Click here to go to the NEW College Discussion Forum

Any one here on CC won gold medal on International/national olympiad?

How much would it help the chance of admissions if you are International Olympiad Gold Medalist?

I heard some one said, if you are a gold medalist, then you are in for sure. Is that true?

Wow, if yes, I might try working my ass off getting one.

By Rowan (Rowan) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 12:34 am: Edit

I was going to say "that's a lousy reason to try for something," but then, I had to go off on a cynical tangent.

So I was telling myself, why DO we try so hard for these things if they do, in the end, mean nothing? Can't we be guaranteed something for accomplishing so much more than so many adults have in their lives before we finish high school? Why not?

And then I remembered I've accomplished nothing extraordinary, and how I wish I'd known of these things in the first place.

So my answer is the same: if it's your type of thing, go for it. Do it for yourself, because you can never be sure what happens, good or bad, with anyone else.

By Over30 (Over30) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 01:06 am: Edit

Rowan, I know several of the parents on this board believe you are a very accomplished, extraordinary young woman. I remember your beautiful and insightful posts during the fire, and what a gifted story-teller you are.

And everything you do means something. It may not guarantee acceptance into one particular school, but I can guarantee that if you do it for yourself it will be one more thing that brings meaning to your life.

By Rowan (Rowan) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 01:21 am: Edit

I didn't mean for that to sound quite the way it did. I think I've just run out of patience for that "end" where everything will "turn out okay." I know I'm still very young, and I know I'm not the only person to have felt that way. ... Knowing that doesn't mean I don't feel it, though. ;P

Thank you for the support, Over30. It really means quite a lot to me.

As for the way I really meant to respond to Amylase: nothing can really "guarantee" anything, particularly when you get to the increasingly random world of college admissions. If you are willing to put yourself into that much work, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. It's not just the Olympiad that means something (to you or to the colleges) -- it's why you did it, and how you did it, and what you gained from the experience that truly matters, even if college Y decides it isn't what they want this year.

By Papalemming (Papalemming) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 01:46 am: Edit

I am a bronze medallist in the International Chemistry Olympiad, and a gold medallist in the Iberoamerican Chemistry Olympiad (competition of Latin American countries, plus Spain and Portugal).

And I'm a gold medallist in my country's national Chemistry Olympiad and silver in the Math Olympiad.

They have all been awesome experiences. I have not done it because of the college thingy. I did them because I felt deeply interested in what I would learn and in the experiences I would have. It was all worth it. They are probably the academic accomplishments I feel the most happy with.

I don't think they guarantee anything, they are just another nice EC, and plenty of people have nice ECs.

By Over30 (Over30) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 02:25 am: Edit

Papalemming-you are very humble. Those are wonderful accomplishments. Around here some kids join 3 clubs, show up once in a while, and consider that nice EC's. Congratulations.

By Amylase (Amylase) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 06:11 am: Edit

Thanks Rowan and other people for yr advice.


How to participate in International Olympiads? Do I have to first get select by my country? I mean, just who's in charge of it/who's the sponsor?

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 11:48 am: Edit

The Olympiads are fabulous, and anyone who has the talent and interest in one of them should definitely give it a try. Even competing at the very lowest levels is a very enriching experience. But to start with the idea that you're going to win an international gold medal and thus get into college is a pretty unlikely scenario. Winning a gold medal is a lot more difficult that getting into even the most selective college. In the int'l math olympiad, there are something like 20 gold medals each year. But a couple of MILLION people take the preliminary exams in their various countries. It's half a million just in the US.

Amylase, what country are you in and which olympiad do you think you would be interested in? The selection process varies a LOT by country and by subject. Some people already know that they will be on their country's 2004 team because they competed in 2003, leaving fewer open slots. In the US, selection happens in the summer, after a training camp. Most people who make it to the international level in the US have been working on it over multiple years.

We're not supposed to post urls, but just google search math+science+olympiads to get started. Once you have the site for one of the int'l olympiads, there will be links to contacts in the various countries.

By Attitudica (Attitudica) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 12:20 pm: Edit

I really want to participate in one of these, particularly Physics one.

I live in Pakistan, and I`ve been searching all over the internet but couldn`t find a site for Pakistani Olympic fellas.

Whats the actual procedure? Do I have to go through my country? Can`t I go personally, on my own and stuff?

By Texas137 (Texas137) on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 04:51 pm: Edit

Okay, here's the link. We'll see if the url gets past the moderators. If you go to the particular olympiad you are interested in, there should be a list of contacts for the various countries. Attiducica, I checked, and there is a contact person for the physics olympiad in Pakistan. You have to go through your country's selection process on all of these. You cannot go on your own. Here's the link:
http://olympiads.win.tue.nl/

By Papalemming (Papalemming) on Wednesday, December 24, 2003 - 01:49 am: Edit

I first had to go through the selection process of my country.

The first phase of that process was the Venezuelan Chemistry Olympiad. About 30,000 students take the preliminary test. In the end, I earned a gold medal.

Then I started the selection process for my country's delegation to the IChO.

We also get theoretical and experimental training. In the end, I was selected to be part of Venezuela's delegation to the IChO.

During the process, I had the opportunity to meet people that, like me, were interested in chemistry. I made strong friendships with most of them, especially my delegation mates.

Then in July we went to Athens, Greece, where the IChO was held. It was an amazing experience. I met people from all around the world. And I got to win a bronze medal. :D

My mates won two silver medals and one more bronze medal, and also the best experimental exam award. We were one of the best delegations of the continent (and even better than the United States!).

Aye, good times, good times.

If I make it through the selection process again, hopefully I'll go to the 36th IChO to be held in Germany next year.

And yeah, winning a gold medal is insanely hard. But it is possible. I guess. :p

Thanks for your feedback, Over30. Hopefully they'll look good enough for the college admissions officers, hehe.