<p>I was wondering, what is considered the semifinalist level on USNCO? Is it just taking the national test? Is that prestigious at all, or is just getting into finals prestigious? cause i know for at least USABO, getting semifinalist is pretty good, but to get to the national test i think you just have to be the top in your school.</p>
<p>haha</p>
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<li>no, semifinalist means that you were in the top something percent in your region, and also at LEAST top 2 in your school (can't have more than 2 people per school as semifinalist). that said, it's still hard to get in, depending on your state you need at least a 52/60 to make semifinalist on the open exam, sometimes more if you're in a competitive state. </li>
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<p>National</a> Chemistry Olympiad Local Competitions</p>
<p>here are some local exams, but not all of them. Obviously, getting to finalist is very prestigious and is one of those things that almost guarantees a spot in HYP (but not always and you need the SAT and grades to match as well) but it is obviously very hard to get. I think they take 20 people out of the 900 that make semifinalist and around 10.000 that take the local exam.</p>
<ol>
<li>for USABO getting to semifinalist is pretty good (although undervalued at my school i would think, anyone who took it at my school got in because of our cool AP bio class). around 10,000 people first take it and they take the top 5% which is about 500. IDK what you mean by getting to the national test; do you mean finalist? because to be finalist you need to also be in the top 20 in the nation, which is much harder than being at the top of your school (which I would guess everyone would be who made semifinalist unless you go to a competitive school or one where they overprepare you for Bio)</li>
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<p>well I live in Minnesota, so do I have to be one of the top in Minnesota to advance to the semi's in chem? and what is the semi-finalist level test, the national test?</p>
<p>being a semfinalist means you take the national test. being a finalist means you make Camp (2 week study camp) meaning you pass the national test.</p>
<p>and if you live in minnesota it's probably easier to pass, the hardest states are Cali and NJ</p>
<p>so cutoff probably a 50/60; look at the tests</p>
<p>well i'm trying to decide whether to study for the biology and chem one, so in terms of my scenario, which one would be more prestigious to get to semi-finalist, the USABO or the USNACO?</p>
<p>oh also can u take both? if not, can u take biology and the math one?</p>
<p>you can take all of them lol. the only thing you can't do is go to two or more study camps. even if they're not at the same time. you can only go to one study camp. but you can be finalist for bio chem physics math computing, you name it</p>
<p>btw math is a little different, considering you start with AMC->AIME->USAMO(really hard, comparable to any study camp)->MOP(studycamp)->IMO</p>
<p>oh i mean USABO, not USAMO, USABO = US biology olympiad</p>
<p>i know, but u asked for math in ur other post.</p>
<p>um, idk because it's a lot easier to get to USABO in my school, but i think thye're both the same and it depends on what your area of interest is.</p>
<p>what about finalist level, is either chem or bio easier?</p>