<p>Is it possible to take the USAxO exams if your school doesn't officially administer them? The only exams my high school actually gives out are the AMC ones, and so far nothing else.. So yeah.</p>
<p>Also, how many hours each day of study would you recommend in order to make it into the finals for USA Biology Olympiad? And how do semifinalists/finalists in these exams look on your college applications/</p>
<p>Thanks~!</p>
<p>the USACO can be taken online at home</p>
<p>I think he was trying to say USNCO.</p>
<p>Nope, s/he’s saying USACO, and s/he is correct.</p>
<p>I think the interpretation can be taking either way.</p>
<p>For clarification purposes:</p>
<p>USACO = USA Computing Olympiad (at home)
UNSCO = U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (in-school)</p>
<p>^^I referred to the Chemistry Olympiad since the OP was wondering about the school administered exams.</p>
<p>It’s a common mistake. If you string USABO, USAPhO, and USAMO together, USACO seems like the logical choice for the Chemistry Olympiad.</p>
<p>Who knows. Maybe the OP really does want to do the Computing Olympiad.</p>
<p>Mea culpa, I thought that you were insinuating that md5hash was “trying to say USNCO” and was like “wait no, USACO is definitely the only online test.” Thanks for clarifying your clarification.</p>
<p>the name USAPhO always makes me chuckle</p>
<p>Haha, and the semifinal exam makes me cry :(</p>
<p>I <3 pho :D</p>
<p>go to a science teacher and talk him into signing you up. You have to take initiative for stuff like this. </p>
<p>USABO semis isn’t hard, and really isn’t worth much. I got in last year on 1.5 readthroughs of campbell. Finals is much harder/legit. I’d estimate I put in about 1000 hours into prepping to make finals this year. I read raven twice, the stuff on research techs from alberts, sadava twice, and campbell more times than I can recall. Also, I’d recommend looking at all the usabo questions you can find online, as they get recycled on occasion.</p>