Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than for the experience, does this help with anything else? (College apps?)

It can help with college applications but mainly if you are scoring high enough to participate in the AIME and the USAMO at most schools. At schools like MIT and Cal Tech you really need to make MOP and then IMO to stand out. Most of the college sites I have looked at have said to only include the AMC scores if you have a perfect score and to post the AIME or USAMO scores from the AMC12 if you make those. You cannot get to the USAMO unless you scored well on the AMC12 and the AIME.

Really, these types of tests are important if you have a kid who has participated in their school math team and a series of competitions. They help to show dedication to an activity, just like playing a sport for all of high school. High enough scores show that your child in the top percentile of their peers, like making an All Conference team in a sport.

College admissions are looking for participation in extra curricular activities over a period of time because it shows passion or interest. They like to see kids who stand out, so being in the top percentage of their peers. They also like to see that kids are well rounded, so not all academic activities or all athletic activities.

That's absurd. Only 40-ish kids across multiple grade levels make MOP. Only 6 kids (across multiple grade levels) make IMO. Only around 30-ish kids get a perfect AMC 12. Yes, the very small number of kids who do that will "stand out" in applications, but even elite colleges have a lot more space for incoming freshmen. You're suggesting that if you're not in the top 30 or so mathematicians in your grade level in the entire country, none of the ivies, MIT, CalTech, Stanford, etc. math, physics, engineering, etc. departments would be interested? Are you also suggesting that a kid earning a spot on the top 1% honor roll (maybe 300 kids per test, so maybe 150-ish 12th graders) is better off not including this on an application?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than for the experience, does this help with anything else? (College apps?)

Yes, MIT for example specifically has a spot in their application to share your AMC scores

Which is strange because the AMC score is not useful for MIT. With 8000 AIME qualifiers, "TO" AMC scores can only hurt your application (if it doesn't have n AIME score to validated it), not help.

There may be 8000 AIME qualifiers, but only maybe 2000 of them are 12th graders. Almost every MIT applicant will have a perfect or near perfect SAT math score, a 5 in AP calc, and straight As. A high AMC 12 score is at least another way for a kid to differentiate themselves from all of the other applicants who are good at math.. It may not count for much, but the same is true for any lower tier award or achievement. Nobody would suggest that NMSF shouldn't be included, and there are 16,000 of those across the country. Qualifying for AIME is quite a bit more elite.

I'm not sure what you meant by "if it doesn't have n AIME score to validated it." If you mean that a high AIME score is also needed to validate the high AMC 12 score, I disagree for the reasons above. If you mean that a kid wouldn't be helped by including a non-AIME qualifying AMC 12 score, then I would agree with that.

Anonymous wrote:Other than for the experience, does this help with anything else? (College apps?)

It can help with college applications but mainly if you are scoring high enough to participate in the AIME and the USAMO at most schools. At schools like MIT and Cal Tech you really need to make MOP and then IMO to stand out. Most of the college sites I have looked at have said to only include the AMC scores if you have a perfect score and to post the AIME or USAMO scores from the AMC12 if you make those. You cannot get to the USAMO unless you scored well on the AMC12 and the AIME.

Really, these types of tests are important if you have a kid who has participated in their school math team and a series of competitions. They help to show dedication to an activity, just like playing a sport for all of high school. High enough scores show that your child in the top percentile of their peers, like making an All Conference team in a sport.

College admissions are looking for participation in extra curricular activities over a period of time because it shows passion or interest. They like to see kids who stand out, so being in the top percentage of their peers. They also like to see that kids are well rounded, so not all academic activities or all athletic activities.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other than for the experience, does this help with anything else? (College apps?)

Yes, MIT for example specifically has a spot in their application to share your AMC scores

Which is strange because the AMC score is not useful for MIT. With 8000 AIME qualifiers, "TO" AMC scores can only hurt your application (if it doesn't have n AIME score to validated it), not help.