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Robinson’s Mu Alpha Theta (MAO) chapter has recently seen success in their monthly competitions, generating interest and support.
MAO has competed in a total of five competitions this year and is currently working towards States, which will take place in April. The initial competition the club attends in Nov., the Fall Interschool Test is followed by the Hiller Nunn Dostal test in Dec. The first regional competitions are hosted locally, leading up to the Statewide competition held at any determined location in the State. Each competition follows the same schedule, consisting of an individual round with a 30-question test and a team round of 13 questions.
When picking students to participate in the team rounds, the club thinks strategically in terms of what types of questions are most likely to be asked.
“We always aim to send teams proficient in Algebra two, Geometry, Pre-calculus, Calculus, and Statistics to have a better chance at placing,” said Megha Kalia (’24), Vice President of Logistics for the club.
Although certain strengths are looked for when selecting teams for the team round of competitions, everyone in Mu Alpha Theta is encouraged to participate. The team prepares by attending weekly meetings which cater to the needs of each division and urge members to practice individually.
“We hold weekly lunchtime meetings for each division where we either learn new topics or review past test questions. Some divisions, such as calculus and precalculus, meet twice a week to allocate more time for preparation and increase our chances of placing well. However, a significant aspect of success relies on self-discipline and practicing the concepts covered during meetings independently to ensure a thorough understanding for the competitions,” Kalia said.
These weekly practices not only help prepare the team for competitions but build the members’ overall math skills to make them better students. It’s urged that everyone attends regardless of whether they compete or not to help grow their passion for the subject.
“We think of it like a sport and growing your brain and stretching its muscles to learn and grow more. Also, some of the topics that we learn individually, and different kinds of math are all joined together once you take the higher-level subjects,” said Judi Charley-Sale, a Math Teacher heavily involved in MAO. All the subjects become tied together so they can see math together as a whole rather than separate subjects.”
Aside from competitions, Mu Alpha Theta also contributes to the school by offering tutoring on various math topics. Any club member qualifies as a tutor, and times vary depending on their schedules.
“We are trying to accommodate people for tutoring during their study halls or JA’s, but we have also done it after school in the past.” Ayan Nallamshetty (’25), Treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta said.
Leadership recommends that everyone interested joins Mu Alpha Theta, regardless of experience. The opportunity to grow your skills and confidence via competing is a highlight for members.
“My favorite part about competing is being able to apply what I’ve learned from practicing and work with my friends to tackle difficult questions,” Nallamshetty said.
