<p>Er... I'm now sure "who" is expected to make this national merit cutoff. I didn't make it due to a not super impressive verbal score (and a decent writing score). I don't find it hindering my progress at MIT though. I've met dozens upon dozens of perfect scorers on the SAT (many first time) and never have been blown away by their intelligence either. I have however, been blown away with how damn smart many of the worlds top (at least according to IMO, and what not competition rankings) teen mathematicians are.</p>
<p>I would say definetely put down ARML. Your SAT scores and grades are already available to them; National Merit is something you put down when you don't have something better, like a high score at ARML to put down.</p>
<p>ehh... i already submitted my application and didnt mention i got a 6 on ARML two years ago. should i send something about extra awards? or should i wait till deferral in mid-dec?</p>
<p>@differential- ok, well yeah you need to do reasonably well on the verbal section and a lot of math/sci people don't. It does give some indication of being well-rounded inasmuch as being good at math and verbal...</p>
<p>So considering that everyone has the high math scores, the national merit is sort of like a small english award. I wasn't trying to say it would make-or-break an applicant.</p>
<p>But he got a 6 on ARML! Hmmm... actually I see your point on the english awards. I had gotten by listing many Model UN awards... I suppose you do need SOME indicator of english abilities...</p>
<p>Is the 6 (stupid careless mistake) really that big of a deal to MIT? I mean USAMO certainly trumps a 6 on ARML. And differential has Siemens Nationals, so I dont' think MIT cares about National Merit when he has that.</p>
<p>Well stupidkid (your name is awkward, I feel like I'm implicitly insulting you everytime I address you, so you'll never know if I'm actually intending to display contempt for you) I applied last year. Also, I honestly don't know how big a deal a 6 at ARML is. </p>
<p>Also, the thing to remember is correlation not causation. Getting one of these big awards or competitions doesn't make MIT think, WOW I"M GOING TO SNATCH UP THAT ***** BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE. It just happens that these kids who do win often have a huge array of other skills, abilities, scores, etc that makes for a solid package. </p>
<p>Awards do help you get taken a tad more seriously. But there are far better ways to display competence. Dying to go into electrical engineering at MIT? Start building and studying circuits in high school. Don't tell me you can't find the resources, the parts cost very little, the theory has been around for more than a century! Want to go into CS? Write awesome programs. Learn new and interesting programming languages. The list goes on and on...</p>
<p>I'd say a 6 is a pretty big deal. Last year, no one got an 8, and at Penn State only a handful got 7s (I'm pretty sure it was less than 30). I know from my state, the highest score was a 6, and I'm not sure how many got 6s from my state anmore but I know it was no more than 3. That being said, I'd say a 6 is not much less prestigious, if at all less prestigious, than USAMO. In fact, I'd consider a 7 or 8 to be even more prestigious because then you are talking the top 50 in the nation easily.</p>
<p>Of course, I think more ppl. take the AMC (and hence shoot for USAMO) than are in ARML, so the competition is probably more fierce.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'd say a 6 is not much less prestigious, if at all less prestigious, than USAMO.
[/quote]
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. Qualifying for USAMO requires that you do well in two tests, AMC and AIME, meaning you're consistently a good problem solver. Getting a 6 on ARML may be due to luck (guessing correctly is pretty common) or just having a really good day. And an 8 question test probably can't show much about your mathematical abilities.</p>
<p>Yeah there is some truth to that. On one practice I actualy got a 5, althought this is really not at all reflective of my talent. Usually I'd get a 2 or a 3, and for the actual competition I got a 1. It was embarassing because I actually got the right answer on my paper for one of them, and then wrote down the wrong number because I was being retarded. But regardless, a 1-3 is a more accurate depiction of my abilities and yet 1 time I managed to get a 5. I'm sure this happens with some ppl at the actual competition. Nonetheless, 5-8s are good scores and will be revered by the adcom im sure.</p>
<p>How would you write that you got a 7?
I mean, under activities, would you write:</p>
<p>A score of 7 on the ARML? Haha... but no, I'm serious. If anyone knows, I'd be grateful.</p>
<p>If i were you under activities I would put ARML, and then in the description section write that u got a 7.</p>
<p>A 7 is too good not to mention.</p>