in as many weeks (while supposedly on vacation in China). I don’t know the exact number of times I’ve read Campbell, but it was upwards of several hours a day for an entire year. Not just reading - generating notes, making flashcards, all that jazz. It’s not about how many times you’ve read Campbell - it’s about how much of it you know. </p>
<p>About Raven’s Biology: Worth reading, but after Campbell. Also: I found a copy at my local university’s library. $0. Also found a biochem book, but that was less useful. (Raven’s Biology of Plants was $23 on Amazon.)</p>
<p>@vitaminXD</p>
<p>You should start studying now. Seriously, two months of studying will not get most people to nationals. Start as early as possible.</p>
<p>Lol, you are literally awesome. That is such an amazing accomplishment and I highly respect you for it, especially since you’re a girl (loool). You are going to MIT? Wow, that’s pretty great. What are your stats? do you mind pming me them I would highly appreciate it.</p>
<p>NightShadeQueen, (if you don’t mind me asking) did you apply to any summer research programs in the summer before your senior year? Or did you prepare thoroughly enough for USABO that you were committed to it?</p>
<p>I did research at a local university. Luckily, my prof was understanding.</p>
<p>(Oh, and randomness: if you’re going to go for Siemens/Intel, pick something you’re passionate about that a) can get results fast and b) has something to do with saving the world/environmentalism/cancer/heart disease.)</p>
<p>Since the other thread (<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sciences/1144884-official-usabo-2012-discussion.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/sciences/1144884-official-usabo-2012-discussion.html</a>) got closed down, I’m just going to reply here:</p>
<p>Re: college level classes: no point spending the money. iTunes U, OCW and other places great schools post online lectures are your friend. But after the IBO guide and Campbell. blueroses would probably have a better idea of what courses to take, but I found the MIT intro to bio to be pretty darn good.</p>
<p>On semis: Anything in Campbell is fair game. I felt that Raven helped me, and I probably could have been better prepared in biochem. There is no prac portion to the semis, although knowing with SDS, EDTA, and other basic lab chemicals can be quite useful.</p>
<p>Study in summer? If you think you can handle endless biology, sure. If not, don’t. </p>
<p>@SchieffenPlan</p>
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<p>Ask CEE about that. Maybe blueroses will know, but I have no clue.</p>
<p>@Mansu007</p>
<p>No min grade needed, methinks. And also: I envy your book collection. Wish I could talk my parents into buying me so many textbooks. </p>
<p>(I got mine from the local uni library)</p>
<p>@Example: Silver means that you were 5th-8th place at Finals. Bronze is 9th-12th place. Gold (1st-4th) means you’re going to the IBO.</p>
<p>Oh, and if there’s any mods around: shouldn’t this thread be in High School Life?</p>