Worried about admissions!!!!
Hi everyone!
I’m a 15‑year‑old junior, and even though it’s still early in the year, I’m already thinking a lot about my chances at schools like U‑Mich, Caltech, Cornell, and a few others. I’m planning to major in physics or astrophysics, so I’m trying to build a strong academic and extracurricular foundation.
Academically, I have a 4.0 UW and about a 4.375 W (and it should increase once my college classes are fully factored in). I’ve taken Calc I and am taking calc 2 (I am also likely to finish calc III by this year, so I'm worried about what i should take next year), and I’m currently in Physics II with plans to take Physics C. I’m also involved in classes like Student Senate—where I’ve been an officer for three years and currently serve as a district officer—and concert choir, where I plan to audition for All‑State and other major competitions.
My extracurriculars so far:
International Astrophysics Competition — Finalist
Advanced through challenging math and physics rounds to reach the semi‑finalist division.
Chemistry Olympiad — Top 3 in New Mexico
Placed among the top competitors statewide and gained hands‑on lab experience.
NMAIA AI Car Competition — 1st Place
Worked with a NASA scientist to develop machine‑learning models for autonomous RC cars; produced two winning designs.
District Secretary
Elected after speaking to thousands; help coordinate statewide student leadership initiatives.
Student Senate — 1st Vice President (3 years)
Lead policy discussions and represent student interests in school decision‑making.
New Mexico Governor STEM Challenge — Lead Researcher
Oversaw research and experimentation for our school’s STEM team.
STEM Club — Researcher, Writer, Designer
Designed autonomous taxi concepts, led experiments, and contributed major writing for competitions.
Science Research — Biochar & Mycelium Studies
Conducted environmental research on post‑fire plant regrowth under mentorship from a former chemist.
Home Daycare Business
Helped build and manage my family’s daycare—childcare, scheduling, finances—supporting its growth into a large community business.
JV Tennis Captain
Led team culture and contributed to multiple wins.
Soccer Manager
Organized logistics and strategy to support team performance.
Youth Soccer Coach (Ages 4–6)
Taught fundamentals and teamwork to young players during summer camp.
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1 answer
You're ahead of the curve on math, so the next step is straightforward.
After Calc III, the standard sequence is Linear Algebra then Differential Equations. Most high schools don't offer either, so students take them through dual enrollment at a community college or online. At CMU the physics majors take both freshman year, so walking in with them done is a real advantage. If your schedule only fits one, pick Linear Algebra. It underpins quantum mechanics and most of upper-level physics, and STEM admissions readers know that.
For physics itself, AP Physics C Mechanics and E&M is the top of what high schools offer. There isn't a natural next high school course. Some students do an independent study or a college modern physics class, but your competition results already signal you can do college physics. I wouldn't stress about finding a formal next course.
The bigger lever is focus. You have a lot of activities, which is normal for junior year, but the Common App gives you ten slots. Put the astrophysics competition, Chemistry Olympiad, AI car project, Governor STEM Challenge, and the biochar research in the first five. The daycare business, tennis, and soccer coaching are good character evidence, but they should sit lower. For Caltech and Cornell physics, readers want to see the physics thread clearly, not a little of everything.
Your essays should do the same work. Connect the building and research into one story about how you got pulled toward physics, instead of listing achievements. That coherence matters more than adding another activity senior year.
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