u/PrincetonSimp2030

Hi, I’m an international student planning to apply as a Math/Philosophy/Economics major, and I’ve recently started worrying that my application doesn’t have a strong enough “story.”

For background my application is pretty math-heavy/theoretical:

1. Attending RSI this summer
2. Ross Math 2024 + 2025
3. ISEF 2025 (Math)
4. Research assistant for a Philosophy of Mathematics project under a Cambridge professor
5. Internship at a local quantitative research firm focused on math/econ applications
6. Member of my country’s national debate team competing at WSDC

Recently, my school hosted a session with one of the top counseling companies in my country, and a lot of their successful applicants seemed to spikes like:

1. CS to improve healthcare
2. Math for environmental engineering/climate work, etc.

That made me wonder whether my application feels too “academic for the sake of academics.” Most of my interests are genuinely centered around studying math because I love it, especially the theoretical/philosophical side, rather than because I want to frame it as solving a specific world problem (which the counselling firm claimed presents a "more compelling narrative.")

So my question is: for top US colleges, is it completely fine to present yourself as someone deeply intellectually interested in math/philosophy/econ for their own sake? Or do admissions officers usually prefer applicants whose interests are tied to some broader social impact/application narrative? I’m trying to figure out whether I should lean into the authentic “pure intellectual curiosity” angle, or whether I should consciously shape my application around a more outward-facing application of math.

Hi everyone, I’m an international student at a feeder IB school. I recently joined the Euler Math Circle, and one of the TAs suggested that I apply for part-time enrollment at Stanford Online High School, where he serves as the Head of the Math Curriculum. The idea would be to take more advanced courses such as Linear Algebra and Multivariable Calculus.

I’m genuinely interested in learning higher-level math for its own sake, but I was also wondering: if I enroll at OHS and do well in those courses, would it meaningfully help my college applications (especially for top STEM schools)? Or would it mostly just be seen as an enrichment activity?

Would appreciate any thoughts, especially from people familiar with OHS or advanced outside coursework.

i'm a rising high-school freshman who's really passionate about math. i think i have pretty strong math ability for my age, since i scored a 117 on the amc 12 while in 8th grade.

i've always been curious about how high-school students actually get into math research. how do people end up publishing papers, winning awards at isef, or doing research that gets recognized by universities and journals?

also, does olympiad preparation (amc/aime/usamo/imo style math) help with mathematical research, or are they completely different skill sets?

i'm a rising high-school freshman who's really passionate about math. i think i have pretty strong math ability for my age, since i scored a 117 on the amc 12 while in 8th grade.

i've always been curious about how high-school students actually get into math research. how do people end up publishing papers, winning awards at isef, or doing research that gets recognized by universities and journals?

also, does olympiad preparation (amc/aime/usamo/imo style math) help with mathematical research, or are they completely different skill sets?