Hey everyone, I’ve been doing Science Olympiad as a main activity, and I will most likely be doing it for all four years of high school. I’m captain of my school team, bringing us from a casual club (top 50 in the state) to decently competitive (top 10), and I was wondering if the idea of doing Science Olympiad as an Asian applicant would have an impact on my chances of being admitted to T10s. There’s definitely no avoiding putting it on my apps, but I was wondering if the activity will trigger any biases from AOs? I’ve heard so many things about AOs disliking Asian applicants who do “stereotypical” activities.
If you’re passionate about it, keep doing it.
It’s a fine activity.
Don’t worry about top anything - it doesn’t exist - unless you read magazines.
But Asian students go to all colleges (or most).
Be the best you that you can be but only pursue activities if you are passionate (which I assume you are).
List it - and it’s one small component of your application (ECs).
Don’t worry about what you can’t control.
It sounds like maybe you finished your freshman year? If so, you’re way premature in worrying about where you’ll go.
Good luck.
1 Like
Thanks! I actually just finished my sophomore year, so I’m starting to think about where I’ll go 
Great - I’d suggest you do some local visits - and figure out - where you want to spend four years.
Saying top 10 - what if it’s not the type of school you’re interested in - in other words, maybe it’s too small or large, too urban or rural, or too expensive.
Figure out what you want - size, environment (rural, urban, suburban), sports or not, weather, etc.
You want to find the right school - not just a school with an impressive name.
So taking local visits now can help you define your search later - amongst all the choices.
You might also talk to your parents about budgets - as some of the top 10 schools will be $400,000 over four years when you go (unless you have demonstrated need).
Good luck.
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.