<p>@Education and WongTongTong </p>
<p>That same person also mentioned that Wikipedia is your best friend because if you don’t know something you should read the wiki on it as well as on topics related to it; by the end of that reading endeavor, you will have gained extensive knowledge on the topic that may not be completely covered in Campbell’s.</p>
<p>Also:
^ I completely second that.</p>
<p>how did u all know this person??</p>
<p>We all know each other personally and go to the same school.</p>
<p>wow, are you serious? that’s awesome… Are you all really smart?</p>
<p>Isn’t USABO just a walk in test? Like anyone can just take it; there is no preliminary testing.</p>
<p>@GreedIsGood:
Yes, the open exam is,as its name implies, an open test- anyone can take it as long as the school is registered. In fact once the school is registered for the open exam, there is no limit on how many people can take it. The school pays a flat fee for an unlimited number of test takers. However, to take the subsequent examinations (i.e. semifinals and finals, you have to have a qualifying score on the preceding exam)</p>
<p>@Diagnostician:
The person we were all talking about graduated last year. None of us are anywhere near his level.</p>
<p>Wht college did he go to?</p>
<p>Is it worth it to take a Biology class at my local community college if im taking AP bio next year? The class is 250 bucks.</p>
<p>I think he went to RPI… Will someone second that?</p>
<p>(I go to that school too lol)</p>
<p>Yes, he’s currently in the accelerated degree program at RPI. </p>
<p>Sent from my iPhone 4 using CC app</p>
<p>No, I don’t think it is necessary to take the community college course. AP Bio should be sufficient.</p>
<p>Do you know how that kid prepared? All he did was read? No classes or anything?</p>
<p>yup- he read Campbell’s a lot more than a few times though</p>
<p>Well, wouldn’t it benefit me if I took like a genetics class and read campbells 5 times?</p>
<p>Do you have the energy and time to read Campbell 5 times and take a genetics class? Reading Campbell is sufficient. A genetic class has information that might be superfluous. Furthermore, college classes focus more on concepts than facts so taking a CC class would not greatly help your performance in the open and semi as those tests focus on facts/ same logic in campbell.
I am reading Campbell for the first time now for the camp and it’s taking me forever T.T</p>
<p>Also, technically, Campbell’s Biology is the official textbook the competition is based upon.</p>
<p>I understand what you guys are saying, but Idk I really want to take the class for some reason. I just feel like I want to learn biology. Are you guys strongly suggesting I not take the class because if you are then I won’t. Also, since the class is 300$, which one should I take (I mean which specialty)? Like genetics, microbiology, evolution, etc.</p>
<p>^I suggest you definitely take that class. I can’t speak for USABO specifically, but I know for USNCO, some classes in organic chemistry would definitely help, and in fact are even required to perform well, once you’re past semifinals, and for the AIME/USAMO sequence, taking math courses at colleges is almost required since you have to learn so much other math that’s not taught in school.</p>
<p>^Not true for AIME/USAMO. Most college classes have material that are not tested on these math competitions. HS math competitions usually focus on elementary algebra, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory rather than calculus/analysis or topology. (At high USAMO/IMO levels, you might use abstract algebra or hardcore college NT, though.) Sure, discrete math classes at colleges will give one a solid foundation in combo and NT, but Art of Problem Solving classes are more focused on competitions, and likely cheaper than taking a class at a college.</p>
<p>If you’re really interested in bio, then take whichever class sounds the most interesting to you. Personally, I wish I had the chance to take post-AP physics courses (after looking around our area, nothing jives with my school schedule), so you’re pretty lucky to have access to a college that can offer you those courses.</p>