AMC/AIME/USAMO?

mapletree7
Sat, 15 Feb 2014 22:03:13 +0000

USAMO is a premiere hook on your application, especially to colleges like MIT or Caltech (the acceptance rate for USAMO qualifiers is 60%+ at these colleges).

If your focus is not math, then even AIME would be a pretty impressive accomplishment. The best way to prepare is to do past exams, and get the AoPS textbooks as others have mentioned.