<p>So I have only started gaining an interest in seriously pursuing a math/physics career in the past year. Before, I have only been "good" at these two subjects and understood them relatively easily. I just thought about doing engineering and never actually had a serious interest in doing them. With regards to physics, I'm mostly ahead of others now since I have been self studying more advanced topics in the past year such as advanced EM and general relativity and the like.</p>
<p>However, with math, even though I am mostly at the top of my math classes and took multivar calc/diff eqn in the past year, I don't think I'm good at math at all. I never did any competition-based math and only did it a little in freshman year of high school. Now, I only recently gained an interest in math and started doing math team again this year in senior year. Having done no practice at all, I only did slightly above average at competitions like NYSML and ARML. However, I'm mostly behind others who have much more experience and practice regularly. Even though I think I can pick up stuff easily and have a talent in these two fields, I'm slightly behind with regards to math. I will be attending college next year.</p>
<p>1) Having only recently gained an interest in these two subjects, how would I catch up with others with regards to math and competition-based math since I intend on taking the putnam? </p>
<p>2) Also, I did not attend a lot of math camps either, am I missing out on a lot? How would I catch up with those that have been doing this kind of problem solving math stuff 6 years more than me that usually come at the top of those regional math competitions?</p>
<p>You are almost three years ahead in math, having taken multivariable calculus and differential equations as a high school junior. In other words, you are very good at math. But just about everyone can find someone better at math, so don’t think you are bad at math just because there is someone better.</p>
<p>Competition math is rather overrated in my opinion. Just because you’ve never participated in math competitions, you should think no less of your mathematical abilities. Knowing how to apply math to real world situations is much more important, and the physics that you’re self teaching is one excellent way to go about that.</p>
<p>If you’re really that concerned about math competitions though, you can always get out there and get involved in some.</p>
<p>I have done some. I’m just not ridiculously good at it though. I was just asking because I don’t know if I should practice with it because I don’t think there are any math competitions beyond high school other than the putnam.</p>
<p>Are you seriously worried about whether you’re good at math when you’re on the math team and have participated in math competitions?</p>
<p>Almost everyone you meet in college will physically force themselves into math lectures looking like they’re walking into their own funeral. Needless to say you won’t have any “catching up” to do.</p>
<p>Sounds like if anything you need a math break.</p>
<p>That’s not really the best standard of comparison. There are plenty of people out there who can barely spell their own name - it doesn’t mean I’m gonna consider myself a great writer just because I can.</p>
<p>I think competitions are probably more important in high school because there usually aren’t any alternatives for people who are interested in math. Once you’re in college that’s no longer the case.</p>
<p>Yeah, my ignorant impression of “competition math” is that it allows high school students to differentiate themselves from everybody else who also took AP calc and diffy qs at the local community college (yes, high schoolers do that).</p>
<p>Plus, there are all those hot babes hanging outside the mathlete’s locker room, offering themselves to all the alpha males.</p>
<p>I’d say that’s a pretty accurate impression IMHO. Taking lower-level college math classes in high school has become pretty common, so it makes sense that mathematically talented high school students would want to set themselves apart in other ways. </p>
<p>To OP, don’t worry too much about the Putnam and related competitions if you’re interested in math. Taking advanced courses, getting involved in research, and/or learning useful applications (such as computer science or physics) are much more important.</p>