welcome

Congratulations on purchasing the MEAP edition of Acing the USACO Bronze!

You have just entered the wonderful world of competitive programming. This book will navigate you through that world, all the way to the Bronze level and beyond. After reading this book, not only will you be able to ace the Bronze level competition, but you'll also be well-equipped to continue your journey to the higher, more elite levels of competitive programming, if you should choose.

Whether you’re competing in programming because you wish to get better at computer science; or because you’re determined to add a distinguishing star to your college applications; or because you hope to impress your potential employers at impending job interviews; or even because you’re driven by pure curiosity—whatever brought you here, welcome!

The USACO competition is the gateway to competitive programming for high school students in the USA, and it has gained popularity in recent years. USACO Bronze questions test your ability to solve problems and your competency in converting algorithms into code. Though no special algorithmic knowledge is required at the Bronze level, the questions often look tricky and extremely hard to the uninitiated. But this book will demystify those questions. Together, we’ll walk through typical problems at the Bronze level carving a path toward an algorithm, then a code, and ultimately, a solution.