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I'm an intl student and going to be a Junior in September, and I'm looking for those competitions most powerful and effective in your admission decisions.

I want you to list any competitions you know, no matter how tough or hard it is, as much as possible.



To begin with, I will list some of the best known first:

1. IMO The International Mathematics Olympiad

2. IPhO The International Physics Olympiad

3. IChO The International Chemistry Olympiad

4. IBO The International Biology Olympiad

5. IOI The International Olympiad in Informatics

6. IAO The International Astronomy Olympiad

You can find them here: http://olympiads.win.tue.nl/

Unfortunately, intl' students are not qualified to take the USAMO, which is a competition to select the USA team to IMO. What are the big competitions in mathematics other than IMO?

By Fairyofwind (Fairyofwind) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 05:51 pm: Edit

Before the USAMO, there is of course the AIME, which you can take, right? Get a 15 on the AIME and you've basically proven yourself IMO material. You can also try the USAMTS, but that contest is based on an honor system, which calls into question its validity. Then there's the ARML and APMO which I don't know much about.

By Phantom (Phantom) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 07:12 pm: Edit

The two big science ones are the Intel Science Talent Search and Siemens Westinghouse.

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 09:39 pm: Edit

Don't forget to join the Intel Science and Engineering Fair since Intel Science Talent Search is only for seniors.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 10:32 pm: Edit

Thanx you guise!!

>>Fairyofwind
I didn't know that much about AIME, but if that's true, I think I'll try next year. But isn't there big difference between AIME and USAMO when it comes to your college admission? Thanks for your helpful info, and I'll do some research about USAMTS, ARML and APMO.

>>Phantom, Gianscolere
I knew about ISEF and the Intel Science Talent Search, but what's the difference between them? If you are senior, which one is better to you?

By Fairyofwind (Fairyofwind) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 10:35 pm: Edit

But isn't there big difference between AIME and USAMO when it comes to your college admission?

Not if you're not allowed to take the USAMO and you're an international student. A 15 on the AIME is achieved by around 2 students across the nation each year and aside from a perfect score on the USAMO/IMO, is one of the best ways for you to demonstrate mathematical talent.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 10:37 pm: Edit

By the way, I know that one category of ISEF is Mathematics, but what can you do as your Math project? Like other science projects, you can't exhibit your research...

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 10:40 pm: Edit

>>Fairyofwind
Thanx again, your information was helpful, indeed!

By Serene (Serene) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 10:42 pm: Edit

Britney: Like proving a theorem or find a new algorithm to something =)

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 10:45 pm: Edit

>>Serene
That's what I thought. Thanks anyway.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 11:54 pm: Edit

>>Fairyofwind
So USAMTS is a competition you can join at any places and any times, and send your solution by mail. It's surprizing that the Round 1 has just began!! The deadline for the Round 1 is 5 October 2003, right? But why is it so long, since it says a student should complete the solution in 4 weeks? It seems like you have more than 2 monthes.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 12:07 am: Edit

>>Fairyofwind

I also found that ARML is a competition you must participate as a team. If my school doesn't have such a team, how can you find a team which has a great chance to be awarded? It seems that almost every year the awarded teams are from the same schools. And there are two period of the ARML Power Contest (November 3–12, 2003 and February 10–19, 2004). Do you have to participate both if you wanna get a good score?
I found them here: http://www.arml.com/

By Serene (Serene) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 12:10 am: Edit

Britney: you just have to get 15 kids together and find some chaperon.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 12:38 am: Edit

>>Fairyofwind

About APMO(Asian Pacific Mathematical Olympiad), I found that in the United States, invitations go primarily to past participants of the MOSP. But to be eligible for MOSP you must pass USAMO first, that's again the problem for intl' students.


>>ALL
Please give me any informations about competition you know, as much as possible, especially for Math, Computer Science, Phisics, Science.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 12:41 am: Edit

>>Serene
But I thought there may be some places for people seeking teams, like math clubs, or some institutions.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 12:44 am: Edit

I found a good Site.
http://arml.yanco.com/competitions.html

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 01:40 am: Edit

Britney, I don't know exactly what the difference is between ISEF and Intel Science Talent Search...but I personally think that college adcoms perceive the latter as the more prestigious of the two.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 01:57 am: Edit

>>Gianscolere
Why? ISEF is more famous than the other.

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 12:25 am: Edit

What else can Intl' students compete? Share your idea!!

By Gianscolere (Gianscolere) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 02:09 am: Edit

I don't really have the authoritative power to say which is better but from looking at profiles of, say, members of USA Today's All-Academic First Team, they always list having won some sort of award at the Intel Science Talent Search .

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Saturday, September 06, 2003 - 04:30 pm: Edit

I need more! Someone share her/his idea and help me!

By Pdp1145 (Pdp1145) on Monday, November 03, 2003 - 05:47 pm: Edit

Britney - go for ISEF if you can! It's so much
fun for the kids, and you get a tremendous
amount of interaction and feedback from judges
(and the other kids). If you're into math,
find a topic you're interested in (the only
projects that really work well have to be ones
you a really interested in for some reason) and
demonstrate a proof, do a simulation, find a
new application, speed up a computation, etc.
"Prestigious" is kind of an empty thing, really.
Anyway, alot of good ISEF projects wind up at
Siemens-Westinghouse or STS anyway. You also have
a way better chance of winning an award and some
scholarship money. College recruiters also go to
ISEF and you may make great contacts that way, too!

By Britney4521 (Britney4521) on Friday, November 07, 2003 - 04:17 pm: Edit

>"the only projects that really work well have to be ones you a really interested in for some reason"

This was very helpful advice. Thanks!
I will do my best.