Achievement vs Growth

Applying to College
1

During my years in high school so far, I’ve heard from two different perspectives on college admissions, and I’m wondering which one’s more truthful. Many people that I know personally say that your growth and dedication over the course of high school is what colleges look for while others tell me that your achievements are what helps you stand out and the main determining factors of whether or not you get into top colleges. I’m mainly talking about top colleges as in UCLA, UCB, and elite private colleges (Ivies, MIT, CMU, Stanford, Caltech, etc).

I personally don’t have any huge achievements during my time in high school, but I’ve had enormous growth throughout, as I went from an average A student with few ECs in freshman year to the smartest student at my school with a clear focus on math and computer science.

During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do as a major, and so I had ECs in all sorts of fields. I tried out the Tech Challenge, Science Olympiad, and FBLA in freshman year, and noticed I wasn’t very good at any of those and I decided that I didn’t really enjoy any of those either. Something I was good at was math, so I decided to start my school’s first math club in sophomore year to help others in the subject.

Between my sophomore and junior years, I developed my interest in math, and I was able to go from a 170 USAJMO index (120 and 5) to a 200.5 USAMO index (100.5 and 10). I also went from not making top 100 in OMO to getting 36th place in my junior year. In addition, I created the first MATHCOUNTS team for middle school students at my school and helped them get into the top 25% at the chapters level. In my free time, I’ve made 10 handouts for helping students learn combinatorics, number theory, and algebra in math competitions.

In my junior year, I’ve also developed an interest in computer science. I tried out USACO for the first time this year and went from USACO Bronze to USACO Gold/Silver (I think I made Gold at US Open, but results aren’t out yet so I’m not too sure). I also participated in my first two hackathons this year and made my own personal website. I’m definitely looking to continue participating in all these competitions in my senior year.

Even though I never got a major achievement in any of these (like USAMO qualifier or USACO Platinum), I have grown a lot throughout just these past 2 years. I’m also the first in my school to make many of these accomplishments. For example, I’m the first person at my school to qualify for AIME twice, I’m the first person at my school to take Calculus BC as a sophomore, I’m one of the first people to participate in USACO, and I’m the first person to start a math club and math team at my school. Would colleges take this into consideration during the admissions process or would they just compare me with Gold medalists in these Olympiads without any other considerations?

2

You have some great achievements if not necessarily mind-blowing. If you spin a compelling story of your growth in your essays, colleges will certainly pay attention. Naturally, nobody can predict your application results in top colleges anyway, so, as anybody here will tell you, make sure you apply to some realistic matches and safeties.

3

You don’t need to be a gold medalist in any of those clubs and activities to be considered for entry to the top universities and colleges.

I would wonder if you have had growth or interests outside of mathematics, and whether you are able to recognize there are other people in the room. ( I can see that you have extended yourself to helping others develop and deepen their understanding of mathematical concepts and strategies, so I would wonder this for just a bit.)

Perhaps it is merely the way you have laid out your high school career here that makes the presentation a little egoistic and nerve-wracked at the same time.

Make sure you take a good look at the colleges to which you are applying and read some of the profiles of admitted students where available . Get a feel for the school and what they say their campus community is like and what their goal is in educating young people (who and what are they trying to help mold and send out into the world?) Then, speak to those qualities as you find them reflected in you, as you find yourself to be possessed of those qualities.

Do not focus on what you fear you may not have, but on what you know you have done,and given, and how you have taught and guided, even as you were learning and yourself being transformed. Not merely as a mathematical-minded young person but a member of your school - and the larger- community.

Remember to take yuuca10’s advice and apply to more than just the “Supers.”

4

@Waiting2exhale Thank you for the advice! I have had growth and interest in areas besides math and computer science (particularly in essay writing, sports, chemistry, and leadership). I chose to only include those in math and computer science in my OP since those are my intended majors.

Also, sorry for the way I laid out my accomplishments in my OP. I didn’t mean to make it seem egotistical, although I definitely see why it could be considered that way. I simply have extremely high expectations for myself, so much so that I don’t find my current accomplishments all that outstanding which worried me a bit. Of course, being an AIME qualifier does put me in the top 5% of AMC 12 takers and making it to 36th place in the nation on OMO is extremely impressive, and I am grateful that I am where I am.

I’ll definitely apply to safety and target schools.

5

@ktong777 you have a very good resume and should be proud of your accomplishments. One thing to take into consideration is that CS is a very difficult major to get into. Many schools house computer science in engineering and the admit rates are very low at most of those schools. A lot are lower than 10% which is a reach for everyone. Like others have said really put time and effort into your safeties and matches. Also talk to your guidance counselor about this. At your age you should shoot for the stars and apply to some dream schools as long as you are realistic about expectations. Good Luck!!

6

Wishing you great success during the college selection and acceptance season.

May you find “your people” on the other side of that.

7

“as I went from an average A student with few ECs in freshman year to the smartest student at my school ”

Do you mean the student with the highest GPA/test scores? It’s not necessarily the same thing.

Anyway, your story sounds impressive and you should have a good shot at some top schools, but don’t forget matches and safeties.

8

@SJ2727 Partially yes. I’m in the top 3 in my class (this is estimated), and I have the second highest SAT score. Most people say I’m valedictorian but personally I think 1 or 2 people might have a higher GPA than me. Our official class rank isn’t released until halfway through senior year, so no one knows for sure. But by smartest student, I mostly meant that I’m first place in just about every academic contests at my school (math, chemistry, physics, etc) by a large margin, and I’m in the top 5 in all other academic areas.

9

A gentle suggestion, then phrase it as “top student”, rather than “smartest student”. The latter sounds …well, conceited, and with a significant number of gifted students being underachievers as far as grades are concerned, it may not be factually correct either. “Top student” factually and objectively conveys a position in terms of grades/scores.

10

@SJ2727 Yeah, I notice that now, sorry for the wording of my OP. I wrote it in a rush a few nights ago, and I didn’t bother to read over it, which is why it turned out so badly phrased.