<p>Hi! I just got my USAMO score and It was really low...
I got 1 point even though I think I fully solved four questions.
Is this score going to hurt my app for MIT? I have really good AMC and AIME scores and I am concerned that this might hurt my application. Do write my score or do I just write I qualified for USAMO not mentioning my USAMO score?</p>
<p>That’s what I did; I put in my application stating that I qualified for USAMO in 2010 but didn’t list the score. I probably could’ve though (got a 13/42) but oh well. Even qualifying for USAMO stands out on a college application.</p>
<p>Did you get into MIT, Caltech or any good schools?
I am kind of curious if USAMO would help me get into MIT or any other good IVY league schools.</p>
<p>OP, in terms of your AMC/AIME scores and qualifying for USAMO, you are already impressive.</p>
<p>@numbers123,
The answer to your question is above and to the left, just below rspence’s “name.”</p>
<p>@CalAlum & numbers123, yes I’ll be going to MIT next year. Waitlisted at Caltech, but they rejected all their waitlistees.</p>
<p>The problem with my college app was that I blew 2011 AIME (I was sick that day, plus it was extremely difficult AIME) and did alright on 2012 AIME (8/15) but not well enough for USAMO. A 13/42 on USAMO was nice, almost made red MOP that year…</p>
<p>I remember I also answered four questions on 2010 USAMO, but realized afterward I made a mistake on #5. #1 and #4 were really trivial geometry problems :p</p>
<p>I don’t think USAMO scores play a very important role in college admissions unless you make MOP. As it is certainly to get MIT/Caltech without USAMO, it is certainly possible to get in with a poor USAMO school. You should just write qualified for USAMO.</p>
<p>Although this won’t affect your college applications, it is quite disturbing that you think you fully solved four problems and only got 1 point. This isn’t particularly uncommon but it suggests you have no idea how to write rigorous proofs. I suggest if you plan on pursuing math in college that you spend a lot of time working on your proof skills because they are absolutely essential to do well in serious college math classes.</p>
<p>I am not planning to major in Mathematics. I just did AMC and AIME for fun. I am thinking of majoring in Economics or industrial engineering so I guess I do not need to know how to prove these types of questions.</p>
<p>Ah, ok then don’t worry about it. A good USAMO score is definitely not a requirement to be admitted as an econ or engineering major. If you go to grad school for econ then you might need to learn how to do proofs but otherwise it’s unimportant. Best of luck with admissions next year!</p>
<p>It’ll definitely help if you know how to prove theorems for calculus, physics, etc. if you go into engineering major. Unless you’re entering math research, or doing the Putnam competition, all the number theory/functional equations/sequences/Pigeonhole principle proofs won’t matter too much.</p>
<p>A high AIME score/USAMO qualifier does put you in the “academic star” category for MIT admission together with Intel/Siemens finalists and the like. Certainly not a guaranteed admission but a definitive plus.</p>