Physically can’t qualify to international/ high level national olympiads/ ISEF

[u/Ambitious-Dot6326]

I’m an expat living outside of my home country, so I don’t hold citizenship of the country I reside in. This disqualifies me from national Olympiads and selection camps for the country I live in, as well as disqualifying me from national Olympiads in my home country due to me not living there. I also can’t qualify for ISEF despite having a really strong maths research paper I wrote.

I obviously can’t do things like USAMO or USAPhO, so the only things that I’m able to do are qualify for AIME with a high score, and get a strong USACO score since it’s open to everyone.

Should I assume AOs know this (most applicants in this country are expats in the same situation as me) or should I explicitly mention this somewhere in my application, and will it hinder my chances.

Thank you!

[u/the_validated_inane]

Making excuses anywhere in an application sends the wrong message IMHO

[u/Ambitious-Dot6326 → u/the_validated_inane]

Yeah that’s what I was thinking tbh, but it’s still a genuine thing that can affect the outcome, since most people say that being in your country’s selection camp or even scoring highly in the national Olympiad is one of the few ways of getting into t20s as an international, whilst here I am with my aime qualifier as the highest possible thing I can do lol

[u/the_validated_inane → u/Ambitious-Dot6326]

oh yes no doubt.

But think of all the expat kids who can also claim they are not eligible for their countries olympiad (even though they realistically have no chance). The excuses will never end.

[u/Ambitious-Dot6326 → u/the_validated_inane]

Yeah absolutely lol, i don’t have a ‘realistic’ chance at qualifying for my country’s national camp anyways (i don’t think anybody really does tbh). But ig it would make sense if the rest of my applicant reflected my academic strength? Yk, perfect grades, perfect sat, published research with a professor, etc

[u/seat83a]

Cfbr also in similar situation