<p>Was it really necessary to resurrect a nearly 3-years-old thread?</p>
<p>would it be seen as a bad thing if you put a score of less than 100 on your application?</p>
<p>I don't personally think so, since I'm sure a lot of students that get into MIT would have had sub-100 scores on the AMCs (MIT isn't just looking for math-machines!)</p>
<p>But at the same time, I wouldn't say it would help you much, either. </p>
<p>I have no scientific basis for this (this is just based on my past experience with the AMC series of exams), but I think what would come off as impressive (in the sense that it makes you stand out) would be at least a 120 on the AMC 12 or above a 5 on the AIME. Both of these would be considered as a pretty significant achievement (I don't know too much about the AIME score - since I heard the average went up to 4 point something this year).</p>
<p>hi again... well... just wondering... i had a 115.5 on the AMC and 9 on the AIME... as an international from singapore... and qualified for the USAMO (cut-off was 204 and i had a 205.5); but couldn't take the test due to my non-US citizenship... so can i like put that in somewhere... and i guess 9 on the AIME is pretty decent, though the 115.5 kinda stinks... can i say that this was because this was my first time at the AMC tests and din't prep much as my school isn't really enthu abt AMC and stuff... also, does being the first one to qualify for USAMO from my school help...? and also being the school topper for both the tests...? really am a n00b at these tests, being a foreigner an all... yup... any help would greatly be appreciated... thanks a ton, guys! :)</p>
<p>buzz... is the resurrected thread dead again... rise to reply (to my question!!!)... hehe! :)</p>
<p>Oasis lives!</p>
<p>Anyway, I have very little experience with the AIME/USAMO, and even less when it comes to internationals. But I don't think taking the test can hurt you, and your scores look pretty good. I doubt it's a make-or-break thing; I wouldn't over-emphasize it in your application, but perhaps you can ask one of your teachers or guidance counselors to write in their recommendation about your circumstances and that you were the first person to qualify for the USAMO from your school, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks, Paul! The Recommendation idea sounds good! :)
Anyone else, who has more experience with this sort of thing?
(Bit confused, because up there, cellardweller says it makes you an "academic superstar" while paul says it isn't worth emphasizing too much. Yeah... clarify... someone... anyone! Thanks! :)</p>
<p>They're both right. Great scores on the AIME (and subsequently, making it to USAMO, for instance) do make you an academic superstar, but great scorers on the AIME are a dime a dozen (among applicants to MIT, at least), so emphasizing that won't get you in unless you have other stellar achievements (math research, perhaps, or incredible vested demonstrated interest in math).</p>
<p>Thanks kryptonsa36! :)
Well, what sort of mathematical research? Sounded quite cool to me...
And yeah, does having a Gold Medal for the Singapore Math Olympiad (the lalaland for math with all those Chinese and Indian math-powerhouses!!) and a national 0.01% for Math in India show passion? Also, tell me more about the math research... Thanks thanks thanks!!!</p>
<p>those are good scores but nothing really spectacular. they won't get you into mit/caltech for example. ditto for the fifty odd rjc students who get similar scores</p>
<p>kyrptonosa more or less said what I was going to. The fact that you've done well on the AIME is great, but that alone won't really set you apart from other applicants (which is vital in an applicant pool as big as MIT's). Plenty of kids who apply to MIT have good AIME scores (I myself was not one of them! they are by no means necessary to get in). What is that you have that no one else does?</p>
<p>AMC/AIME scores could really distinguish a math person (especially if it's at USAMO or close-level) but I don't think it can make up for SAT and AP scores. a 9th grade score of 110 should put you on track for a good AIME score, maybe not USAMO-level, but still pretty darn good.- What would be a GOOD score on the AMC/AIME? Competitive w/ other kids applying to MIT and similar.
i'd say a really spectacular score for MIT's standards is 125+ AMC12 and 7+ on the AIME, especially since this year's AIME was apparently easier. but anything over 100 and 3-4 AIME you should report to MIT, cuz it's still pretty good.</p>
<p>hmm, well i thought that this year's aime was a little too easy, wheares, the amc was slightly more difficult (I got a 145.5/9 AMC/AIME, expected a 7 on AIME though)</p>
<p>as far as "good" scores for this year are concernecd, I would say:</p>
<p>AMC 10: 135+
AMC 12: 127.5+
AIME: 8+
USAMO: 0+ </p>
<p>An USAMO qualification should definitely make up for a bad SAT score and put you in very good standing for MIT admission (given that you have close to a 3.85+ UW, 2250+/35+)</p>
<p>But then again, I'm just a rising sophomore, so I very well may be wrong....</p>
<p>DataBox: What do you mean by "bad" SAT score?</p>
<p>Silly Paul. Less than 800, of course.</p>
<p>(Everyone, I'm kidding. You can breath again.)</p>
<p>Well, for MIT, wouldn't less than 800 in math completely crush any of your chances for admission? jk</p>
<p>
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An USAMO qualification should definitely make up for a bad SAT score and put you in very good standing for MIT admission
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm going to play the devil's advocate and say that it is true that MIT have rejected USAMO qualifiers (or Olympiad medalists) for that matter. Like so many people have said above, getting one such distinction doesn't set you apart THAT drastically. It's about the overall package and not just focused on one exam. Especially with college admissions now to this competitive level, even traditional "hooks" (like USAMO qualification, olympiad medals) are losing their magic (by no means are they completely useless, but they're no longer a golden ticket to admission).</p>
<p>Of course you won't get into MIT solely on the basis of an USAMO qualification, but I'm sure it would help considerably if the rest of your credentials are up to par with MIT standards.</p>
<p>just to extinguish any Bad Ideas which threads like these typically stoke: the olympiads are just a test, and really excelling in them takes a lot of time and effort. it isn't worth obsessing over unless you genuinely care about the subject. there are probably easier ways to pimp your application if that's all you care about.</p>
<p>and oasis is right that olympiad honors are not really a golden ticket to admission anymore. (believe me, i know.) i think this is ok though: as i said, the olympiads are just a test. it's kind of irrational to hold them in such huge esteem. it takes a lot of work to make it very far, but it's still just a test.</p>
<p>finally: what the heck is up with this prolonged thread necromancy... can't threads get autolocked after no one posts in them for a couple weeks?</p>
<p>Not in this forum. And the forum moderators here apparently aren't the kind to put revived, should-be-dead threads back in their place, either.</p>