Average applicant, but expecting USAMO senior year, should I do EA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Stanford University
1

<p>Hi</p>

<p>Compared to other students at Stanford, I bet I'm pretty much the average asian kid. Here's a summary of my stats:</p>

<p>SAT: 800 M, 730 CR, 770 W
SAT II: 800 Math 2C, 700 Chemistry
GPA: 4.0/4.0 UW; AP Scholar with distinction (taken twice as many APs as my school offers)
Junior year AMC12 score: something like 115?
Junior year AIME: 4</p>

<p>ECs
Volunteer Math tutor (at my high school and at the library, also volunteer at SAT Math classes)
Teaching a math class at a middle school during the school day
Coaching a MATHCOUNTS team at the same middle school after school
Student council, math team founder/pres, judo team, debate team, speach team, book club</p>

<p>As you can see, my ECs are quite one-sided. Most of them are math based (math team, tutoring, teaching, coaching). The other ECs are just little in-school activities, nothing like working for World Vision or the Red Cross (it seems like a majority of Stanford students have done some kind of large-scale nation wide project)</p>

<p>The thing is, in the past few months, I've been studying the Art of Problem Solving, and am even taking classes from AoPS. Right now I'm scoring ~130 on AMC12s and ~7 on AIMEs, so I'm expecting to be a USAMO qualifier by the time spring comes.</p>

<p>How should I do my Stanford application if I want them to know that there's a very high chance of me becoming a USAMO qualifier (or AIME high scorer?) I'm afraid that if I do early action, I might get flat-out rejected based on my current stats, and will never have the chance to show them my improvement in the AMC and the AIME. However, if I do regular, I might be able to send in a note while they are in the middle of reviewing RD applications showing a high AMC12 score in my senior year. </p>

<p>Advice appreciated!</p>

2

<p>in the grand scheme of things, a high AMC 12 score is not going to be a major factor in making colleges accept you (believe me, I would know). Nor would being a USAMO qualifier help that much. Also, you shouldnt bank on USAMO unless you're regularly averaging 140s + 10s on your AMC/AIMEs. and even then, you could just have a bad day or something.</p>

<p>I think you should apply SCEA, the fact that ur showing interest will increase your chances a lot more than an AMC 12 score.</p>

3

<p>I'd agree and disagree - there's no specific "advantage" to applying SCEA, and USAMO would be a strong push in your app (see previous postings by others, and former Dean Jean Fetter's book on admission at Stanford). But yeah, it's hard to be sure that you'd be a USAMO qualifier - sounds like you're right on the bubble...I'd say don't bank on the USAMO, and try to put together the strongest essays and recs you can...if that's by Nov 1, then go SCEA.</p>

4

<p>what they said. USAMO probably won't affect your ultimate decision. you have an interest in math, and thats something you know is great. you (and your rec writers) just gotta convey that to them. if i were you i wouldn't explain anywhere on your app that you're expecting to make USAMO. for the same reason you don't put down acceptances to camps or whatever if you never attended them. its not something you did (yet). if for whatever reason, you get deferred after applying SCEA, then work hard and make sure you write the USAMO because then that could be a definite push. but make your app solid, without a doubt.</p>

<p>p.s its funny that 'firebird' responded to 'pheonix' first.</p>

<p>pps. i never made USAMO (and many of my achievements were math-related)</p>

5

<p>Send in your application when you will be the strongest applicant you can be.</p>

6

<p>Well two things:</p>

<p>1st: Like most people said, it is unreasonable to expect you are going to be a USAMO qualifier, especially when you didn't come close the last year. Sure, you may have improved, but a test of that difficulty is hard to predict for anyone. </p>

<p>2st: Though unlike what some other people have said, USAMO will probably affect your application. If you do qualify, you have something legitamate to show that puts you among the top math students among America. That's not to say you're not already there, but a recognized reward gives you some more credibility. </p>

<p>So finally, don't really base your decision on whether or not you can qualify for the USAMO, cause you aren't really sure anyway. If Stanford is your 1st choice and you feel like your competive, apply EA. Even if you don't get in, if the adcoms think there is some possiblity you will be able to make it in the RD round they'll defer you and you can update them with any accomplishments at that point.</p>

7

<p>I'm kind of repeating what Insane just said, but here goes.</p>

<p>IF your scores continue to improve in a linear fashion, you'll be a near-lock for the USAMO at 145/10-ish. However, there are two problems with that. First, you can't assume that more practice will improve your score linearly. And then there's the bad day factor, which is extremely rough on the AIME. (Rough enough that it's not unheard of for MOP participants to miss the USAMO.)</p>

<p>However, big improvements in a year are quite possible. I went from ~120(AMC10)/0 to 146.5(AMC10)/7 and USAMO qual in one year. And I've heard of people doing improvements like zero to 11 on AIME or something like that (look in past AoPS discussions). So USAMO qualification is not out of the question.</p>

<p>However, college apps are another matter entirely. Senior year USAMO qualification is barely out in time to tell colleges about it before decisions anyway. Yes, there's a good chance it will affect your application if you're able to add it at that late date. But since you can't count on it--no one can!--don't let it affect your decision. Apply EA if and only if Stanford is your clear first choice.</p>