WOOT (Worldwide Online Olympiad Training) vs Summer at Simons
Comparing two highly competitive STEM opportunities. WOOT (Worldwide Online Olympiad Training) is a enrichment while Summer at Simons is a internship.
| WOOT (Worldwide Online Olympiad Training) | Summer at Simons | |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige Tier | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive | Tier 2 — Highly Competitive |
| Type | Enrichment | Internship |
| Organization | Art of Problem Solving | Simons Foundation |
| Acceptance Rate | No formal acceptance rate published; program appears to have open enrollment for qualified students | Not publicly disclosed, but estimated at 5-15% given high prestige and limited spots per center (~3-10 positions per center per summer) |
| Applicants | Not publicly disclosed; AoPS serves over 1 million problem solvers globally | Likely 200-500+ total applications across all centers annually, though not confirmed |
| Deadline | Rolling | Rolling |
| Cost to Apply | $0 | Free |
| US Only | No / International | No / International |
| Grades | Grades 8-12 | Undergraduate students and graduate/post-doctoral students only - high school students are NOT eligible |
| 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... | Summer at Simons is viewed VERY POSITIVELY by graduate admissions committees and prestigious employers. Impact includes: 1) STRONG indicator of research capability and commitment to academic career - ... |