<p>I am just curious about this. I come from a school where no one does major competitions. Our school does not know about them nor do they encourage us to go out and do them. It was not until 11th grade that I learned that Intel STS and USAMO even existed and that high schoolers could do research. I am a science/math guy. Many of my activities that I have done are involved in some science/math area, but I have never partook in a math or science competition. I just never knew about them nor would I have even had the time (big winter sports commitment). I would like to know if this is a big problem admissions wise. I come from a state that should know about these things (MA), but my town knows nothing of these things. Will this be a big problem? How can I convey in my application that I was not aware of these competitions?</p>
<p>Hmmm…your case is a curious one. First, let me say I am a HS senior and by no means an expert in this field. However, the fact that you are from MA and havent heard of these competitions may hurt you slightly. Look, I feel for you man. I come from the same exact type of environment…I learned about Intel solely thru CC last year. With all that said, your counselor will write up a rec for you and put your accomplishments in context, so I doubt it will hurt you much when you apply. Good Luck!!!</p>
<p>Yeah, see, that’s the part I don’t understand. How can they just assume since MA is overrepresented that anyone from there should know about these competitions? I had no clue about them, nor did my school.</p>
<p>Admission officers judge your application based on what you did do, not what you didn’t do. I wouldn’t try to mention anywhere in your app that you weren’t aware of science competitions because all it would do would be to draw attention away from what you DID accomplish.</p>
<p>Okay, first of all not everyone who gets into Princeton won a major competition so there is absolutely no way that the fact that you didn’t win a major award will be a negative. These awards are just a positive and will give you an advantage over other students. </p>
<p>I wasn’t aware of those competitions either, and I didn’t even know that people from my school knew about Intel and Siemens until this year when one of my classmates won something. Don’t worry about it too much, and just show your interest.</p>
<p>eh, what is Intel STS?</p>