The MIT Admissions Process (USAMO an anti-hook? Part 2) - Page 2

WaitingForGodot · 03-27-2009, 02:48 PM

What relevance does last year's USAMO have in my case? I got a ten on the USAMO 2 years ago, missed qualifying last year by 7 points (197 index/204 required to make USAMO).

Not trying to throw out your point, just correcting a misconception.

MIT ♥ · 03-27-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Don't you think it would be freaky if everyone at your school was a math genius? I would.

Heh, wouldn't that be awesome. Math geniuses = ♥

DataBox · 03-27-2009, 09:08 PM

isomorphism is seems like you are one of those super-genius internationals, so although USAMO may be easy for you and 10 may not seem good to you, for all intensive purposes 10 is an EXCELLENT score on the USAMO (for your reference there were over 70 0's last year).....

That's definitely not what kept Godot out of MIT, and I'm sure it will be a driving factor for his acceptances come April 1st....

174IQPartier · 03-30-2009, 09:59 PM

I don't see why USAMO would be an 'anti-hook', everyone I know who qualified for that exam is bloody brilliant at math.
If someone doesn't get into MIT even though he or she qualified for the USAMO, it's probably due to something else really bad on their application (poor grades, low verbal SAT, lack of leadership, getting arrested for drinking alcohol underage...) you know the basics, not because the person qualified for USAMO.

mathlete1106 · 03-30-2009, 10:59 PM

Well wow I think its a bit harsh to say that anybody who qualified for USAMO but didn't get into MIT must have had a severe flaw in their application such as low grades/test scores or getting arrested for underage drinking. I'm a 2-time USAMO qualifier (at the time my app was submitted) without any major flaws in my application (2290 SAT, top 2%, good EC's and leadership etc) that was waitlisted at MIT. Was I dissapointed? Sure. Was I surprised? I don't know...not really. I wouldn't have been very surprised if I had gotten in either because I knew I had a passion for mathematics that was displayed in my application. I probably would not have been surprised if I had gotten rejected. I think what one person said earlier pretty much sums it up. MIT doesn't want a class full of USAMO qualifiers. They want a well-rounded student body and admitted students on that basis.

nealth · 04-02-2009, 01:11 AM

Which IMO perfect scorer got rejected?

isomorphism · 04-04-2009, 11:28 PM

Cheng-Chiang Tsai, IMO '04 '05.

By the way, are you coming here next year? I'm pretty sure you know who I am.

VA 22102 · 04-08-2009, 07:18 PM

Not "anti", lol, just a little confused...
MIT really had hard time to choose the students from TJHSST...

ESPN America's top high school earning respect on the field -ESPN Rise RISE

qihqi · 04-09-2009, 12:00 PM

isomorphism made a good point: MIT is filled with so much IMO guys that a USAMO seems less impressive and will be eventually considered just like a whatever EC like a varsity sport and nothing else.

artikas · 04-09-2009, 11:18 PM

When I got my "triage slip" from admissions, USAMO had its own field next to RSI, MITES and a couple other fields. You got a star next to it if you had it, so I'm sure it helps a lot if they make sure it stands out.

geomom · 04-15-2009, 06:14 PM

OK, here's something funny: one of those TJ students who made USAMO this year was initially rejected from TJ! (But was accepted as a sophomore.)

Holistic admissions... gotta love it!

DataBox · 06-03-2009, 11:37 PM

What is a triangle slip?

And wow geomom that is quite interesting.

Evie25 · 07-03-2009, 10:32 PM

I'm a rising sophomore (class of 2012) who just got admitted to TJHSST as a "froshmore." I was also originally rejected from TJ, but hopefully i can catch up and show people that I truly belong at TJ. Maybe I could even make USAMO.