<p>Just the amc and aime, not the USAMO. Thanks.</p>
<p>I am sorry, but my real question was actually using the recommended books like AOPS I and II how long would it take someone to study them enough to make it to the USAMO?</p>
<p>Lets just say for the average 800 Math II with a current amc of 80-100</p>
<p>Honestly, a lot. I have a friend who got 120+ on the AMC 12 and did all the AIME tests for the past 20 years (and gets around 10 on average)… he bombed it this year.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’d say to just study your hardest. If you don’t make it, at least you know that you tried. I spent countless hours studying for the AIME and never got higher than 7. I never made USAMO, but I was accepted to MIT anyways. So it’s definitely not a must-have for colleges.</p>
<p>It would take a lot of effort… Definitely don’t do this just for MIT. </p>
<p>Having said that, being an awesome problem solver will serve you extremely well in the future, and if you enjoy it, definitely try your best. I wish I spent more time in high school bashing myself against difficult problems rather than mindlessly following the rubbish HS curriculum. </p>
<p>Some good books I know:
Engel, problem solving strategies.
AoPS I & II
Problem solving through problems by Larson</p>
<p>Yea i know, i only posted this thread in the mit forum because I thought mit students would be most informed about the matter, as they might have done something similar.</p>
<p>I would recommend going through all of the previous tests and solutions on the AOPS forum.</p>
<p>I didn’t find books too helpful, but I managed to get a USAMO index of 250 this year.</p>
<p>“Honestly, a lot. I have a friend who got 120+ on the AMC 12 and did all the AIME tests for the past 20 years (and gets around 10 on average)… he bombed it this year.”
This is basically me.
I made it from not knowing what the AMC was to USAJMO in a year.
I worked every AIME ever, other than maybe 2 or 3 that I couldn’t find.
I didn’t touch an AMC.
That last decision of mine was the worst; I didn’t make AIME. I could’ve scored a 9. And this was a HARD year. 
Oh well, I’ve had fun doing real math. If you don’t really enjoy contest math, try and get into doing research and higher level math. I found out that that was more for me anyway. :)</p>