<p>I qualified last year(my junior year) 4 the 1st time, but an MIT undergrad I know says it won't really stand out 'cause most of the applicants are hardcore math/sci types? Is this true?</p>
<p>Qualifying for USAMO as a junior, while very rare, is not a lock for admission to MIT, because those of us who follow the math competition world know that previous young qualifiers have from time to time been rejected for admission to MIT. Read Ben's</a> blog for a good description of what MIT is looking for. USAMO qualification is a very impressive achievement, but impressive achievements ALONE aren't the whole story for getting into MIT, according to what MIT says and according to what is actually observed in practice. </p>
<p>Good luck in your applications.</p>
<p><em>sniffle</em> it would be nice if there were a world-class place where merely being one of the best young mathematicians/scientists in the country in your age group were enough to get in. Alas.</p>
<p>I can't stop laughing at Ben's reply, and wonder whether I am reading it the right way.</p>
<p>EDIT: Conversely, we could have Ben Jones and Ben Golub deathmatch, roof-top ninja style.</p>
<p>EDIT2: But Ben Jones wails on guitars, so I don't know how much of a fair fight that would be.</p>
<p>EDIT3: I apologize for this post. It's late and I'm tired.</p>
<p>Love Ben Golub's response -- wish I'd met him when I visited Caltech!</p>
<p>Ben: LOL</p>
<p>How's it going? Long time no talk. :-)</p>
<p>For the record, I'd be into some ninja-style deathmatch stuff with some other schools, but Caltech's not one of them. ;)</p>
<p>Although qualifying for the USAMO alone does not guarantee admission anywhere, it is still an accomplishment that stands out. Every year only about 50 juniors qualify for the USAMO. Even if all 50 apply to MIT, it's still only 50.</p>
<p>wow is USAMO that difficult, 2 years ago a soph at my school qualified for USAMO. (btw, last year, as a junior, this same guy didnt make USAMO)</p>
<p>Ben -- : ) <em>waves</em> hey! School going well. New year, new classes, new admissions cycle, only 168 hours in every week.</p>
<p>No ninja deathmatches with Mr. Jones for me. I like life.</p>
<p>Yeah, that 168 hour/week thing is really becoming a problem for me too. Someone needs to do something about that. :-)</p>
<p>
[quote]
2 years ago a soph at my school qualified for USAMO. (btw, last year, as a junior, this same guy didnt make USAMO)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That's because there are different criteria used to qualify as a freshman or sophomore than as a junior or senior. They make it a little easier for freshman and sohpomores so they can identify the best of these kids and give them a chance to practice on the USAMO.</p>
<p>oh right, how stupid of me, AMC 10 and such!!</p>
<p>Well, everyone qualifying for USAMO has to get at least the "floor value" on the AIME, right? That's what is impressive about USAMO qualification at any age: thousands of people trying to attain a level that only dozens attain.</p>
<p>Yeah...USAMO isn't a lock, but it show that you are at least one of the best, right?</p>
<p>THe thing about USAMO is there are many skilled math students who express their love and talent in other ways...like intense research or exhausting the school's curriculum and progressing forward into more-advanced college courses (I don't know if doing MV Cal or Linear ALgebra is impressive....maybe courses even more advanced than that?)</p>
<p>Also, many great mathmeticians don't even know about the AMC at all.</p>
<p>What sr said is true. I'm VP of the math honor society and I'm still trying to get my school to support AMC, which is going slowly, but hopefully we'll have it this or next year. The same goes with the NSO. Some students just aren't aware.</p>
<p>Also, Ben has said in the past that the average Caltech student has one or two years beyond calculus coming in, so I know that's not unusual.</p>
<p>I wonder if someone wins the IMO...do they go to the UMO? Universal Mathematics Olympiad? lol just kidding</p>
<p>Yeah, while qualifying for USAMO might help ones chances, it doesn't guarantee anything for admissions at MIT (On the contrary, I think for Caltech admissions, such an achievement might carry more weight). One of my friends at Caltech qualified for the USAMO during his sophmore and junior years in high school, and didn't get into MIT.</p>
<p>No, after the IMO, you go on to win the Fields Medal. :)</p>
<p>What about Siemens and Intel? Does Finalist stand as a hook? I've seen that admissions card on the internet, but it was kinda fuzzy, and confusing.</p>
<p>yea i wanna know the answer to sagar's question too. How far do u havta go in Siemens or Intel to qualify as a hook?</p>