<p>Is anyone interested in algorithmic programming? Summer would be a good time to work on the free internet training materials for next year's USA computing olympiad. The olympiad involves a series of free internet contests during the school year, leading to selection of the top students for a free training camp. Four students will get a free trip to compete in the int'l competition (last year it was in Greece. This year it's Poland. Next year Mexico). Colleges love this sort of thing, and the majority of the top kids go on to MIT. You have to already know how to program in C/C++ or Java (or, I think, Pascal), but then the training pages will give you everything else you need.
<a href="http://www.usaco.org%5B/url%5D">www.usaco.org</a></p>
<p>BUMP. This is a great program. I haven't gotten very far yet, but it is definetly something to check out if you are interested. Thanks for bringing it up texas137, since if people start now, you will be ready for the competitions!</p>
<p>whoa. look at the top 40. looks like tj brought the whole school.</p>
<p>It's so much fun :) But you have to be masochistic or something...those problems are HARD, and one little mistake will cost you dearly (March: 604? on Gold; April: 166 on Gold (And consequently out of the running :())</p>