I am really into math and think my essays portray my passion well. However, I never did anything competitive like AMC. I’d like to think I still have a change but everyone I’ve seen get into Stanford for math or physics has some sort of competition like Olympiad or AMC.
If I discuss my passion and initiatives to teach myself, do I still have a chance? My reason was I have fun doing math and physics, so I never felt obligated or interested to compete.
There will be thousands of rejected Stanford applicants who have done math competitions. There will be accepted students without them. Stanford has the lowest admit rate for a 4 yr college in the nation. When you hit “submit” your odds are terrible – don’t fixate on the one data point. Apply knowing your odds aren’t good (no one’s) and be at peace with that.
You don’t need math competitions for Stanford although it would be nice to win a couple of them. Even if you did well on AMC, it’s not a ticket to Stanford.
Stanford rejects 95 out of every 100 applicants that they get and about 80 or so of those 100 are qualified for Stanford (they have the GPA/SAT for Stanford and solid EC’s), so it just puts into perspective how difficult it is to get in.
I’ll be a student in about two weeks and I never had anything math or science related in my ECs. However, I was focused in the Humanities, specifically English. Do what you love and tell them about it and it will come through. And don’t get your heart set on one school in particular. Good luck! 