Disclaimer: The numbers and levels in this video are not hard cutoffs. They’re just a general guide, as most students will have a mix of qualities from different levels. College applications are subjective and unique to each individual :D
this video would have been true like maybe 15 years ago. your GPAs are too low for the categories. having above a 3.5 GPA doesn't mean you're jackshit nowadays.
For competitive college admissions, a 3.5 GPA probably isn’t optimal… but it’s still respectable :) I also tried to be pretty inclusive and conscious of the “average” student. Our usual content is catered to more competitive students… so a shift in mindset was needed.
@@timourmammadov35 I got into a top 100 engineering college in 2020 with a 3.5 gpa in HS, I think I had a 28 ACT or so (I don't remember fully) Idk why I'm watching this video 😂
I still think the way it was presented in the video was a great way to put it! :) Understand ur point of view, but I’m thinkin like this vid was tailored to help a lot of younger but ambitious students!!
@@PrepworksEducation in Canada it's completely different, a 95 average or 3.8 GPA is top, maybe 1 in 20 to 30 people will have it and I go to a pretty good school. Different countries have different standards
For the kids struggling in high school. I graduated high school with a 2.8. My mental health was abysmal, felt alone, and got bullied. The best decision of my life was to go to community college because I met great people, worked my ass off and changed. I Graduated with a 3.55, part of student gov't with internship experience. Now at a uni, I work even harder have more to manage but it's worth it. Ended my first semester with a 3.6 and I only want to continue. Also private colleges are a scam, you're getting hardcore ripped off if you're taking anything over 10k debt per semester. Every degree on the job market is worth the same. The only slight difference is it's easier to land your first job. Even then networking can work at a cheaper college.
I was homeschooled in a small town for all of high school so while I had a 3.98UW, 4.41W gpa and 33 ACT score, my ECs were awful. I was in NHS, a youth group leader, and a drummer for 10 years. I also did some game console refurbishing projects. Applied to 12 schools for electrical engineering and got into 4. Ended up at the University of Missouri on a full tuition scholarship.
When I was in high school 8 years ago, I would probably put myself in tier 5: 31 ACT, 4.0 GPA, 17 AP classes, leader of the academic Olympics club, and heavily focused on science, but I just went to my relatively obscure state university. Why? Because they offered me an unconditional full ride scholarship. Having 4 years of no debt and a big stipend to live on was huge. And it made getting into medical school that much easier.
I was almost a level 6-- had all the stats but didn't really think much about networking and internships or top schools. Honestly I was happy to settle for a competitive but well-rounded state public school
Had a 2.4 for the first 3 years of high school, then had a 4.1 senior year and taking my first ever Ap. Honestly the hardest part was paying attention in class and not getting bored. Now I’m excelling in college, the work load is the hardest part and I wish I learned time management but I understand it now.
16 Aps, 5.19 GPA, President of Two clubs and in NHS, volunteer with civics nonprofit, run non partisan website with a team of my peers. Applied test optional (SAT was super mid, never could crack that exam); got into Duke early decision!
@@PrepworksEducation THANK YOU! Also pertinent detail I wrote about the Beach Boys’ SMiLE in my personal statement, that whole application was super out there but it came out good in the end
cool but you could have shortened that whole thing into "i got into duke!" without boasting about your stats that obviously are duke level (this isn't a crazy anecdote)
Do they brag a lot? Because I definitely feel the same way about a lot of my friends, but thankfully they actively try to avoid bringing up anything that sounds like a brag. The types of "friends" that are worst are the ones that only talk about school, work, or anything else purely productive. Not to say productivity is bad at all, but if it's all they talk about, they're insufferable. I stopped being friends with most of the people I knew who purely talked like that. Just try to join clubs or do fun things and you can find people who don't make you feel depressed. But just because someone is very successful and in level 6-7 doesn't mean they necessarily make anyone around them depressed, It's more their attitude about only talking about all the ways their better that does that.
Honestly your typical overachiever can also give off bragging type vibes. People with more accomplishments + more impressive stats are just more prone to it - they start tying their self worth on it because they’ve become so hyper-fixated/spent so much time on it.
@@PrepworksEducation Well , "your typical overachiver" sounds like lowkey , I mean they have done so only to listen this phrase. I mean they have earned it , every single part of it , it's no joke . Though , they wouldn't even care of it. No hate
The fact that my 1160 SAT score is put in the same category as a 3-3.4 GPA when i had a 4.0 is wildddd either says a lot abt my standardized test taking skills or just a lot abt the SAT in general 😭
I have a sophomore friend who is self studying multi variable calc has perfect grades 1600 gpa plays 2 instruments and is first chair wind ensemble varsity soccer team and already finished with his college essay these people do exist
I got a 3.93 uw| 4.7 w gpa, test optional, and one national level (college board) award, as well as state and district level awards. I also think my essays played a large part in my decision because my class rank was 81/810. I got into upenn class of 2029 through questbridge!
I'm a freshman at high school and got myself into a local IB diploma program. They actively suppress scores in grade 11 so that it can bounce off in grade 12 and I am basically cooked for applying early :p
Based on this entire video, I'm a "Aiming at top schools" in terms of GPA (had a 3.95 weighted GPA in high school), "Good time management" in terms of the SAT (scored 1180 out of 1600 on the exam) and solid essays, and "Considered a good student" in terms of total number of AP classes (took 5 in total by the time I graduated high school) and leadership roles (was in 2 clubs (Junior Engineering club and National Honors Society) and was Low Brass section leader while being the 1st chair Euphonium player in my high school marching band). I guess being well rounded in so many aspects of my stats worked out because I ended up being an alumni at UC Davis (a Top 30 university in the US) 4 years later (was Class of 2022 in that university) :'D
I am probably between a 3 and a 4. I do good but don't quite have the brains of people who get into top tier or ivy league schools. 1,100 SAT to 1,250 SAT is equivalent to a 23 to 26 ACT and a SAT between 1,250 and 1,350 is equivalent to a 26 to 29 ACT. This is what you call a very solid student.
Wow, loved this video!! Really appreciate how you put the rlly intimidating concept of college apps into a funny, lighthearted, but still painfully accurate vid. Super good stuff 🔥 Your channel is so underrated considering the quality of your vids!
As someone finishing high school with 14 APs and a 4.0 unweighted this is accurate. Except there’s a lot of us who just don’t study and just find the classes to be easy. Also as a sibling of someone at a top 3 school, the application system is random after a certain threshold, so just do the minimum for top schools barrier of entry and pray you get in. Also focus on essays, they are BY FAR the most important aspect of your application. Also be genuine.
I was on the 5/6 line. Got a full ride to Auburn and Vandy. Chose Auburn for UG, Berkeley for MSCE, and Vandy for Ph.D. No regrets whatsoever about any of these choices. Not bad for coming out of a rural Alabama high school. GPA 4.1, Highest math for 5 math classes, APUSH 5, AP government 5, AP Calculus AB 5. SAT 1470. All state band, choir, orchestra, and section leader for 3 years in band. Two top ten individual finishes in Alabama Statewide Math contest for 5A/6A. But that was 25 years ago. I think this is close to spot on. I just don’t see the value in level 7.
3.8 UW (Well over 4 weighted) GPA, 1560, 8 APs, Good Essays (according to my English Master's father), Eagle Scout, State Champion Track and Field athlete and I got into 1/7 schools I applied to, that being my local state school.
I did 5 APs in freshman/sophomore year of HS, as well as calculus 3 and differential equations w/ university credit and then applied to a residential high school which has basically no APs, but a bunch of college-equivalent classes. However, I was a bit of a troll, and didn't put enough effort in to do much research or get internships, so I couldn't get into an Ivy. In the 2 year hs I went to, however, I was able to take a lot of cool courses, listed below: Materials Chemistry( *Research Experience*), Organic Chemistry( *Research Experience*), Biochemistry( *Research Experience*), Analytical Chemistry( *Research Experience*), Machine Learning, Computational Physics( *Research Experience*), Electrical Engineering, Statics, Molecular Genetics( *Research Experience*), Neuroscience( *Research Experience*), Scientific Programming, and Research in Math. None of the above credits transferred, so I didn't have that many credits going into college. I'm now a Freshman at UIUC for Computer Engineering, which is pretty good but not level 7. I also don't think I presented myself well with essays and my resume. Edit: Forgot to mention, I had a 35 ACT, 3.92 UW GPA, and a 4.84 W GPA( 4.9 while applying)
I was a level 1 applicant back in my college days. Even though I got a 1500 on my SAT (actually 2210, but this is back in the 2005-2015 period when they split verbal into two sections), it was very much a "let's try this out and see what happens" sort of thing that I put very little effort into. And the rest just describes me to a T.
I have no idea what category I'm in, this college admissions season is going to look like gambling! My GPA is a 3.6 unweighted and my SAT was a 1390. I have a ton of ECs (health department internship, competition dance, worked for police department, currently teach underprivileged kids English, represent the school at a district level and more), 2 APs, 5 duel enrollment classes but I haven't really been trying to achieve nor do I have a singular passion (I'd have 5 majors if I could, although international relations looks the most interesting currently). My LORs are incredible though (one is from a college professor, the other is from my AP psych teacher who said i was his favorite student). I'm also graduating highschool early.
I was level 4 and managed to get a full ride scholarship, colleges also care about what you'll do with your degree as well. Also, always prioritize money over the ranking of a college, college degrees dont mean that much anymore anyway 😅
I know a level 7. Finished every math course my high school offered by sophomore year, so he took an online local college course to do whatever is 4 courses after calculus bc.
I was around level 6 but my ECs were kinda mid. I did have one unique EC that I wrote a pretty good essay about. I ended up getting into T20. Not long after I started there I dropped out due to some personal issues, took some time off, then went to community college for a couple semesters. Now I'm going to be starting at a random university in my city. Life is funny. If you are still in high school (or college even) I think actually living your life (responsibly) and prioritizing your mental health are a lot more important than all of this. That's not to say there's anything wrong with grinding academics/career but just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.
@PrepworksEducation Btw, I found the format of this video pretty entertaining, as someone who used to spend a lot of time on r/A2C and r/chanceme lol. No shade on the content!
I’m like around Level 5 in academics, but barely any extracurriculars other than maybe working with my dad in his landscaping company (outside school but it was time to time work). I’m doing regular decision so hoping for the best 🦅
I’m like in a place where I’m not 100% going full send on my apps but I’m still working hard. I got a 4.0 gpa 31 act 1450 psat (1390 sat 😭) play varsity tennis, in a few clubs and have some service hours. I’m lowkey just tryna go to a state school with a full ride so I’m tryna get my act up
There is a level 8. These are people who won the gold medal in International Math Olympiad, International Physics Olympiad, or some other prestigious international academic competition. There GPA, SAT, Extracurriculars may not be perfect because these guys don't have the time to worry about other subjects, tests, or extra curriculars. devoting themselves to their chosen hard academic field and already have world wide recognitions for it. These students may already have a college professor or two begging them to join them for research. These students will likely apply and probably be accepted into the university that has the professor they want to study under, no matter what the name value of the university is.
I teach a lot of our freshman physics courses…most of students shouldn’t have graduated high school and expect to be pampered at college. I’ve had to spend most semesters teaching basic math, not to mention how to write a lab report, or even argue properly. Most students don’t care to improve either, so most professors, whose main job isn’t actually teaching like you think, not caring either. Then y’all blame us for giving you an hour of homework to do in a 7 day period.
yea idk where i fit. Im a highschool senior with like maybe a 2.8 unweighted GPA, no APS, and 1450 SAT (1390 first time taken 1450 2nd time, also never studied) but I am committed to a D3 college called DePauw university (55%) for sports. Other decent schools I got 'offers' from and actually considered are: Oberlin (35%) , Illinois Wesleyan (42%) , rhodes (54%), centre (66%), Illinois tech (60%, home of moderism architecture, the power grid, and the privatization of nuclear reactors). Maybe my journey to college is a bit different from everyone else, but IMO, I'm not seeing any rigid guidelines for private school admissions.
As a sophomore, I have a gpa of 4.3 weighted, 3.7 unweighted, 1340 no studying PSAT, 1 AP, 2 honors classes, and no ecs (Mahjong and Robotics club, and some very basic github projects) So I guess I'm about level 2.5-3 right now? Or to say it shortly, I'm cooked.
You have pretty strong academic scores! Keep it up. You are also only a sophomore and stuff like more APs + ECs come along as you get older. A solid level 3 as a high school sophomore is very good!
Here to talk about the quality of Community Colleges. Best decision of my life ever is to go to a Community College. Don't ever think that you are above a community college!
Bro Idek where I fall I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA (4.66 weighted) 1550 SAT and am planning to take 14 AP classes but my only extracurriculars are karate and speech and debate neither of which I’m particularly good at
Sounds like you're a competitive applicant with amazing academic stats! The extracurriculars are definitely holding you back… you will have to pick and choose what to prioritize. Personally, I think you would on the fence of 5/6 leaning towards 6 :)
I fell somewhere between a level 5 and 6, i was stupid smart at math and science and did a full engineering program for UCF and my highschool and had a 3.7 unweighted and 3.9 weighted gpa because i didn't care about homework so i tanked my classes. I took 13 AP (got the AP credit for 11 of them at my private university), and my univ is phenomenal for medical. Yes, I got into my dream university (UF), but turned it down simply because of lack of opportunity and scholarship. My point of this comment shows and as stated by prepworks, this isn't "concrete" factual levels but also value all options when applying to universities, the one im attending wasn't even an option in my mind 2 years ago, but now its something that even my friends at UF heavily consider on transferring towards because UF as a university itself doesn't fit them.
junior year as of now 3.27 unweighted and 3.70 weighted (always been more of an person who scores a lot of B’s but I might have an shot to increase it to a 3.6 if all goes well) rn taking 3 APs, passed prior govt exam with a hard earned 4 only extracurriculars are track & NHS (with about or more than 100 hours of community service) although I do plan on joining my culture club at school any advice for me so far? i can’t help but think im going to get cooked
Hey guys, I’m a Junior and I have qualifications falling in the lvl 5 category. I have everything there except a lot of leadership roles. I got like 2 rn. Can anyone tell me if that’s fine if I’m thinking of applying for pretty good universities? If y'all have any tips for getting more leadership roles, they would help. Thanks! 😄
I didn't try and got a 23 on my ACT. I had to take a crap and guessed on the science section for half of them, and that was ironically my highest scored section at 25
I’d say im about a 5. 5 APs, 2 hard DE, 1590 SAT somehow (I studied for like 1 day). My ECs were mid (like 1 leadership position) cuz I was too exhausted to do anything else other than school (thanks undiagnosed adhd). My essay kinda ate tho
I mean hey, most people are a mix! You have amazing course rigor and a solid GPA + test scores. The only thing holding you is the lack of extracurriculars -- but if you are super dedicated to sports + are good at it, that's fine!
Aren’t there also plenty of students who get stellar grades and test scores but put no effort into EC’s? Being smart enough to ace tests doesn’t mean you have any commitment to doing EC’s. What level would that kinda student be?
That’s true! I see most students as a mixed bag… which sort of coincides with the video where I tried to cater more towards well-roundedness at each level - because that is relatable for more students. :)
I agree with your list but the gpa and sat scores you provided seem to be deflated. I feel like anyone with a 3.5-3.7 gpa and decent prep should be able to get a 1400+ score
Maybe! GPA varies a lot based on the school. It’s SUPER COMMON for students to have near perfect/perfect GPAs yet still perform “poorly” in relation on the SAT/ACT 👍
My dumbass got a 1190 on the sat, without zero hours of studying. And i tried studying for the next one, and got a lower score😂. Luckily my gpa is ok and i got a acceptance to cs rugters so far. Its the only college that gave me a response so far, so hoping to get into stony brook for ee. And every app i sent so far was within 12hour to 1minutes left before the deadline, living life on the edge 😅
Maybe! It's a competitive system for sure. I know that there are a lot of cookie cutter applicants coming out of these areas... mainly centered around research/olympiads!
Nope! Stellar academic stats are still impressive. Extracurriculars with impact just help you stand out against the crowd in super selective college admissions.
Very likely! ECs become a differentiating factor at more selective institutions. With great academics, you have a great shot at a 50% acceptance rate school!
The type of activity isn’t a make or break deal (unless it’s something super special/MAJOR)… it’s more about the IMPACT you have made within those clubs that matters.
Pretty good! It’s still tough. Now it’s about differentiating yourself. This video may help! [FREE COURSE] here's what IVY LEAGUE admissions *ACTUALLY* look for th-cam.com/video/MOoEuBXgeBg/w-d-xo.html
No idea which one I’d be in… 4.34 GPA with a 34 ACT score, but NO extracurriculars or networking or anything. I’d go to school, do my class work and my homework, then go home and just watch TV. I definitely had the time to get involved, I just didn’t want to or care. I only ever applied to two colleges.
It’s great that you have a strong academic foundation. Now that you’re applying to college, you can look for ways to engage more outside of the classroom! 👍
You're doing a fantastic job! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?
tier 4 gpa but planned for 13-4 aps and many ecs, sat practices are around 1530-50, prepping for many competitions ec and academic wise, am i cooked for being a split?
Focus on your ECs/competitions - those help you differentiate from the competition. Although grades are the most important, past a certain point every applicant starts looking the same. For example, there is negligible difference between a 3.8 and 3.9.
I guess Im level 5 Has done 3 APs (so far) [apes, gov, psych] 4.0 uw, 4.3571 w currently in hosa (treasurer) + student council (member) There is MORE that I will do, trust me. Im just a sophomore atm 😭😭
Where tf would I even fall if I hate school with a 2.1 GPA but it took no effort to get a 1290 on my SAT 😭😭😭 Idk about my ACT score bc it was graded completely differently based on the sheet they gave me lol All ik is that they gave me 1 point short of a platinum medal whatever that means all ik is that the ACT wasn't nearly as hard as I thought and I didn't study for either act or sat :L
Maybe like average 6 rn. My grades are definitely very competitive for ivies, but my extracurriculars are sorta lacking for an ivy (progress is exponential tho!). I want to go to a top UC school anyways so it works out for me, but I'm still on the grind lol.
Disclaimer: The numbers and levels in this video are not hard cutoffs. They’re just a general guide, as most students will have a mix of qualities from different levels. College applications are subjective and unique to each individual :D
Level 7 should be “My grandpa bought Harvard a building”
Honestly 😭😭😭
For a $10M donation, any university will admit your kid (including Harvard).
this video would have been true like maybe 15 years ago. your GPAs are too low for the categories. having above a 3.5 GPA doesn't mean you're jackshit nowadays.
For competitive college admissions, a 3.5 GPA probably isn’t optimal… but it’s still respectable :)
I also tried to be pretty inclusive and conscious of the “average” student. Our usual content is catered to more competitive students… so a shift in mindset was needed.
@@timourmammadov35 I got into a top 100 engineering college in 2020 with a 3.5 gpa in HS, I think I had a 28 ACT or so (I don't remember fully)
Idk why I'm watching this video 😂
Reminiscing of the good old days haha
I still think the way it was presented in the video was a great way to put it! :) Understand ur point of view, but I’m thinkin like this vid was tailored to help a lot of younger but ambitious students!!
@@PrepworksEducation in Canada it's completely different, a 95 average or 3.8 GPA is top, maybe 1 in 20 to 30 people will have it and I go to a pretty good school. Different countries have different standards
For the kids struggling in high school. I graduated high school with a 2.8. My mental health was abysmal, felt alone, and got bullied. The best decision of my life was to go to community college because I met great people, worked my ass off and changed. I Graduated with a 3.55, part of student gov't with internship experience. Now at a uni, I work even harder have more to manage but it's worth it. Ended my first semester with a 3.6 and I only want to continue.
Also private colleges are a scam, you're getting hardcore ripped off if you're taking anything over 10k debt per semester. Every degree on the job market is worth the same. The only slight difference is it's easier to land your first job. Even then networking can work at a cheaper college.
Thank you for sharing!
You don't know how much I needed to hear this. Thank you.
I was homeschooled in a small town for all of high school so while I had a 3.98UW, 4.41W gpa and 33 ACT score, my ECs were awful. I was in NHS, a youth group leader, and a drummer for 10 years. I also did some game console refurbishing projects. Applied to 12 schools for electrical engineering and got into 4. Ended up at the University of Missouri on a full tuition scholarship.
That’s good 😭
Full tuition is amazing! Your hard work paid off for sure. It is unfortunate that your circumstances limited your EC options :/
bro can you provide ur social media if any cux I wanted some form of mentorship if u r willing
“My Ecs were awful”
When I was in high school 8 years ago, I would probably put myself in tier 5: 31 ACT, 4.0 GPA, 17 AP classes, leader of the academic Olympics club, and heavily focused on science, but I just went to my relatively obscure state university. Why? Because they offered me an unconditional full ride scholarship. Having 4 years of no debt and a big stipend to live on was huge. And it made getting into medical school that much easier.
This is not tier 5 this is tier 6. 17 APs????
@ My extracurriculars were meh aside from being the leader of the academic Olympics team.
@@finalbossd that’s good tho
I was almost a level 6-- had all the stats but didn't really think much about networking and internships or top schools. Honestly I was happy to settle for a competitive but well-rounded state public school
That’s completely fine too! Public schools provide world class education as well. It’s about how you take advantage of the opportunities that matter!!
same boat bro. level 5.5. i got everything but those internships.. i jus did ecs i enjoyed
Had a 2.4 for the first 3 years of high school, then had a 4.1 senior year and taking my first ever Ap. Honestly the hardest part was paying attention in class and not getting bored. Now I’m excelling in college, the work load is the hardest part and I wish I learned time management but I understand it now.
3.8 GPA, 25 ACT, 1170 SAT, going to CC for the money 😊. Gonna make bank as a software developer, and I have been self learning for a year so far, too.
Sounds like you have a plan! 😎
16 Aps, 5.19 GPA, President of Two clubs and in NHS, volunteer with civics nonprofit, run non partisan website with a team of my peers. Applied test optional (SAT was super mid, never could crack that exam); got into Duke early decision!
CONGRATSSSS!!
@@PrepworksEducation THANK YOU! Also pertinent detail I wrote about the Beach Boys’ SMiLE in my personal statement, that whole application was super out there but it came out good in the end
Oooo interesting! Taking risks will always pay off :D
cool but you could have shortened that whole thing into "i got into duke!" without boasting about your stats that obviously are duke level (this isn't a crazy anecdote)
What was you sat score?
Level 7... I swear that sounds like half my friends... getting depression every time I talk to them though...
Remember the true end goal in life! Accomplishments + stats like these are just like materialistic things..
Do they brag a lot? Because I definitely feel the same way about a lot of my friends, but thankfully they actively try to avoid bringing up anything that sounds like a brag. The types of "friends" that are worst are the ones that only talk about school, work, or anything else purely productive. Not to say productivity is bad at all, but if it's all they talk about, they're insufferable. I stopped being friends with most of the people I knew who purely talked like that. Just try to join clubs or do fun things and you can find people who don't make you feel depressed.
But just because someone is very successful and in level 6-7 doesn't mean they necessarily make anyone around them depressed, It's more their attitude about only talking about all the ways their better that does that.
Honestly your typical overachiever can also give off bragging type vibes.
People with more accomplishments + more impressive stats are just more prone to it - they start tying their self worth on it because they’ve become so hyper-fixated/spent so much time on it.
@@PrepworksEducation Well , "your typical overachiver" sounds like lowkey , I mean they have done so only to listen this phrase. I mean they have earned it , every single part of it , it's no joke . Though , they wouldn't even care of it. No hate
I had level 5 stats but man I completely coasted all through high school, didn’t learn that you actually have to work hard to do well until college
level 6 stats. never studied in my life
4.0 UW, 1600 SAT, 10 APs, Decent ECs, National + International level awards. Got into ASU 🎉🎉🎉
🥳
national competition win with anything below a 1560 is a wild concept
The fact that my 1160 SAT score is put in the same category as a 3-3.4 GPA when i had a 4.0 is wildddd either says a lot abt my standardized test taking skills or just a lot abt the SAT in general 😭
Watch some more prepworks
4.31W GPA | 3.7UW GPA
- NASA Internship [OSTEM]
- Microsoft TEALS Program
- Founder/President of the Astrophysics Honors Club
I love the application theme 😁
I have a sophomore friend who is self studying multi variable calc has perfect grades 1600 gpa plays 2 instruments and is first chair wind ensemble varsity soccer team and already finished with his college essay these people do exist
Sophomore finishing their college essay is the craziest part 💀💀💀
I got a 3.93 uw| 4.7 w gpa, test optional, and one national level (college board) award, as well as state and district level awards. I also think my essays played a large part in my decision because my class rank was 81/810. I got into upenn class of 2029 through questbridge!
Congrats on getting into UPenn! Let us know if we helped you out: forms.office.com/r/qVmCyW241Q
I'm a freshman at high school and got myself into a local IB diploma program. They actively suppress scores in grade 11 so that it can bounce off in grade 12 and I am basically cooked for applying early :p
Oof! Keep grinding!! 💪
Based on this entire video, I'm a "Aiming at top schools" in terms of GPA (had a 3.95 weighted GPA in high school), "Good time management" in terms of the SAT (scored 1180 out of 1600 on the exam) and solid essays, and "Considered a good student" in terms of total number of AP classes (took 5 in total by the time I graduated high school) and leadership roles (was in 2 clubs (Junior Engineering club and National Honors Society) and was Low Brass section leader while being the 1st chair Euphonium player in my high school marching band). I guess being well rounded in so many aspects of my stats worked out because I ended up being an alumni at UC Davis (a Top 30 university in the US) 4 years later (was Class of 2022 in that university) :'D
Amazing! Thanks for sharing :D
low brass 💯
@ The best brass 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾
I am probably between a 3 and a 4. I do good but don't quite have the brains of people who get into top tier or ivy league schools. 1,100 SAT to 1,250 SAT is equivalent to a 23 to 26 ACT and a SAT between 1,250 and 1,350 is equivalent to a 26 to 29 ACT. This is what you call a very solid student.
Wow, loved this video!! Really appreciate how you put the rlly intimidating concept of college apps into a funny, lighthearted, but still painfully accurate vid. Super good stuff 🔥 Your channel is so underrated considering the quality of your vids!
Thank you!!! 🙏
Np @PrepworksEducation!!
I love homemade vids like this, they seriously hit different! Thanks for posting these vids during holiday season :D
In California where I’m from I would be considered level 3. Anywhere else, level 5. California schools can be pretty rigid
There’s definitely disparate competition!
As someone finishing high school with 14 APs and a 4.0 unweighted this is accurate. Except there’s a lot of us who just don’t study and just find the classes to be easy. Also as a sibling of someone at a top 3 school, the application system is random after a certain threshold, so just do the minimum for top schools barrier of entry and pray you get in. Also focus on essays, they are BY FAR the most important aspect of your application. Also be genuine.
Thanks for sharing your advice!! ❤️
I was on the 5/6 line. Got a full ride to Auburn and Vandy. Chose Auburn for UG, Berkeley for MSCE, and Vandy for Ph.D. No regrets whatsoever about any of these choices. Not bad for coming out of a rural Alabama high school. GPA 4.1, Highest math for 5 math classes, APUSH 5, AP government 5, AP Calculus AB 5. SAT 1470. All state band, choir, orchestra, and section leader for 3 years in band. Two top ten individual finishes in Alabama Statewide Math contest for 5A/6A. But that was 25 years ago. I think this is close to spot on. I just don’t see the value in level 7.
Indeed! It’s good to live life sometimes. Thanks for sharing!
3.8 UW (Well over 4 weighted) GPA, 1560, 8 APs, Good Essays (according to my English Master's father), Eagle Scout, State Champion Track and Field athlete and I got into 1/7 schools I applied to, that being my local state school.
That's just bad luck-you'll do fine, but I'm truly sorry, assuming that's not what you were hoping for.
I did 5 APs in freshman/sophomore year of HS, as well as calculus 3 and differential equations w/ university credit and then applied to a residential high school which has basically no APs, but a bunch of college-equivalent classes. However, I was a bit of a troll, and didn't put enough effort in to do much research or get internships, so I couldn't get into an Ivy. In the 2 year hs I went to, however, I was able to take a lot of cool courses, listed below:
Materials Chemistry( *Research Experience*), Organic Chemistry( *Research Experience*), Biochemistry( *Research Experience*), Analytical Chemistry( *Research Experience*), Machine Learning, Computational Physics( *Research Experience*), Electrical Engineering, Statics, Molecular Genetics( *Research Experience*), Neuroscience( *Research Experience*), Scientific Programming, and Research in Math.
None of the above credits transferred, so I didn't have that many credits going into college. I'm now a Freshman at UIUC for Computer Engineering, which is pretty good but not level 7. I also don't think I presented myself well with essays and my resume.
Edit: Forgot to mention, I had a 35 ACT, 3.92 UW GPA, and a 4.84 W GPA( 4.9 while applying)
Amazing academic stats! Thanks for sharing your story!
I was a level 1 applicant back in my college days. Even though I got a 1500 on my SAT (actually 2210, but this is back in the 2005-2015 period when they split verbal into two sections), it was very much a "let's try this out and see what happens" sort of thing that I put very little effort into. And the rest just describes me to a T.
I have no idea what category I'm in, this college admissions season is going to look like gambling! My GPA is a 3.6 unweighted and my SAT was a 1390. I have a ton of ECs (health department internship, competition dance, worked for police department, currently teach underprivileged kids English, represent the school at a district level and more), 2 APs, 5 duel enrollment classes but I haven't really been trying to achieve nor do I have a singular passion (I'd have 5 majors if I could, although international relations looks the most interesting currently). My LORs are incredible though (one is from a college professor, the other is from my AP psych teacher who said i was his favorite student).
I'm also graduating highschool early.
Super interesting, thanks for sharing! Most students are a mixed bag... best of luck with your college decisions!
I suppose I resonate more with qualities in level 4&5. Im satisfied with that
Awesome! Thanks for sharing ❤️
5:46 , I love the sound in the background 😂😂.
For the memes!!!
1540 SAT, 4.4 WGPA, President of two clubs, worked with county, applied and waiting on results. Hopefully I go somewhere good
Best of luck!!!
I was level 4 and managed to get a full ride scholarship, colleges also care about what you'll do with your degree as well. Also, always prioritize money over the ranking of a college, college degrees dont mean that much anymore anyway 😅
That's awesome! Congratulations!
I know a level 7.
Finished every math course my high school offered by sophomore year, so he took an online local college course to do whatever is 4 courses after calculus bc.
level 7 is crazy💀💀
i think im like right below 6
Nice!! Level 7 would be an interesting person lol
I was around level 6 but my ECs were kinda mid. I did have one unique EC that I wrote a pretty good essay about. I ended up getting into T20. Not long after I started there I dropped out due to some personal issues, took some time off, then went to community college for a couple semesters. Now I'm going to be starting at a random university in my city. Life is funny.
If you are still in high school (or college even) I think actually living your life (responsibly) and prioritizing your mental health are a lot more important than all of this. That's not to say there's anything wrong with grinding academics/career but just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.
True! Thanks for sharing :)
@PrepworksEducation Btw, I found the format of this video pretty entertaining, as someone who used to spend a lot of time on r/A2C and r/chanceme lol. No shade on the content!
I’m like around Level 5 in academics, but barely any extracurriculars other than maybe working with my dad in his landscaping company (outside school but it was time to time work).
I’m doing regular decision so hoping for the best 🦅
Best of luck! A job is honest and tough work that will be valued!
Sounds exactly like my doppelgänger
I was the first category and skipped the bachelor's to do postgrad work at an R1.
I’m like in a place where I’m not 100% going full send on my apps but I’m still working hard. I got a 4.0 gpa 31 act 1450 psat (1390 sat 😭) play varsity tennis, in a few clubs and have some service hours. I’m lowkey just tryna go to a state school with a full ride so I’m tryna get my act up
26 APs 4.0 gpa 1600 sat 36 act but 0 extracurriculars am I cooked?
Nah. Stellar academics are still highly valued.
There is a level 8. These are people who won the gold medal in International Math Olympiad, International Physics Olympiad, or some other prestigious international academic competition. There GPA, SAT, Extracurriculars may not be perfect because these guys don't have the time to worry about other subjects, tests, or extra curriculars. devoting themselves to their chosen hard academic field and already have world wide recognitions for it. These students may already have a college professor or two begging them to join them for research. These students will likely apply and probably be accepted into the university that has the professor they want to study under, no matter what the name value of the university is.
I teach a lot of our freshman physics courses…most of students shouldn’t have graduated high school and expect to be pampered at college. I’ve had to spend most semesters teaching basic math, not to mention how to write a lab report, or even argue properly. Most students don’t care to improve either, so most professors, whose main job isn’t actually teaching like you think, not caring either. Then y’all blame us for giving you an hour of homework to do in a 7 day period.
Yikes! 😅
yea idk where i fit. Im a highschool senior with like maybe a 2.8 unweighted GPA, no APS, and 1450 SAT (1390 first time taken 1450 2nd time, also never studied) but I am committed to a D3 college called DePauw university (55%) for sports. Other decent schools I got 'offers' from and actually considered are: Oberlin (35%) , Illinois Wesleyan (42%) , rhodes (54%), centre (66%), Illinois tech (60%, home of moderism architecture, the power grid, and the privatization of nuclear reactors). Maybe my journey to college is a bit different from everyone else, but IMO, I'm not seeing any rigid guidelines for private school admissions.
Congrats on those admissions!
As a sophomore, I have a gpa of 4.3 weighted, 3.7 unweighted, 1340 no studying PSAT, 1 AP, 2 honors classes, and no ecs (Mahjong and Robotics club, and some very basic github projects)
So I guess I'm about level 2.5-3 right now?
Or to say it shortly, I'm cooked.
You have pretty strong academic scores! Keep it up. You are also only a sophomore and stuff like more APs + ECs come along as you get older. A solid level 3 as a high school sophomore is very good!
Here to talk about the quality of Community Colleges. Best decision of my life ever is to go to a Community College. Don't ever think that you are above a community college!
Bro Idek where I fall I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA (4.66 weighted) 1550 SAT and am planning to take 14 AP classes but my only extracurriculars are karate and speech and debate neither of which I’m particularly good at
Sounds like you're a competitive applicant with amazing academic stats!
The extracurriculars are definitely holding you back… you will have to pick and choose what to prioritize. Personally, I think you would on the fence of 5/6 leaning towards 6 :)
3.8 GPA
1420 SAT
12 AP's
Multiple leadership + founder roles In clubs and other strong extracurriculars
I got rejected by emory ED
Oof! Best of luck with your other college decisions 🤞
I fell somewhere between a level 5 and 6, i was stupid smart at math and science and did a full engineering program for UCF and my highschool and had a 3.7 unweighted and 3.9 weighted gpa because i didn't care about homework so i tanked my classes. I took 13 AP (got the AP credit for 11 of them at my private university), and my univ is phenomenal for medical. Yes, I got into my dream university (UF), but turned it down simply because of lack of opportunity and scholarship.
My point of this comment shows and as stated by prepworks, this isn't "concrete" factual levels but also value all options when applying to universities, the one im attending wasn't even an option in my mind 2 years ago, but now its something that even my friends at UF heavily consider on transferring towards because UF as a university itself doesn't fit them.
Thank you for sharing!
junior year
as of now 3.27 unweighted and 3.70 weighted (always been more of an person who scores a lot of B’s but I might have an shot to increase it to a 3.6 if all goes well)
rn taking 3 APs, passed prior govt exam with a hard earned 4
only extracurriculars are track & NHS (with about or more than 100 hours of community service) although I do plan on joining my culture club at school
any advice for me so far? i can’t help but think im going to get cooked
Hey guys, I’m a Junior and I have qualifications falling in the lvl 5 category. I have everything there except a lot of leadership roles. I got like 2 rn. Can anyone tell me if that’s fine if I’m thinking of applying for pretty good universities? If y'all have any tips for getting more leadership roles, they would help.
Thanks! 😄
2 leadership roles is great! Just make sure to maximize your impact. Here are some tips:
th-cam.com/video/dcI7SXxBZIA/w-d-xo.html
@@PrepworksEducation ok, thanks!
I didn't try and got a 23 on my ACT. I had to take a crap and guessed on the science section for half of them, and that was ironically my highest scored section at 25
You never know how life works out! 😁
I’d say im about a 5. 5 APs, 2 hard DE, 1590 SAT somehow (I studied for like 1 day). My ECs were mid (like 1 leadership position) cuz I was too exhausted to do anything else other than school (thanks undiagnosed adhd). My essay kinda ate tho
Wait im level 1 but 1400 sat 3.7
word
i guess I'm an outright three. 1240 Sat, 3.3 weighted, but I've passed 10Ap classes.
Thanks for sharing! 10 APs is super impressive! 🫡
I don’t know what I am. I’ve taken 13 APs including this year, have a 3.77, 33 act and my only extracurriculars are sports lmao
I mean hey, most people are a mix! You have amazing course rigor and a solid GPA + test scores. The only thing holding you is the lack of extracurriculars -- but if you are super dedicated to sports + are good at it, that's fine!
Somehow I'm level 5 according to this video. Not getting into Pomona College yet though with today's acceptance rates.
Best of luck with your college decisions!! 🤞
Aren’t there also plenty of students who get stellar grades and test scores but put no effort into EC’s? Being smart enough to ace tests doesn’t mean you have any commitment to doing EC’s. What level would that kinda student be?
That’s true! I see most students as a mixed bag… which sort of coincides with the video where I tried to cater more towards well-roundedness at each level - because that is relatable for more students. :)
I was 4 with more advanced classes and a high SAT.
same , graduated 2022 making 120k a year at 21 now , hbu?? Wonder how the 4s are doing in life.
Criteria is bizarre. I would be level 5 with ACT/SAT and GPA, meanwhile only level 3 for the other criteria
Yep! It’s a mixed bag. Most people end up falling in between the levels with different strengths/weaknesses :)
I did not take enough advanced classes (when I should have for the level I was at), but my course rigor improved more junior year. 😅
awesome! keep it up :)
3.9 gpa, 1230 sat, 2 ap’s, average extra curriculars, somehow got into NYU ed
Awesome!! Congrats!
I got into neuro at JHU I am definitely 7
AMAZING!! CONGRATS!!!
I agree with your list but the gpa and sat scores you provided seem to be deflated. I feel like anyone with a 3.5-3.7 gpa and decent prep should be able to get a 1400+ score
Maybe! GPA varies a lot based on the school. It’s SUPER COMMON for students to have near perfect/perfect GPAs yet still perform “poorly” in relation on the SAT/ACT 👍
My dumbass got a 1190 on the sat, without zero hours of studying. And i tried studying for the next one, and got a lower score😂.
Luckily my gpa is ok and i got a acceptance to cs rugters so far.
Its the only college that gave me a response so far, so hoping to get into stony brook for ee.
And every app i sent so far was within 12hour to 1minutes left before the deadline, living life on the edge 😅
Haha best of luck with the rest of college decisions!!
As a 5.6~ I feel unsafe
Whats an essay about and why do you do them
A college essay answers a prompt asked by a college. It allows the college to gauge your character :)
i got a 35 act and 4.0 but only got 6 aps, 1 leadership role in a club, and absolutely no internships or projects. Im like half a 3 and a 6 lol.
Most people are a mixed bag haha 😎
i was level four with less APs but a 3.95-4.00 unweighted GPA (i don’t remember exactly).
Cool! Yeah, most people are usually a mix of factors :)
I think a lot of international students in China are ivy aspirants and ultramaxxers
Maybe! It's a competitive system for sure. I know that there are a lot of cookie cutter applicants coming out of these areas... mainly centered around research/olympiads!
I'm "aiming at top schools" (level 6). Lol that's like "average" for A2C though.
A2C is filled with overachievers haha
Can I cash in having a bad gpa mixed with a great SAT and ACT
A great SAT/ACT won’t completely “make up” for it, but it will definitely demonstrate your academic ability!
@ yeah I can tell you that from first hand experience
I’m in between 6 and 7 but I don’t do extracurriculars, am I cooked?
Nope! Stellar academic stats are still impressive. Extracurriculars with impact just help you stand out against the crowd in super selective college admissions.
Level 5 academics but level 2 ecs and I wanna go somewhere with a 50% acceptance rate. What are my odds?
Very likely! ECs become a differentiating factor at more selective institutions. With great academics, you have a great shot at a 50% acceptance rate school!
I’m definitely number 4 lol 😂
🫡
How much do they consider clubs because I did a lot of sports, I have a 4.0, took 7 APs, 1410 SAT, but my extra curricular arent anything special.
The type of activity isn’t a make or break deal (unless it’s something super special/MAJOR)… it’s more about the IMPACT you have made within those clubs that matters.
Level 5 and 6
Thanks for sharing!!! 😎
level 6 ecs, test scores, course rigor, but level 5 grades. what are the odds i have at 8-10% acceptance rate colleges?
Pretty good! It’s still tough. Now it’s about differentiating yourself. This video may help!
[FREE COURSE] here's what IVY LEAGUE admissions *ACTUALLY* look for
th-cam.com/video/MOoEuBXgeBg/w-d-xo.html
I'm a level 1 with a 1330 sat score that I signed up to on a whim
Aye get those grades up!!!!
Level 6 not enough for CS 🥲
This may help!
FREE College Admissions Course
th-cam.com/play/PLfCCnEv2UFBGUvMxYGH97h9hVNcLmcZjU.html
No idea which one I’d be in… 4.34 GPA with a 34 ACT score, but NO extracurriculars or networking or anything. I’d go to school, do my class work and my homework, then go home and just watch TV. I definitely had the time to get involved, I just didn’t want to or care. I only ever applied to two colleges.
It’s great that you have a strong academic foundation. Now that you’re applying to college, you can look for ways to engage more outside of the classroom! 👍
Bro’s video has not been hit by grade inflation.
😁
You're doing a fantastic job! A bit off-topic, but I wanted to ask: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). How can I transfer them to Binance?
Bot? 🤖
tier 4 gpa but planned for 13-4 aps and many ecs, sat practices are around 1530-50, prepping for many competitions ec and academic wise, am i cooked for being a split?
Focus on your ECs/competitions - those help you differentiate from the competition.
Although grades are the most important, past a certain point every applicant starts looking the same. For example, there is negligible difference between a 3.8 and 3.9.
You missed the rich kid with connections. Level 8
I guess I'm level 6, got into Princeton through QuestBridge :D
Amazing! Congrats!!
Congrats! I also did Questbridge and got into Vanderbilt🖤💛🖤💛
@@pythx congrats! I didn’t get into Yale, Princeton, Columbia, or Vanderbilt do Questbridge, but I got into Emory!!!
omg fellow princeton questbridge match here also lol
I would say it's a lot more nuanced. Personally, I feel I have various traits from levels 2-6.
It is! Every applicant is viewed holistically.
@@PrepworksEducation I think this video is an extreme generalization that ignores the fact that a lot of us exhibit traits of all these levels.
Im a locked in (sorta) student
Lol my gpa is level 3 and SAT is almost level 7… sorry mom I tried 😢😂
LOCK IN ON THE GRADES
@ haha too late, better luck next time I guess
The highest level is just doing a niche sport and getting recruited
Not 100% sure about myself, but decently close to level 5 (SAT range, 5 APs this year, passion) but also not very social :/
Awesome! Keeping a balance is key!!
I’m between 3 and 4 but closer to level 4
Thanks for sharing!
A db legends pic in prep works XD
RAHHH
Level 2 should be act score 20-25 otherwise pretty accurate vid (am level 2 gpa 3 student)
Yeah, looking back that was kinda fudged 💀
Im right between level 5 and 6 LMAO
😎
I guess Im level 5
Has done 3 APs (so far) [apes, gov, psych]
4.0 uw, 4.3571 w
currently in hosa (treasurer) + student council (member)
There is MORE that I will do, trust me. Im just a sophomore atm 😭😭
Keep doing what you're doing academically! And you've got PLENTY of time to explore your options for extracurriculars as well :)
I’m a 3.9 with 1050 SAT😭
Test optional policies 🫡
I'm like a bottom to low 4 atm.
Keep up the grind!
Where tf would I even fall if I hate school with a 2.1 GPA but it took no effort to get a 1290 on my SAT 😭😭😭
Idk about my ACT score bc it was graded completely differently based on the sheet they gave me lol
All ik is that they gave me 1 point short of a platinum medal whatever that means all ik is that the ACT wasn't nearly as hard as I thought and I didn't study for either act or sat :L
ahhh, get your grades up! most people are likely a mix of the levels :D
Maybe like average 6 rn. My grades are definitely very competitive for ivies, but my extracurriculars are sorta lacking for an ivy (progress is exponential tho!). I want to go to a top UC school anyways so it works out for me, but I'm still on the grind lol.
Keep it up!! 🫡🫡🫡
All of them got rejected.
😭