<p>I go to an extra math class at a university…its not for credit and its free (i have to drive an hour to get there)-i sometimes use up to 6 hours per week for that class</p>
<p>In the class, we do amc/aime/usamo/arml/any other math contests problems as we prepare for those tests…we also do tons of non-school math topics and higher math levels </p>
<p>i also made usamo and our arml team placed in the top 25 nationally…so i was considering by putting this class down</p>
<p>However, would it look good or would it look like the only reason im good at math is because i attended this class (thus lessening my accomplishments)-i really do enjoy this class more than something like Science Olympiad</p>
<p>Also, this goes for WOOT (on Art of probelm solving)</p>
<p>should you put these things down? because they are like math training classes, so i dont know if you can call that an EC?</p>
<p>I’m no expert but I suppose it would show your dedication to math, I believe you should put it down. As for taking from your math accomplishments… you have to prepare somewhere… people aren’t just born knowing things so I don’t think it would hurt you.</p>
<p>^^ Attending a math circle, a math camp, a math problem-solving group, or a non-academic credit math class is an excellent extracurricular activity. Of course you should put it down.
:-)</p>
<p>ok thanks, i have one more question about this</p>
<p>I dont know if the MIT app has this on there (never seen it), but I know on the common app, they have that positions, honors, letters category for each EC></p>
<p>For this math competitions class/math circle (whatever you call it), Ive given several short INFORMAL lectures (like explained how to do some proofs, solved some hard problems)-like i just went up to the blackboard for maybe 5 mins max per every week or so…(i dont do this at school)</p>
<p>Is it too much of a stretch to put down Math Lecturer under the positions, honors…category? Should I put the word informal, or would they know what i am talking about?</p>
<p>^ Exactly what university is this? Where is it? I might be interested if it concerns with AMC stuff. heh.</p>
<p>Good EC.</p>
<p>It sounds like more than just a stretch to put down honors or Lecturer if you are just being called upon as a class member to solve a problem on the board. Are you the only person in the class that does this? Most sudents explain proofs, solve difficult problems at the board or in small work groups I don’t see what you are doing as being any different.</p>
<p>Quantam-im in the midwest, you can pm me if you want…our class is no where near something like san diego math circle or something like that (we do have a mopper, and a person whos brother was 1 point away from imo but its not one of the top in the us-however, the class must be a pretty out feeding outlet for colleges becasue i dont know a single person that was actively involved in the class in the last 3-4 years that did not make it to harvard, mit, or stanford…-but its probably their other ecs)</p>
<p>bluebird-so basically i shouldnt put this down right? i wanst really thinking it would be a valid positions. basically, we get a entire chapter of proofs that we have to lecture to the class about (for example, i can get geometry-concurrency), and i would explain the probelms in that topic (about 1/3 of the students in the class do it)</p>
<p>Im only a junior (im only asking this because i was interested in college apps-after just applying to rsi)…</p>
<p>However, I will put this on my app next year. Theres only a little room on the common app to explain the details of the activity? Since this is different from regular math class, or even my high school’s math club, is it a good idea to put something like this</p>
<p>Local Math Circle
or
Local Math Circle: explore challenging math topics not covered by the school cirriculam</p>
<p>You see by the amount of space in the applications that you really have to pick and choose your extra curriculars (as well as which awards to put down). There just is not enough space for everything you do which I think is the whole point, they want to know what you do that you like the most.</p>
<p>Yes it is a good EC. You will have some space to describe it just don’t try to make it sound like more than it is, I think the adcoms can see through that. I like what you just wrote for it. It shows what it is and why you are doing it.</p>
<p>Ok thanks. And yea im not going to put some useless ECs down. Im in clubs like Science Olympiad, but since I do not really contribute much to it and do not really like it compared to some of my other ECs (even with a leadership position because I think its one of those positions in which its based on popularity than substance). I probably will not attach a resume unless I need to expand on some research I did (something more important)</p>
<p>Oh, and I didnt really ask this because I thought it was a bad EC or something. I just did not think colleges allowed you to put down ECs that also teach you and help you get better at something. But then again, now that I think about it, I guess all ECs are like that. If you are on the basketball team or something like that, the practices will help you get better.</p>
<p>One more question (its not related to this but i dont want to create another thread)</p>
<p>Is there any way to see what the MIT app looks like. I know it wont matter for me because i will be able to see it next year when i create a myMIT account. However, the official that came to my school told me that the MIT app is a lot different than the common app. I know you can see the common app online, but is there any way to see the MIT app? </p>
<p>and i just noticed i totally misspelled curriculum lol</p>
<p>Thanks</p>