<p>@mathyone I am not arguing about either the difficulties of participating in the Olympiads or doing quality research. I do think it is possible to do high-level research without any real school support though. Both of my kids have had to do it.</p>
<p>Also, I think you are being overly cynical about kids not being able to think creatively. Last night, there was a segment on 60 minutes about a 15 year-old kid who has developed a promising test for pancreatic cancer (there isn’t any currently). He researched pancreatic cancer and came up with the test protocol entirely by himself. He emailed something like 200 labs with the details of “his” idea before one took him in. It takes a lot of persistence and hard work but I agree with you that it is one the most impressive things a kid can do in the STEM areas (there are many other endeavors in other fields like art, music, creative writing etc. that are equally as impressive).</p>
<p>This thread is about OP and her desire to get into Yale to study engineering. Does she have the qualifications right now to get into Yale? Perhaps, but I still maintain that she should try to do more things that demonstrate her passion for math and science. It is isn’t easy as you point out but that shouldn’t discourage her from trying. After all, this is Yale we’re talking about. It attracts the very best of the best - kids who have succeeded despite the considerable odd against them.</p>