Hi everyone, I’m planning on starting a math club as a high school freshman, is it realistic, would it make colleges think that my resume is fake?
Thanks for replying
If you are starting the club because you want to be in a math club, and your high school doesn’t have anything along those lines, then you should start a math club.
Here is the thing - you should not do stuff “because colleges like seeing it on your resume”. However, the flip side is just as true, you should not avoid doing something that you really think is important because “colleges may not like it”.
If you start the math club just to write “founded math club, President 2020-2024” on your resume, and do nothing at all for those four years, it will look bad. However, if you have plans and ideas and will do stuff, go ahead, it will be fun and rewarding.
One thing to remember - establishing an active club is a lot of work, and requires a a wide set of skills. I would recommend that you get a group of like-minded students together, so that, A, you won’t be doing everything alone, and B, you will have a wider set of talents and skills on which to draw.
Thanks for your advice, I’m working on offering SAT Math Preparation in my club, do you think it would be a good idea?
You need to think about two things: A, the type of activities you want happening in the club, and B, how will you attract members.
Actually, you need to first think about one thing: what do you see as the purpose of the club?
I think the purpose of the club is for me and the others to be able to be with the people who share the same interests with me, as well as helping students prep for the SAT. I want to have SAT Practice because most people at my high school don’t regard the SAT as important, and I REALLY REALLY want them to know that.
Who’s going to teach this SAT prep? A freshman? Won’t fly. Kids need the experience of hs to be best ready. Look up other math clubs and see what they do. (Don’t just ask here.) Just getting together when the bell rings may not be much stretch. Lots of books and courses tell how to effectively prepare. Run by people we hope have their own edge.
And in general, club starting isnt the level of going out and gaining experiences that push you further.
Nice. But not a tip. Starting a branch of something state wide, with a teacher, can be different.
I scored in the top 1% on the PSAT Math section as a freshman, so I think it stands. But yes, I think I do need a lot more experience to lead an active club.
Regardless of your 1%…so what… So did my kid and 1,000s others. Do a club. Math club fun. Do different math adventure every week. What you want to do is a sat study group. That’s not a math club.
My son started 2 fun clubs in high school. One as a freshman. As a freshman at Michigan 1600 clubs didn’t have his interest. So he stated one. 3 years later it’s one of the most active on campus. So colleges want kids that are active in high school. Since there might be a chance they will become an active part of the college community… They like active participants.
Do something that excites you. If it’s an Sat review groups then so be it. Maybe you have some study tricks up your sleeve. If it’s an hour to go over stuff like that then great. But it’s not a math club.
Schools also have peer to peer math tutoring… Colleges love this on many different levels
Thanks for your advice! I’m planning on doing both of them in one club. Hehe
A suggestion - look at the AMC Competitions and material on topics not in general high school math courses - number theory and combinatorics, specifically. Motivated students should find the material new and interesting, and there is plenty of material to leverage. Ask each person to pick a topic, spend a few weeks researching it, then teach others in the club.
Yes! I’m prepping them for the upcoming AMC 10a (this Thursday), but I’ll need more fund to buy the textbook materials. Thanks for your advice!
I think we’re agreeing not to combine the two. At this point, sounds like you haven’t experienced a hs math club (or Math Bowl, Math Team, the various incarnations,) before. If so, you may not realize the range of things they can focus on.
But it’s really not a universal tip to found a club or fundraise for it. It depends on the substance and what the target colleges see as valid activities. Doing this with a teacher can add some weight. I just think you need more exploration. Most hs clubs require a sponsor, anyway. Some insist it be an actively involved teacher. Have you looked into these details?
Thank you so much for your advice, at my school, they require an adviser, but not a sponsor, and I already have a teacher for it, do you think that it is ok?
Sure. But the idea is a teacher who’s involved, where, presumably, you share responsibilities and the “teaming” increases the breadth and depth you offer. And also, what you gain from doing this alongside a seasoned adult.
There’s an ongoing CC “discussion” about doing things for fun, because they’re meaningful to that applicant. If you love math and want more ways to be more involved, that’s super. But watch that nothing comes across as presumptuous- that you think an early good score makes you somehow qualified to lead SAT prep. And do take a look at the sorts of math cubs that exist now, at various hs.
Thank you for reminding me, I’ll continue to improve, especially in math. Btw, I love math, but some of my friends say that it’s not employable, but like I REALLY REALLY want to learn math, it gives me my meaning and purpose, should I believe in myself and pursue the path, or should I pick something that’s generally considered “more helpful”? Thanks
Oh, and I’m definitely going to recruit tutors, of course I cannot tutor people alone by myself :)) I personally think it is a good idea because it creates community service opportunities. What do you think?
https://mathematics.uchicago.edu/people/
Email any professor and see what their doing. There is so much you can do with mathematics. Research and educate yourself. Many fields are mathematic driven.
Don’t jump the gun here. Freshman year, most kids don’t know their feasible college targets. It’s too early, with one semester of hs so far. One grade report. Miles to go. Many challenges to take on. Many successes yet to occur.
If you love math, pursue it. But imo, it’s not wise to start talking about hiring tutors to make some club plan work. It’s getting too convoluted. You aren’t solving world hunger here. You aren’t rolling up your sleeves to work in the community, among those in need. First, learn what freaking math clubs DO.
No, that’s not the sort of “comm service” those kids will need for their own college apps, if they’re aiming high. But it still leaves you with this problem: thinking a high school kid, who may or may not have taken standardized tests more than once, who has not yet been accepted to any college, is somehow magically qualified to “teach” to these tests. You know they have a million dollar business of books that do this job well, along with pro companies selling classes. You have no track record.
First things first. Get more math behind you. Learn more core math, to the highest levels, so you understand the concepts tested. Start a “math is fun” club, if it turns out to be feasible. Forget sharing testing expertise you cannot yet say you have. Feet on solid ground, ok?
Ok, I’ll do what you say. Thanks for your advice.
Thanks for the resources, @Knowsstuff