WOOT (Worldwide Online Olympiad Training) vs Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. WOOT (Worldwide Online Olympiad Training) is a enrichment while Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 is a competition.
| WOOT (Worldwide Online Olympiad Training) | Stanford Math Tournament (SMT) 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Enrichment | Competition |
| Organization | Art of Problem Solving | Stanford University |
| Acceptance Rate | No formal acceptance rate published; program appears to have open enrollment for qualified students | Approximately 10-13% based on ~800 participants selected from ~6,000-8,000 estimated applicants (extrapolated from tournament size and typical math competition application rates). School teams have higher acceptance rates than individuals. |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed; AoPS serves over 1 million problem solvers globally | Estimated 6,000-8,000 students apply nationally (exact figures not published) |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | $0 |
| US Only | No / International | Yes |
| Grades | Grades 8-12 | High school students only (grades 9-12) |
| College Impact | WOOT and olympiad participation are viewed very favorably in college admissions to top-tier universities: MIT Admissions explicitly mentions that mathematically inclined students find AoPS an 'indispe... | Math competitions like SMT carry MODERATE TO STRONG college admissions weight, particularly for STEM-focused students. Impact includes: (1) DEMONSTRATES MATHEMATICAL PASSION: Shows genuine interest be... |