u/duncanonthem

I am a sophomore in a rural state at a small college-prep high school and I'm probably going to try and double major in like PoliSci or smth like that and CS. I’m willing to do the work to become strong applicant, but I don’t really know where to go (as you will see, my application is a bit split between humanities and STEM). Here are my stats:

GPA:

100/100 (W), 96/100 (UW)

APs:

5 total (Soph: AP World, AP Precalc, AP CSP, AP Seminar || Freshman: AP HUG), 5 on the only exam I’ve gotten back (freshman)

Taking 6 next year (AP Phys 1, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP CSA, APUSH, AP Research (I plan to work on my paper this summer and attempt to publish it with the help of my prof)

ECs and Awards:

Speech and Debate- NSDA #1 in my state for sophomore class, top 10 nationally for sophomore class, 2x National qualifier, going to be top 3 in the state next year for all grades and then hopefully overall 1 by senior

Mock Trial- 2025 State Champion qualifying as the only team from our state to the National High School Mock Trial Competition

Science Olympiad- #1 gold medal at state only time I've done it thus far

Math Team- Vice President, won multiple university-hosted competitions with team, got money for placing

Varsity Tennis- State Champion in singles my freshman year, attending tournaments competitively since I was 10 and playing since I was 5

Volunteering- Volunteer at an organization for the mentally or physically disabled who play tennis as a coach and helper consistently

Work- Tutor for all grades below me at my school and others in math and science, will be working this summer

Programming Club- As of next year will be president of a team that will compete in competitions and teach club members more about programming

Programs:

-Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (<10%)

-YYGS (10% or so)

-Accepted into Governor’s School but I'm not going b/c of Speech and Debate Nats (I live in a very uncompetitive state tbh but I’m hoping it’ll still look good)

There’s a few other things but I’d say this is the main stuff. Thanks!

I am a sophomore in a rural state at a small college-prep high school and I'm probably going to try and double major in like PoliSci or smth like that and CS. I’m willing to do the work to become strong applicant, but I don’t really know where to go (as you will see, my application is a bit split between humanities and STEM). Here are my stats:

GPA:

100/100 (W), 96/100 (UW)

SAT:

Superscore: 1380 (I know I’m ass rn I’ll lock in trust)

APs:

5 total (Soph: AP World, AP Precalc, AP CSP, AP Seminar || Freshman: AP HUG), 5 on the only exam I’ve gotten back (freshman)

Taking 6 next year (AP Phys 1, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP CSA, APUSH, AP Research (I plan to work on my paper this summer and attempt to publish it with the help of my prof)

ECs and Awards:

Speech and Debate- NSDA #1 in my state for sophomore class, top 10 nationally for sophomore class, 2x National qualifier, going to be top 3 in the state next year for all grades and then hopefully overall 1 by senior

Mock Trial- 2025 State Champion qualifying as the only team from our state to the National High School Mock Trial Competition

Science Olympiad- #1 gold medal at state only time I've done it thus far

Math Team- Vice President, won multiple university-hosted competitions with team, got money for placing

Varsity Tennis- State Champion in singles my freshman year, attending tournaments competitively since I was 10 and playing since I was 5

Volunteering- Volunteer at an organization for the mentally or physically disabled who play tennis as a coach and helper consistently

Work- Tutor for all grades below me at my school and others in math and science, will be working this summer

Programming Club- As of next year will be president of a team that will compete in competitions and teach club members more about programming

Programs:

-Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (<10%)

-YYGS (10% or so)

-Accepted into Governor’s School but I'm not going b/c of Speech and Debate Nats (I live in a very uncompetitive state tbh but I’m hoping it’ll still look good)

There’s a few other things but I’d say this is the main stuff. Thanks!

I am a sophomore in a rural state at a small college-prep high school and I'm probably going to try and double major in like PoliSci or smth like that and CS. I’m willing to do the work to become strong applicant, but I don’t really know where to go (as you will see, my application is a bit split between humanities and STEM). Here are my stats:

GPA:

100/100 (W), 96/100 (UW)

APs:

5 total (Soph: AP World, AP Precalc, AP CSP, AP Seminar || Freshman: AP HUG), 5 on the only exam I’ve gotten back (freshman)

Taking 6 next year (AP Phys 1, AP Lit, AP Calc AB, AP CSA, APUSH, AP Research (I plan to work on my paper this summer and attempt to publish it with the help of my prof)

ECs and Awards:

Speech and Debate- NSDA #1 in my state for sophomore class, top 10 nationally for sophomore class, 2x National qualifier, going to be top 3 in the state next year for all grades and then hopefully overall 1 by senior

Mock Trial- 2025 State Champion qualifying as the only team from our state to the National High School Mock Trial Competition

Science Olympiad- #1 gold medal at state only time I've done it thus far

Math Team- Vice President, won multiple university-hosted competitions with team, got money for placing

Varsity Tennis- State Champion in singles my freshman year, attending tournaments competitively since I was 10 and playing since I was 5

Volunteering- Volunteer at an organization for the mentally or physically disabled who play tennis as a coach and helper consistently

Work- Tutor for all grades below me at my school and others in math and science, will be working this summer

Programming Club- As of next year will be president of a team that will compete in competitions and teach club members more about programming

Programs:

-Stanford Summer Humanities Institute (<10%)

-YYGS (10% or so)

-Accepted into Governor’s School but I'm not going b/c of Speech and Debate Nats (I live in a very uncompetitive state tbh but I’m hoping it’ll still look good)

There’s a few other things but I’d say this is the main stuff. Thanks!

I’m asking this question because I’m a bit conflicted.

On one hand, I’ve always found math and science to be extremely interesting. No, I’ve definitely never had a “knack” for math. I’m not naturally good at it, my family is full of jobs that are on the opposite end of it, and, honestly, it stresses me out when I’m studying for it. Despite this, something in me just can’t let go of the idea that I need to pursue it in some form. Because of this, I’ve recently gotten involved with CS. I’m going to be the president of my school’s first programming club next year, I go to competitions (although I haven’t been to any real competitive ones yet), and I completed AP CSP this year and will be taking AP CSA my junior year. But, it’s super demotivating to see all of these people who seem to be 10x more naturally inclined to this sort of thing than I am, and I feel like if I did go into it I’d always be a step behind. It’s like people who are good at that sort of thing know for sure they’re in the right place, while I’m stuck in inaction.

On the other hand, I really enjoy law-related activities, writing, and pursuing topics in the humanities that require deep thought. I’m going to be the president/captain of my school’s speech and debate team next year, I just got done with mock trial nationals after winning state with my team, and I’ve always done well in classes that are strongly intertwined with philosophical or political thought.

But, this is where I hit a wall: I know that, on average, the people who make the most money are in the STEM fields. I also know that, like I mentioned before, I’ve always had a fascination with STEM stuff, even though I’m not naturally good at it.

So, my question to those pursuing fields in the humanities is this: why or how do you know you’re doing what’s right for you?

Thanks. Also, anybody going into or already in a STEM field is welcome to respond. I’m sure your insight is just as valuable.

Just got in off the waitlist and was wondering if there is an Instagram gc or something. Thanks!