<p>Actually, <a href=“http://www.math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/freshmenguide.html[/url]”>http://www.math.harvard.edu/undergrad/Pamphlets/freshmenguide.html</a> is probably more relevant than the other links i posted. </p>
<p>Quote:“Skipping Math 25 and 55: Every year a few freshmen want to skip the Math twenty/fifty level all together and start with a 100- or 200- level course. The Department, based on many years of experience, strongly discourages this. You may learn more advanced material in higher level courses, but never at the same speed and intensity as in Math 25 or 55. Moreover, you are learning more than just a body of mathematics in these courses. You are also learning how to ‘be’ a research mathematician (as opposed to one who only does well in Math courses).”</p>
<p>Well, if you qualify to go to the IMO, chances are you really want to continue your math studies. The thing about math 55 is that there’s “often” a couple of IMO students in the class, so the peer group in there must be amazing. There’s more info on the class in the link.</p>