Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How many students will be in the competition?
  2. Who is eligible to participate in the HSMC?
  3. If I win a scholarship to Georgia Tech, will this make me a Georgia Tech student?
  4. How will the scholarships be paid?
  5. Can I use the scholarship if I decide to go to another school?
  6. How do I get to Georgia Tech?
  7. Where will the competition be held on campus?
  8. If I'm coming from out of town, where can I stay on Friday/Saturday night?
  9. How will the competition be scored?
  10. What kind of calculators may we use at the HSMC?
  11. Can I ask for a test to be regraded?
  12. Can I appeal decisions of the judges?
  13. Is there a way to challenge a question during/after the competition?
  14. Who are the Judges?
  15. I want to come to the HSMC, but do not have a teacher or parent who can accompany me; am I still allowed to enter?
  16. Can Joint Enrollment student compete in the HSMC?
  17. Are there any residency or citizenship requirements?
  18. What happens if there is a tie score?
  19. Will lunch be provided?
  20. If I do not show up to the HSMC, will I be refunded the registration fee?
  21. Is applying to the HSMC early important?
  22. I'm a teacher/parent who will be attending the HSMC. What are my options during the exams, etc.?
  23. Where can I obtain more information about Georgia Tech?
  24. Will a solution key be provided after the competition?
  25. What is the campus tour?
  26. The application postmark deadline just passed. Can I still send in my application?
  27. What other prizes will be given besides the top prize scholarships?
  28. I am a math team coach and would like to register my whole team at once. How can I do this?
  29. What if I have a question not covered in the FAQs?

  1. How many students will be in the competition?
    • We are anticipating 300-350 students for the competition.
  2. Who is eligible to participate in the HSMC?
    • Any high school student is eligible to participate in the HSMC. This includes home schooled students. Nevertheless, students in 11th or 12th grade are ineligible for Junior Varsity. If an 11th or 12th grader takes a JV test, would be automatically disqualified.
  3. If I win a scholarship to Georgia Tech, will this make me a Georgia Tech student?
    • No. Pi Mu Epsilon has no connection with the admissions process, and winning one of the scholarships does not imply admission in any way, shape, or form.
  4. How will the scholarships be paid?
    • Pi Mu Epsilon and the College of Sciences will report your scholarship amount to the Office of Student Financial Planning and Services shortly after the competition and the scholarship will be considered part of your financial aid package should you be admitted to and decide to attend Georgia Tech. Winners will receive a letter with complete scholarship details after the competition.
  5. Can I use the scholarship if I decide to go to another school?
    • No. The scholarship is only awarded for study at Georgia Tech. If you transfer to Tech after attending another college/university, you will be ineligible to use the scholarship.
  6. How do I get to Georgia Tech?
  7. Where will the competition be held on campus?
  8. If I'm coming from out of town, where can I stay on Friday/Saturday night?
  9. How will the competition be scored?
  10. What kind of calculators may we use at the HSMC?
    • As is described on the competition format section, the HSMC may be a different type of math competition than you are used to: much more emphasis is placed on conceptual understanding and proof-based deduction than plain problem solving. As such, NO CALCULATORs may be used.
  11. Can I ask for a test to be regraded?
    • No.
  12. Can I appeal decisions of the judges?
    • No. The judges decisions are final. We realize this is a competition and everybody wants to win, but in fairness to all competitors, the judges decisions will be final.
  13. Is there a way to challenge a question during/after the competition?
    • There is a procedure for challenging questions and answers the day of the competition. Specific regulations will be posted by 8 February 2008.
  14. Who are the Judges?
    • The panel of Judges will consist of two to four academic faculty within the School of Mathematics and the president of Pi Mu Epsilon. (As a sidenote, no immediate relatives of any PME officers or faculty serving as judges is eligible for the competition.)
  15. I want to come to the HSMC, but do not have a teacher or parent who can accompany me; am I still allowed to enter?
    • Most certainly. You will have to make your own arrangements for travel and lodging, but we will assist wherever possible.
  16. Can Joint Enrollment student compete in the HSMC?
    • Yes. If you are substituting college courses for your senior year of high school and will have not yet graduated by the time of the HSMC, you are eligible. Please note that the scholarships given to top winners are only for study at Georgia Tech.
  17. Are there any residency or citizenship requirements?
    • None at all. You may compete as long as you have not completed secondary school in the United States or its equivalent in another country.
  18. What happens if there is a tie score?
    • A series of tie-breaker questions will be used to determine the winner. For the proof exam, elegance of proof will be used to break ties at the discretion of the judges.
  19. Will lunch be provided?
    • Yes. We will offer boxed lunches from Georgia Tech's Catering service.
  20. If I do not show up to the HSMC, will I be refunded the registration fee?
    • No. We will have already spent that fee (and far more!) with the anticipation of you attending.
  21. Is applying to the HSMC early important?
    • Yes! If full capacity is reached anytime during the registration phase, this one will be closed.
  22. I'm a teacher/parent who will be attending the HSMC. What are my options during the exams, etc.?
  23. Where can I obtain more information about Georgia Tech?
  24. Will a solution key be provided after the competition?
    • Yes. The test problems and their solutions will be available after the test has concluded.
  25. What is the campus tour?
    • There will be two sessions of campus tours directed by students from the GT Ambassador Organization.
  26. The application postmark deadline just passed. Can I still send in my application?
    • No!
  27. What other prizes will be given besides the top prize scholarships?
    • Each candidate accepted to the HSMC will receive an HSMC T-shirt, and smaller awards will be given to the semi-finalists and finalists (approximately top 25%).
  28. I am a math team coach and would like to register my whole team at once. How can I do this?
  29. What if I have a question not covered in the FAQs?
    • Contact HSMC with your question and someone will get back to you in a couple of days. (Emails may be slightly delayed from Dec. 23-Jan 3.)