<p>I've recently become wildly interested in mathematics competitions such as the AMC 12, AIME, and USAMO. For those of you that have had success with these competitions (at least an AIME qualification), what did you use as preparation? What books do you suggest I read? How much did you prepare for it? Please, tell me how you fared and some tips you'd have for me.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>The Art of Problem Solving.</p>
<p>ditto for aops…the books, the online courses,woot…also summer camps asap!silly you why arent you coming to fmc with us? we drive all the way from maryland an hour + each way to go to no va!!</p>
<p>I looked up FMC to be the Fairfax Math Circle. Can you describe this program? Does it sponsor the AMC? Finally, do I have to pay to join? Thanks!</p>
<p>^There are many different math circles all over the country, please pm your state and city if you can, so I can send you website of nearest mathcircle. They basically meet every week to do problems, and yes they charge, but very little. </p>
<p>Artofproblemsolving was the greatest thing for me, since they have sooooo many courses, and you can use their general forums for free, and ask and answer questions. 
PM if you have any questions,</p>
<p>Art of Problem Solving
None is needed for AIME, but for USAMO you should probably check out that site.</p>
<p>studious: it is free. it is held every sunday from 2-4 at george mason univ. there are about 30 kids who come. they go to all the big competitions . my son is in middle school so he starts out on a lower caliber team but sees what and where the big dogs are studying. every sunday there is a different program.students are excited to be there and ‘get’ each other. they have the amc and aime tests there. also have an arml team there are potluck dinners a few times a year after the big competitions so kids can hang out together. come give it a try even though its the end of the season…still have a few openings on one arml team.you don’t have to be great although many are!</p>
<p>That sounds awesome! Though the timing conflicts somewhat with my weekly church time… Where at GMU is it held?</p>
<p>room 242 of the GMU math building .fairfax math circle has a google groups site. check it out and at least join the google group!</p>
<p>@kayakmom: Is there any process for joining FMC, or can you just join the google group and show up?</p>
<p>just show up…tomorrow they are organizing the arml trip so if you are interested in going with them please come (we are out of state so cant compete with them!)</p>
<p>Awesome, I’ll be there today.</p>
<p>Wow. I went to the math circle today, and everyone is much better than I am. I really need to buy some of those AoPS books and get to work… </p>
<p>Canonly, were you the kid at the back of the room next to the senior? How did you think it was?</p>
<p>Yeah. It was pretty interesting; I was totally out of my league though. I don’t have the problems in front of me right now, but I only really knew how to go about solving fewer than half of them. Hell, I couldn’t even find the stairs. 
I’m definitely going to look into those AoPS books.</p>
<p>Your thoughts reflect mine. Those guys must have been practicing for years now.</p>
<p>^Yup, I can do Olympiad Problems in the time constraint easily, but I only have one year of exposure to math competition and I stink on ARML, lol, you need a lot more power, so let it be good experience and welcome to our beautiful world of creativity!</p>