Tournaments: Distinctions
Due to space concerns, numerous teams have, regrettably, been turned away from HMMT over the past few years, and the number of teams we are unable to accommodate will only increase in 2012. Especially in local schools for which travel to HMMT is relatively easy, it is tempting for strong students to encourage classmates who are perhaps less experienced with math competitions to join them on teams so that they can compete in HMMT.
HMMT, arguably one of the most difficult math competitions in the United States, is geared toward students who can comfortably and confidently solve 6 to 8 problems correctly on the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). While one or two members of a high school math club may be in this group, there are few cases in which eight are. Ultimately, the organizers of HMMT would prefer that strong students compete with regional teams instead of high school teams.
HMMT's "younger sibling," HMNT, specifically caters to students within 125 miles of Cambridge who are interested in mathematics but may not have the experience to compete at the level of HMMT. Such students, instead of tagging along to HMMT with their more experienced peers, are encouraged to compete in HMNT with school teams.
Meanwhile, individuals in the target audience of HMMT are encouraged to find or form regional teams with other students of similar ability. With the popularity of online media such as the Art of Problem Solving forums, as well as other local math competitions and math circles, over the past few years the contest math community has grown more and more intertwined, making finding or forming regional teams easier. In the case that one is unable to find such a team, HMMT registration is willing to help connect students to regional teams. Email hmmt-request@mit.edu for inquiries.
Many, students and school teams alike, will be tempted to choose to participate in HMMT over HMNT because of the belief that HMMT is the more “legitimate” competition. While HMMT is indeed larger in scale, it is not for everyone. We urge all students and coaches to carefully consider whether HMMT is truly the appropriate competition for them; that is, to consider carefully whether they indeed are part of its intended audience. Performing poorly on a competition that is out of one's reach can be a discouraging experience. Students are welcome to contact HMMT staff with any questions about whether HMMT would be the right competition for them.
Our policies, we admit, are not perfect. Students who feel they deserve special consideration should feel free to contact the HMMT registration director (hmmt-request@mit.edu), who will do his best to provide suggestions and accommodate them.