Lately, I’ve been asking myself a big question: what’s the best path to stand out for admission into top universities in Canada and the U.S.? Should I invest my time into creating a few meaningful projects, or should I give my absolute best to earn a medal at the Canadian Computing Olympiad (CCO)?
Option 1: Build 3 Projects
Here are the three projects I’m considering: 1. Competitive Programming Tracker – A web app that tracks coding contest progress, offering analytics and recommendations for improvement. 2. QuantSim – A simulation tool for basic trading strategies, designed for students curious about quantitative finance. 3. Euclid Puzzle Generator – A platform that generates math competition–style problems with step-by-step solutions.
Option 2: Aim for a CCO Medal
On the other hand, winning a medal at the CCO is one of the strongest signals of programming ability in Canada. It’s highly respected by top universities like Waterloo, MIT, and U of T. A medal could demonstrate not just skill, but perseverance in one of the hardest competitions in the country.
The Dilemma • Projects: Broader, showcase creativity, and build a public portfolio. But they take consistent effort and may not carry as much prestige as a medal. • CCO Medal: A single, high-prestige achievement that could open doors, but also very high risk — only a handful of students win medals each year.
My Question
Should I put most of my effort into building 3 strong projects that reflect who I am, or should I dedicate everything to trying for a CCO medal, knowing it’s a very high bar but also a big payoff?
Why am I getting downvotes. Can't even ask for help.
what's koko
CCO is Canadian Computing Olympiad, the top 4 gets to go to IOI.
I feel like one is WAY harder that the other and WAY more rewarding. And seeing how you are still green after 70 contests in a span of 3 years, it's just might be unrealistic. You did not mention how old are you though. Maybe you are a 5th grader and time is on your side. But if you have to do it this year — there is no way. It just sounds way too arrogant to assume that effort is enough to win CCO in that position.
This is not my main acc. I just participate in the contests in this acc when i dont want to take it seriously. The contests for me is usually 10:35. And i have school at that time. So i try to solve problems while talking to my friends. If u had to choose between option a and b what would u choose?
It really depends on when i start preparing. If i were younger and still had at least 3 more years, i might have gone for CCO, but otherwise i would not. I am not Canadian/US citizen and i don't know how helpful project are compared to smaller competitions. Personal projects don't help at all in Russia, so i went for simpler medals myself.