How to get into science competitions?!

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

I really want to go to CalTech. It is my dream school. Not because it’s super renowned, highly competitive, and prestigious, but because I am really interested in chemical engineering and I want that sort of academic environment. It’s been my dream school for just about forever. I know I’m just a high school freshman right now, but I want to make a difference for myself and for the overall knowledge of humanity.

That’s why I’m taking the most advanced and challenging math class I can, and I’m taking the highest science class I can. I don’t have a lot of research or scores to my name yet, but I have determination, and I hope to graduate with significant improvement that’s worthy of CalTech. I’m in an FRC robotics team, and I participated in NSB and the regional science fair when I was in middle school.

My school also offers IB courses, so I will be attempting IB HL analysis 1-2, IB HL analysis 3-4, IB SL physics 1-2, IB SL physics 3-4, IB SL biology 1-2, IB HL biology 1-2, IB HL biology 3-4, IB HL chemistry 1-2, IB HL chemistry 3-4, IB SL lang & lit 1-2, IB SL lang & lit 3-4, IB SL psych 1-2, IB SL psych 3-4, IB SL mandarin 1-2, IB HL mandarin 1-2, IB SL env sci and systems 1-2, IB TOK 1-2, IB TOK 3-4, and dual enrollment for math. I’m planning on taking 8 out of the 9 IB sciences my school offers. Why am I taking SO many IB science classes? Am I insane? Yes. But also, I have a dream.

You know who else has a dream? A ton of very talented students at my school.

My high school, oddly enough, does not have any STEM clubs. It also has only one STEM elective. Which is an IB class. Which is depressing.

This is my dream… That my school can send students to science competitions like ISEF or National Science Bowl. If anyone could explain how we can set up something like that (is it a district-level operation? Does it have to be just for our school?) or if there are any other competitions we could try to qualify for, that would be greatly appreciated.

Please help create opportunities for us. There are so many very bright students who are interested in STEM at this school. It is crucial we have an equitable chance for success. Thanks!

1 Like
Am I cooked for Caltech? [Grade 9, intended Chemical Engineering major]
2

  1. You don’t necessarily need STEM ECs.

  2. It’s highly unlikely you know where you want to go to school in 9th grade.

  3. Slow down. Don’t race ahead. Do well in classes.

You’re a kid.

Caltech says “ * Caltech is looking for students with incredible potential in STEM. Potential. There is no prescribed way of getting into Caltech. You don’t have to have scientific research or get a Nobel at 12; read more about what you should do to prepare for Caltech.”

  • Love STEM. Love it.
  • Love something that isn’t STEM, too.
  • Take the most challenging classes you can in high school. Especially in math and English. (And do well in them, but you probably knew that.)

This is not the page where we tell you how many extracurriculars you need to get into Caltech, or the GPA cutoff. Partly because those things don’t exist, but mostly because—as much as we love numbers—numbers aren’t what make a Techer.

A Techer is a smart, curious and driven person who really wants to be surrounded by, learn from (and with), and hang out with others who want the same.”

CalTech has a very low acceptance rate and there are folks here like @aunt_bea that can give you the skinny but this obsession isn’t healthy. Get through two years of HS. Don’t over stretch. Get good grades and you’ll find a great home, Cal Tech or otherwise.

1 Like
3

@hebegebe may be able to help atleast with the isef part

4

Your enthusiasm is awesome.

5

Tagging @aunt_bea to get her input on Caltech.

6

Q: Does your high school participate in any math competitions, like American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8, 10, 12) and The Math League?

Q: What about science competitions including USA Biolympiad, U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad, & International Physics Olympiad?

Also, check if there are any local or regional competitions or contests available for high-achieving math & science students. Perhaps you (or your parents) should consult your school math & science department heads or the guidance department.

1 Like
7

If there are no STEM clubs at your school, but lots of interested students, then start one!!

8

@bookgnome do you think entering science competitions will be a leg up in terms of admission to CalTech?

IMHO, you should only do competitions because you enjoy them.

And really, entering doesn’t matter at all. Becoming a finalist usually doesn’t matter. It’s winning that would matter.

1 Like
9

OP, your enthusiasm is contagious.

You don’t need to completely remake your HS. If your school doesn’t participate in the national/well known competitions, it’s perfectly OK to just suggest to the current physics teacher “hey, let’s sponsor a competition with HS in the town next door to build go-carts out of recycling bin materials! Would you reach out to the other school and agree to be the faculty advisor if I can get ten kids who are interested here?”

Many science competitions are nothing fancier than two or three HS’s in a region building Rube Goldberg type contraptions which pour a bowl of cereal or fill a tray of kitty litter and demonstrate friction, propulsion, etc. Spectators love these- they are fun and dramatic, and they are really inspiring for other students who think “science is boring” until they see the mechanical arm which empties a trash can which a fellow student concocted using juice cans and coat hangers!

If you are close to any of the math or science teachers at your school, sit down with them and brainstorm. A competition of three schools this year could become five schools next year which becomes a statewide competition after that.

1 Like
10

Dear @bookgnome:

I’m glad that you’re enthusiastic about what you’re learning in high school but you also need to have a good perspective about who you are.

The reason @tsbna44 and @DadOfJerseyGirl have tagged me is because my son applied and was admitted to Caltech.

He was admitted to every school he applied to, but I don’t remember him ever being in any STEM competitions.

The first thing I want to tell you is that Caltech is a research institution. I don’t know if you understand what that means right now.

Students who go to Caltech, tend to have a goal of conducting research, in a specific area of expertise.

It is not a regular university setting. Every year Caltech selects and admits about 200+ students and all of those students are unique in EVERY study area that you can imagine, but they plan on continuing their careers into their PhD’s and RESEARCH.

It is a research institution.

The professors lecture the course material and that’s it. They go back to their offices and labs and conduct research.

Your freshman classes are taught by graduate students. Your grades are scored by graduate students.

Your research is conducted in your room or your space in a library. These are focused students that are doing research nonstop.

Your weekends are spent doing homework for your courses. One math problem can take nine hours.

The students order from DoorDash and Uber eats because they don’t have time to go to school eateries. They have to finish their work.

So what did our son do to get into Caltech,
besides the perfect SAT score and the perfect great point average?

He loved being a high school student.

He had fun and enjoyed his time there!

He is an avid reader and writer in all genres.

Took courses that he was required to take but also took “fun” classes.

He was respectful and kind to everyone he met (per staff, student and parent feedback).

He participated in multiple sports and was selected as team captain by his teams several years in a row.

He entered Boy Scouts in first grade and became an Eagle Scout while in high school school. (He designed and built a storage shed, with advice from 3 contractor uncles, for the HS Tennis team.)

He followed his elder sisters on Saturdays to their violin lessons, and he picked up a violin, eventually, started attending classes in violin.

He helped his classmates with their “new” clubs when they needed staffing.

Bought lunch for new students, who had transferred into the school, and continued lunches with them because he didn’t want them to “feel differently” and then he introduced them to other trusted friends and students.
(Leads came from the Principal and staff)

He was never president or an officer in a club.

He worked as a busboy at the local zoo during his summers.

He volunteered at the food bank since middle school and learned how to use a pallet jack.

Liked riding a bike.

Mostly, he just followed what his sisters did and enjoyed being a kid.

Majored in CS Engineering. Works for a large corporation and is young but extremely well respected per his work group and bosses I’ve met at social functions.

My advice: please don’t burn out.
You only live once and do HS once.
You need to have non academic activities to help you balance your life when hard times happen.
Caltech is tough. What happens when you don’t get in?
It is very expensive to attend if you are not very, very, very LOW income.

6 Likes
Do we or do we not get into MIT? (Aero/Astro)
11

Be cautious about jumping ahead.

As an example, math is an area where what you are learning now depends a lot of what you were studying last year and the year before. What you are going to be studying next year depends a lot on what you are studying now. You should be very sure to learn each step very well. Do not just learn how to manipulate formulae. You also should strive to very fully understand the concepts. Calculus in particular depends a LOT on all of its prerequisites. In turn, there is a lot of mathematics and physics (and other subjects as well) that depend upon calculus. It pays to take the time and put in the effort to learn all of this well.

I am not saying to avoid skipping ahead. I am however saying that you need to be very cautious when doing so.

There really are classes that you are not ready to take, YET. Life is not a sprint. It is more like a marathon, or an ultra-marathon.

You are a high school freshman. You will get there eventually. It will take time.

Don’t try to compete with every strong student. There are too many of them. Instead learn from other strong students, and be the best student that you can be. Just be the best version of you, have some fun, and this will work out.

3 Likes
12

thanks for everyone’s help! I think my school does participate in the AMC 10/12. And the FRC robotics team I am in does the FIRST competitions, though we don’t usually… get anywhere close to qualifying. For anything.

For everyone’s information, I do have a life. I volunteer and I do a lot of non-stem clubs and activities that i’m interested in, theatre, piano, graphic design, crochet, guitar, soccer, martial arts, etc. I’m taking electives that aren’t science-related. It’s not like I’m completely overturning my high school experience because I want to go to a prestigious research institute.

I’m not just trying to do this so I can get into Caltech, i’m doing it because no STEM clubs means my school in general is inherently disadvantaged, and already underserved students also suffer from the lack of opportunities. I’m not trying to set us up with ISEF to say “Yo big Harv, let me in, I was a finalist in my regional scifair”, I actually LIKE going to science competitions.

I’ve already done the basic research so please stop just rewording the Caltech website to try and tone down my obsession with the college. It’s kind to do, but it’s not necessary. can people instead help explain how my school can get a connection to ISEF? thanks!

1 Like
13

I do recommend that you participate in as many STEM activities that are available if aiming for schools like Caltech & MIT. If your school participates in AMC 10/12 but your math department doesn’t support you, that could be problematic. Schools like Caltech & MIT are well aware of which high schools participate in these competitions.

14

Check calendar for your region.

1 Like
15

Here’s info on the path to qualifying for ISEF: What Is Regeneron ISEF and How Do Students Qualify? A Complete Guide for High School Researchers | Future Forward Labs

To qualify for ISEF (as well as info on Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge), you have to compete in qualifying Society for Science events. The new calendar should be up in November (?): https://www.societyforscience.org/