<p>I've won the first place(top gold award) in the National Olympiad in Informatics
Would this be a booster for top engineering schools - say MIT, Caltch, and Stanford?
Pity me that I was unfortunate to have not been selected for the IOI team of my country... (I messed up in the final rounds)</p>
<p>I also earned a ticket for the 2008 Intel ISEF
How would it help me if I win a nice award there?</p>
<p>
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<p>I think I will save my pity for people whose situations actually warrant it.</p>
<p>Both olympiads and ISEF awards will help you. They do not, however, guarantee you anything, especially as the competition is stiffer for international students.</p>
<p>Of course it would ‘help’ me (absurd to say it doesn’t)</p>
<p>There is a whole gap between a mere help and a certain guarantee. </p>
<p>I’m wondering if it can set me apart from other applicants by a far distance.</p>
<p>depends on ur stats and ur stuff. what area did u do? (research)</p>
<p>HeWhoDreams: You need to look at your course load. I know a student who is two times ISEF, Siemens Semifinalist was rejected from HYPSMC.</p>
<p>So do pay attention to the course load, GPA and SAT. But you are in better position than most others.</p>
<p>Rule of thumb in order of Preference for top school admissions what ever one might say
<p>You need to have the first two for ISEF to make a difference.</p>
<p>The major courses I take are linear algebra, vector calculus, Ap chemistry, Ap computer science, and Ap english language</p>
<p>i’m in my 11th grade</p>
<p>MIT accepted <3% of their international applicants this year. <em>That’s</em> the stat you have to worry about the most.</p>
<p>Those awards are helpful, but not outcome-determinative, even for domestic applicants. There are no guarantees. Period.</p>