>>12424092competitive math is only good if you want to have higher chances at getting into a good college. The problems there tend to be very cookie-cutter. While they are challenging, it's not the "creative" type of math, and you can train someone to do it. That's why the ruskies and the chinese are so good at Olympiads. The socialist system, hellbent on testing and classifying everyone, promoted this type of drilling.