<p>How much of an advantage is it to be a Siemens Semifinalist or Regional Finalist?</p>
<p>I think Regional Finalist is a BIG DEAL, like the type of thing that will almost get you into any school given you have agood rest of the application. Seminfalist I would compare to qualifying for the usamo, or going to RSI-- it won’t get you in but its pretty good.</p>
<p>Not totally sure. I was just named Siemens Semifinalist yesterday. If you check the MIT RD Decisions thread, you’ll see that everyone that had Siemens Semifinalist award got in. Nonetheless, they had other decent credentials, but I’d say Siemens Semifinalist gives you a big boost.</p>
<p>haha mathemonster, I heard RSI kids get in everywhere anyways
hopefully regionals helps me as much as you say it does lol thanks for the response guys!</p>
<p>i’m a semifinalist this year and from what i’ve heard its good but not quite as good as intel international science fair finalist and regional finalist is equal or a little better. but if you made semi or finalist then you prob have alot of other science extra curriculars and awards and its one of the best extracurriculars there is :)</p>
<p>Mathemonster, I hate to break it to you, but RSI >>> USAMO >>> Siemens Semifinalist</p>
<p>There are all these great scholarship competitions for things related to math, science, etc.</p>
<p>What about kids who want to major in business or something? Are there any prestigious competitions for them?</p>
<p>Being named as a Siemens semifinalist will help a lot for sure. For example, my son’s school had 4 Siemens semifinalists last year, three went to MIT and one went to Stanford. Apparently all of them have had other accomplishments to go with as well. This year, they have 7 Siemens semifinalists, so I guess we have to wait and see what is going to happen. </p>
<p>Also being USAMO qualifier is extremely hard and it does require a lot of time to work on those hard core AIME types of problems.
Ideally if you are an USAMO qualifier plus a Siemens semifinalist, that probably will increase your chance pretty significantly. I guess how many students have both this year…</p>
<p>Getting into RSI or TASP is extremely hard too and it probably will get you into any school you will apply assuming you have good essays. Good luck!</p>
<p>Yo Peter and Luke, if either of you are reading this, good luck.</p>
<p>hahaha @morningrain I got semis and usamo
@Pirrup haha i guess so cause I was on the waitlist for RSI, but I made USAMO this year and Siemens. However, when I applied to RSI I hadn’t made USAMO and had almost no credentials and I still almost got in, so I feel like its not super hard. Anyways, now siemens over its time to focus on intel!</p>
<p>@gethian yea I hope it does give a big boost haha…I’m also the only semifinalist in my state</p>
<p>Mathmonster - congratulations! It is really impressive to be an USAMO qualifier and a Siemens semifinalist. I wonder how many students are like you this year. What schools do you apply and which one do you do early action/decision? </p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>PS - being the only Siemens semifinalist from your state probably will give you some edge as well.</p>
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<p>mathemonster, while your accomplishments are certainly admirable, you have to keep in mind that you’re from RI (based on aforementioned quote), a state that is said to be affirmatively selected for in the admissions process of said program. furthermore, you were the only usamo qualifier in your state last year, which means that the “at least one qualifier from every state with aime qualifiers” clause probably came into play. in any case, congrats and good luck!</p>
<p>^ ahhaa that was such a profile stalk comment :)</p>