How much weight does USNCO have on admissions?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1

Hi I was wondering how much it helps with admissions if you make it to the USNCO Summer Camp or are top 150 in the nation. I know there’s no way to tell for sure, but does it stand out among the thousands of other students? Thanks in advance! Also, are there any past USNCO participants out there who got into MIT?

2

bump

3

As you already know, there is no way to tell for sure. Making that camp by itself will most likely not help you with admissions. The things you do or have accomplished to get you invited to that camp, however, may also be things admissions looks at favorably. So there could be some correlation between getting invited to that camp and getting admitted to MIT, but it’s the accomplishments and not the invitation that matters.

4

Is USNCO the chemistry camp? How many finalists are selected each year? How many of those would graduate in the year that you would graduate?

Although I’m obviously not that familiar with the chemistry camp per se, I suspect that it would provide a very big bump – big enough that your file gets put in the “Academic Star” pile – and they start looking for if there are any major flaws to hinder your acceptance. This is assuming that the senior has the usual “can do the work” prerequisites (good GPA, stats, etc.)

  • I'm more familiar with the math and CS olympiads.
5

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big enough that your file gets put in the “Academic Star” pile – and they start looking for if there are any major flaws to hinder your acceptance.

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Does this happen at MIT?

6

It doesn’t happen like that, exactly (i.e. a pile, or the looking for major flaws). But sure, we are always on the lookout for students who have distinguished themselves as some of the most promising young scientists in the country/world, and one way that students do that is through the olympiads and their pipeline competitions.

7

@MITChris So, it would be correct to say that the competitions in of themselves are not what have a ‘bearing’ on admissions, but that they provide a way to validate the applicant’s ability/passion/initiative?

8

^^ I would think that goes without saying.

9

I mean, sure they have a bearing, but not because we, like, operate under the Pokemon theory of admissions (GOTTA CATCH EM ALL), but bc those awards validate/provide evidence of/etc what we want.