The best math and science extracurriculars

<p>I am currently a freshman and I would like to start being involved in some extracurriculars. I really wanted to join science olympiad, the problem is I have bad social anxiety and I get very nervous about these things. So since it's too late to join this year, I'm thinking that I can somehow improve my social skills and get involved in science olympiad next year and stop thinking about what other people think of me doing that. Anyways, that's still only one thing. I need more extracurriculars! Any suggestions? Things that might stand out?</p>

<p>Having diverse activities whether it’s co-curricular or extracurricular is what makes one stand out. If you really want to do Science Olympiad, go ahead! The one thing I regret in my final days in HS is the fact that I didn’t take initiative and didn’t get involved in school activities. I’m no way saying that you need to do a TONS of stuff but participate in the things that seem interesting. Whether it’s robotics, drama club, FBLA, FFA, pre-pre-vet or whatever. By doing this, you’ll meet great people along the way. :)</p>

<p>Thanks @FantasyVesperia. Do you have any tips for me to be involved in these things? It is much too intimidating for me to just walk into a classroom with a bunch of judgmental high school kids for a club.</p>

<p>Annnnyone?</p>

<p>Many people are sometimes nervous or uncomfortable in social situations, but I think if your social anxiety is so bad that you weren’t comfortable joining any student organizations this year, that you should try seeing a counselor. The right professional may have some effective treatments or strategies for you and it could make a huge difference in your life. </p>

<p>My daughter has done various competitive activities in high school. Some she’s excelled at. And in track, she was one of the slowest runners. Some of her friends were track stars, and no one minded; it was fun just to be in an activity with them. And in the activities where she excelled, sure, she knew some of the other kids weren’t so good but that really didn’t matter. But the only time I ever heard her or her friends making disparaging remarks about someone was a situation where a kid joined an activity they obviously didn’t want to be doing purely to look good for colleges, and wasn’t trying at all, obviously didn’t care about the success of the team, and (unlike in some types of activities) this behavior was causing big problems for everyone else. I really don’t think people will be judgmental about performance. They will judge you for your attitude. Just be a good teammate.</p>

<p>USAMO/PhO/BO/ChO and international equivalents. Do research in math/physics. Almost all high school students who do research do it in biology (usually because they don’t understand graduate level mathematics/physics which are necessary for research elsewhere). Balance with sports, student gov, and community service (and 4.0UW of course).</p>

<p>@mathyone I am seeing a counselor/therapist right now. I sometimes get assignments from the counselor. One of them was to go to the garden club. I did that on Wednesday, which is when they meet weekly. The people seemed nice enough…but that club was more casual and you didn’t have to come every week. In the other clubs everyone already knows each other and stuff so it’s harder for me to join.</p>

<p>Best math/science ECs include USAMO/PO/CHO/BO as well as IMO/decent HMMT/ARML/Intel/Siemens/Science Olympiad Nat./MATHCOUNTs (mid-school) etc.</p>

<p>Um ok @BipolarBuddhist. But what if I’m not that smart. I was talking more things regular people can do.</p>

<p>Robotics is great if your school has it. There are lots of different jobs & teams to be on. It is too late for this year, but you should try to go at the beginning of next school year. You could try Quiz Bowl (teams always need math/science specialists!). You won’t be good at it when you first go, but if you stick with it you can really build skills over time. That is true for anything… you have to keep going and keep trying to learn/help out with the club over time. Don’t expect instant results. And go ahead and try Science Olympiad next year. You have to stop worrying about what other people think and do the activities that you think are interesting. You have as much right to be in a club as anyone else. It is a little easier to join at the beginning of a year, though, when there are other new students and freshman coming in.</p>

<p>One of my kids also did some wildlife biology activities outside of high school. She monitored a bluebird trail for several years, participated in bird counts, and collected insects that she entered into 4H at our county fair and then took to the state fair. Some kids really like 4H, but she didn’t go to many meetings, she just did projects for the fair (which worked out fine for her).</p>

<p>I’m glad you are getting some help. Would it be possible to start going to Science Olympiad meetings this year? Even if you can’t compete, you could say you’re interested in joining next year and just want to learn more about it. Perhaps you could learn more about the needs of the team–are there particular areas where they are weak, that you could try to fill for next year?</p>

<p>“that is true for anything… you have to keep going and keep trying to learn/help out with the club over time. Don’t expect instant results.” This is very true. At my daughter’s school, activities like quiz bowl and science olympiad are pretty much for upperclassmen. There are some underclassmen on quiz bowl, but none of them were as good as the core team chosen as starters, and so they didn’t get nearly as much play time. They didn’t have the experience, and they hadn’t done relevant coursework which was helpful in answering some of the questions. But of course, they will improve and be the starters in another year or two. People aren’t going to expect a freshman or sophomore who’s new to perform well. I have some idea that science olympiad is limited how many can participate, and if I recall, last year it was all juniors and seniors. That’s what happens in a large school, sometimes you can get shut out of activities you want to do, but it helps a lot to participate and gain experience if you can. </p>

<p>Okay, thanks you guys.</p>

<p>“In the other clubs everyone already knows each other and stuff so it’s harder for me to join.” They weren’t born knowing each other. Yes, it would have been easier at the beginning of the year but it may not be too late to get involved in things this year. Most likely they would welcome a new member. The kids who are running the club want it to be successful and they can only do that if kids join the club. There may be kids joining clubs now who were previously too busy with a winter sport. </p>

<p>If your school has a math club, you might like to check that out, seeing as you asked about math and science extracurriculars. Our school’s math club participates in several math competitions, and some of these allow everyone to participate for an individual score, and the top few scores may be combined for a team score. So you can participate without fear of “letting down” the team if you don’t do well. Some kids do well in the competitions, some don’t, but everyone can improve their problem-solving skills by participating.</p>

<p>@mathyone Thanks for the recommendation about the math club. My school actually does have one, but we don’t have quiz bowl, like intparent was talking about. I think I’m going to focus on trying to go to garden club this school year which is easier for me, and then muster up the courage to join the math club and science olympiad next year. Yep, that sounds like a good plan.</p>

<p>Quiz bowl does put you on the spot with people watching, so it may not be the best activity for someone battling anxiety anyhow.</p>

<p>Maybe it would help not to focus just on how nervous going to these clubs makes you. Think instead about the choices you have. Either you can join and that’s kind of scary for you. But not joining should also be scary. You’re going to look back on high school and regret not having done things you wanted to try. That first club meeting will be over in an hour or two, but regrets about not going could be with you for years. Take the plunge.</p>

<p>Thanks @mathyone. I know what you mean about regrets. In middle school, I was in MATHCOUNTS because I was invited by the teacher and I had that teacher’s class right before lunch, so I could just stay in the classroom and be in MATHCOUNTS. It was so fun and I regret only being in it for 8th grade. I wouldn’t want that to happen again.</p>

<p>I bet if you go to a math club meeting, you’ll see some of the same kids you knew in middle school mathcounts. </p>

<p>Actually not really because there were only like 4 8th graders in mathcounts last school year and out of them I was the most serious about math competitions so I doubt they’re still doing it in high school. But I understand your point.</p>

lolol i don’t even know what the hell “high school research” even means, is it like trying to emulate former research or like actually researching stuff yourself that other people(presumably scientists) have already gone out and done. i mean after all it’s just high school research it’s not like you have even the most basic of lab equipment ready to use.

@dsi411 Ummm you say you are a freshman here but your other posts say you are in the class of 2017, took the PSAT last year, and have taken AP Chem and AP Bio… are you asking this question for someone else?