oh oops IOI was left out (with IMO/etc.)
Winning picoCTF? (national computer hacking competition run by CMU; 3000 teams)
Is it bad idea to put 5th place in National Beta Convention art contest to balance with other national science/math competitions(USAJMO qual, USNCO honors)?
the list rly is not that accurate. I would change:
USAJMO should be 7
USABO/USNCO Semifinalist should be a 5 (USAPhO can stay a 6). USNCO High Honors a 6.5, Honors a 5.5
USAMO should be an 8
Move AMC perfect score down to a 7
Is USNCO not that prestigious…? I think high honors should be higher than USAMO qualification, considering it picks only 50 out of 10,000 participants.
The list is pretty weird
Perfect on AMC is harder than qualifying for USAMO, keep both at 8
how about getting 145.5 (omitting one question) on AMC
I think running your own successful business should be removed. It is more of an extra-curricular activity than an award.
USNCO is def not as prestigious. in fact i think USABO and USNCO are the two least prestigious olympiads by far (IMO). 50/10,000 participants is special, but most of the participants aren’t that great at chemistry to begin with, and USAMO is like 250/200,000 +
But people taking Amc arent that great either since mine was 145.5 last yr ans the second highest in my school was 60s and like 30 ppl took it haha
145.5 on the AMC depends on which AMC you’re talking about - if it’s AMC 10, then it’s not too big of a deal (especially on easier years, but still impressive), but if it’s AMC 12, then it’s really impressive.
I would say USAMO > USAPhO > USNCO > USABO in terms of semis (though USNCO really depends on the school - the cutoff at mine is always 59 or 60… and USABO semis is much larger than the others). I don’t, however, think that the difference is that large. USAJMO probably lies somewhere around USAPhO.
I mean I do agree that my state (Alabama) has such a low qualifying score to nationals for USNCO, but since USNCO does not provide regional balance like USAJMO/USAMO (like at least one person is qualified for either USAJMO/USAMO from each state even with low index) getting nationally ranked for USNCO can still boost my resume right? Especially if you are from states from mine, Arkansa, Wisconsin, or Alaska where education is not that great haha you know?
Also when you are talking about semis from USNCO and USABO is it passing the first round or is it passing the second round? Is USNCO Honors considered semis or something above that?
fyi: USABO also has a “high honors” distinction now (top 50)
@jhgong just semis there, since adding in all the tiers would make things a bit too complicated (i.e. USAPhO g/s/b, USNCO h/hh, etc.). Getting a gold or honors would definitely be more attractive than just making semis. Getting into camp would be more attractive, and making the team would be even more attractive 
I have edited I2Hopes list to include various other awards, such as governors schools. ISEF Finalist should be at least 7 in my opinion. Also history day is ranked too low IMO.
10 - When The Top Colleges Try To Recruit You
D1 athlete,
IMO/IPHO/ICHO/IBO medals (International Science Olympiads)
Intel (top 10), Siemens National Winner/National Finalists, ISEF top 3 Grand Prize, Google Science Fair age group winner, History Day National Winner
Published in Nature or Science, RSI (Research Science Institute)
9 - Really Close to a Ticket to Prestige Closet
Siemens Westinghouse (finalists), Google Science Fair Finalist, MOP, Intel Finalist,
FL Nationals winner (speech and debate)
8 -
TASP, USPhO/USChO/USABO/USAC (USA Level of Olympiad Competition) National Finalist
Google Science Fair Semifinalist, Siemens Semi-finalists/ISEF(1-4 places), Intel semifinalist,
Running your own successful business,
AMC Perfect Score, Presidential Scholar, Davidson Fellow
Writing Portfolio Gold Award, Presidential Scholar of the Arts, Scholastic Art
FIRST Dean’s List winner, top 5 at FIRST World Championships,
7 -
Selective summer programs or competitions, such as SSP, Clark Summer Program, YESS, NIH Research, and MITES
State governors schools where acceptance rate < 15% (PGSS, NJGSS, most other science governor’s schools)
USAMO qualification, ARML Tiebreaker Round / Top Team, YES Competition (Young Epidemiology Scholarship), USAMTS Gold Medal
ISEF Finalist, History Day National Level
Scholastic Art & Writing National Silver or Gold Medal. NFL Nationals (speech and debate) “breakers” (elimination rounds), Tournament of Champions (debate) “breakers,” Congressional Award Gold Medalist,
6 -
USPhO/USChO/USABO/USACO semifinalist, Science Olympiad National medals, qualification
Less competitive governor’s schools (Acceptance rate between 15% and 25%), any other scholarship summer programs not aforementioned
Congressional Award Silver Medalist, NFL Nationals/Tournament of Champions Qualifier, FBLA Nationals
Science Bowl/Ocean Science Bowl/NAQT winners, Technology Student Association Nationals
FIRST Dean’s List finalist
Top 5 FIRST Super Regionals (FTC)
5 -
National Latin Convention 1st Places Academic Contests,
All-Eastern/all-regional music, State History Day top 3 place
Top 5 FIRST State Championship (or Regionals for FRC), JETS TEAMS National Finalist, Skills USA Nationals
1st Place/Category Award State Science Fair
4 -
or Regional winner, Science Olympiad state medals (depending on what state you’re from), Science Bowl national qualification
Perfect Score (Multiple Years) on National Latin Exam, or other languages, some state awards (all-state music, etc), State History Day, MUN Gavel, AMC 10/12 school winner (depends on your school), Art and Writing Regional Gold award
top 5 FIRST Regional (FTC)
3 - County Level; Takes some work to get, but not uncommon (e.g Eagle Scout)
Winning at local/regional science fairs
All-County music,
Eagle Scout, National Merit Finalist
2 - Took more effort to win these, a step above regular local awards
Bank of America Awards, most local awards/trophies (art, music, community - although they will say something about your character), Essay Contests, Regional History Day
1 - Normal, common activities such as regular club membership or easy to get awards
National Honor Society, Beta Club, School Departmental Awards, School Honor Roll, Key Club, CSF, Interact Club, National Merit Commended
0- A dime in a dozen, meaningless in the end.
Who’s Who, National Honor Roll, National Society of High School Scholars
But trust me, only do the things that you like to do. Do not waste your time accumulating awards that you would never do had you not forced yourself. These days, essays matter more than anything else to get accepted into colleges.
EDITED some stuff, added some internships, added some new awards
10 - When The Top Colleges Try To Recruit You
D1 athlete,
IMO/IPHO/ICHO/IBO medals (International Science Olympiads)
Intel (top 10), Siemens National Winner/National Finalists, ISEF top 3 Grand Prize, Google Science Fair age group winner
Published in Nature or Science, RSI (Research Science Institute)
9 - Really Close to a Ticket to Prestige Closet
Siemens Westinghouse (finalists), Google Science Fair Finalist, MOP, Intel Finalist,
NFL Nationals winner (speech and debate)
8 -
TASP, USPhO/USChO/USABO/USAC (USA Level of Olympiad Competition) National Finalist
Google Science Fair Semifinalist, Siemens Semi-finalists/ISEF(1-4 places), Intel semifinalist,
Running your own successful business,
AMC Perfect Score, Presidential Scholar, Davidson Fellow
Writing Portfolio Gold Award, Presidential Scholar of the Arts, Scholastic Art
FIRST Dean’s List winner, top 5 at FIRST World Championships, History Day Nationals Winner (Top 3)
First author research paper publication in reputable journal
NFL “All American” (Top 25 points)
7 -
Selective summer programs or competitions, such as SSP, Clark Summer Program, YESS, NIH Research, MITES
State governors schools where acceptance rate < 15% (PGSS, NJGSS, most other science governor’s schools)
USAMO qualification, ARML Tiebreaker Round / Top Team, YES Competition (Young Epidemiology Scholarship), USAMTS Gold Medal
ISEF Finalist, History Day National Finalist (Top 16), Tournament of Champions Qualifier
Scholastic Art & Writing National Silver or Gold Medal. NFL Nationals (speech and debate) “breakers” (elimination rounds), Tournament of Champions (debate) “breakers,” Congressional Award Gold Medalist,
Author of research paper published in reputable journal
State champion in Speech and Debate
NFL Top points in State
6 -
USPhO/USChO/USABO/USACO semifinalist, Science Olympiad National medals, qualification
Less competitive governor’s schools (Acceptance rate between 15% and 25%), any other scholarship summer programs not aforementioned
Congressional Award Silver Medalist, NFL Nationals (depending on region), NFL TOC-bid winner, FBLA Nationals
Science Bowl/Ocean Science Bowl/NAQT winners, Technology Student Association Nationals
FIRST Dean’s List finalist
Top 5 FIRST Super Regionals (FTC)
5 -
National Latin Convention 1st Places Academic Contests,
All-Eastern/all-regional music, State History Day top 3 place
Top 5 FIRST State Championship (or Regionals for FRC), JETS TEAMS National Finalist, Skills USA Nationals
1st Place/Category Award State Science Fair
4 -
or Regional winner, Science Olympiad state medals (depending on what state you’re from), Science Bowl national qualification
Perfect Score (Multiple Years) on National Latin Exam, or other languages, some state awards (all-state music, etc), State History Day, MUN Gavel, AMC 10/12 school winner (depends on your school), Art and Writing Regional Gold award
top 5 FIRST Regional (FTC), Mock trial state winner
3 - County Level; Takes some work to get, but not uncommon (e.g Eagle Scout)
Winning at local/regional science fairs
All-County music,
Eagle Scout, National Merit Finalist
“Breaking” at state speech and debate
2 - Took more effort to win these, a step above regular local awards
Bank of America Awards, most local awards/trophies (art, music, community - although they will say something about your character), Essay Contests, Regional History Day
1 - Normal, common activities such as regular club membership or easy to get awards
National Honor Society, Beta Club, School Departmental Awards, School Honor Roll, Key Club, CSF, Interact Club, National Merit Commended
0- A dime in a dozen, meaningless in the end.
Who’s Who, National Honor Roll, National Society of High School Scholars
But trust me, only do the things that you like to do. Do not waste your time accumulating awards that you would never do had you not forced yourself. These days, essays matter more than anything else to get accepted into colleges.
This list makes me feel bad, I probably wont get any award ranked above a 4.
where would you guys say Ross Math fits in on this list?
I’d say that MOP qualification would be a 10 also, a USAMO qualification and an AMC perfect would be a 9, and an AMC 1% would be a 7