Important note about class rank: I got into Yale and I was outside of the top 20% for my class. So don’t be discouraged and think that you need to be top 10% or 5%. I just showed a lot of improvement over my high school career. I improved from getting 2 or 3 Bs in a year to getting straight As later in high school. So if you dropped Bs earlier in your high school career, if you show improvement you don’t have to be top 10% Edit: and take the hardest classes in your school like he said.
I’m a rising senior, and Yale is my Dream school. I just found out that I got a 2 on my AP chem exam, but your video is making me feel a little bit less discouraged.
He is a really nice guy and has a very good positive attitude, he helped me with my queries within minutes. He really do deserve to study not just in yale, but in all ivy league and prestigious college.😊
It's correct! My teacher actually submitted a request to rename it and adjust the curriculum specifically for this class -- he contacted College Board. :) It was amazing!!!
Hello! I’m a sophomore that is possibly interested in attending Yale University. I have a few questions for you: 1. I play clarinet, and I was wondering if band could count as an extracurricular activity. My goal is the obtain a leadership position such as section leader, drum major, or band captain, and if I were to accomplish my goal, I was wondering if that could be something that would count as an extracurricular. 2. I’m worried that my certain achievements could not be as nationally recognized as the examples you provided. Is there any way that you specifically accessed certain opportunities such as the ones discussed in “Awards & Honors (Common App)? 3. How’s the student life/coursework at Yale? Do you like the environment, resources, campus, etc. I wanted to know from a current student attending. Thank you for all of the information that you disclosed! It’s awesome that you’re getting such an experience, and I wish nothing but the best for you!
Hi Austin, thanks for your support! :) 1. 100%! Having a passion for the clarinet and making meaningful change in band is awesome! 2. It's really what you make out of it! Ask your school for any opportunities, no matter how big or small. Academic ones are also feasible (AP Scholar, etc.). 3. I love it! Coursework is what you make out of it, but overall I think Yale is really balanced in all aspects of student life.
I am studying in class XI in the science department of Bangla Medium .. I want to study in needblind university in usa .. I can do science subjects but weak in English. How to take sat preparation .. ??
Hi! I’m a senior and these past few years hasn’t been easy especially when my mother suddenly passed away at the end of sophomore year. Everything got messed up with my grades due to missing a month of school and because of COVID I can’t take the sat. Would I still have a change getting into top schools with my essay ? and is it a bad idea to talk about my situation in my personal essay?
LETS GOOOOOO, ONCE I HEARD THAT THE FRESHMAN YEAR IS TESTING OUT THE WATER (still matters), AND SOPHOMORE YEAR IS THE TIME TO SHINE I GOT SO HAPPY!!!😤😤😤🤠
I’m a junior and I have a 4.3 gpa, so this made my day . I see people be getting 4.96 .I don’t have a class rank at my school. we have a few valedictorians , if you have a certain gpa (which applies to me ) , so I’m a little confused how college will evaluate me with no rank. do you suggest taking the sat subject tests for 2020? I registered for the sat finally . But it’s hard because it’s in the fall , and I was planning to take it before covid 19 canceled all of the tests . Would love to hear back.
Thank you for your comment! I'm pretty sure you can ask your school guidance counselor for a school report -- if anything, maybe they could explain your situation? As always, make sure you can create a "narrative out of your numbers" and do well academically, potentially writing down helpful context in the Common App Additional Information section. Definitely look into your specific college! I would prioritize getting a good score on the SAT, and if you think you have time for SAT Subject Tests to bolster your profile, then go for it! :)
Lovely tips!!! Amazing video!!!!! But I have to say that I would’ve been bitter that I got a near perfect score on the sat and couldn’t even submit it😭 Kudos to you!!!!🍀
Could someone help me out please? I had a D grade in GCSE Math. I sat for my my O level (GCSE) in grade 10 and A Levels (IAL) in grade 11 and 12. In my O levels I had seven subjects, consisting of 3As, 1B, a C in English Language B (which consists of Creative, Directive Writing and Comprehension) and D in Mathematics. My subjects were Commerce, Business Studies, English, Accounting, Econ, Math and Bengali In A levels, I had Accounting, Business and Law and I got As in all three. I also have a pretty solid ‘businessy’ activities list with good leadership positions, internship and volunteering, all included. How much will my US college decisions be affected by the D grade in maths back in o levels? Will a good SAT score help make up for it? I am applying for Business majors in 4 UCs, and 19 other universities.
Ahh, am I that old?! :') I actually have a video on this on my channel about QuestBridge - "FULL RIDE to YALE?! | My QUESTBRIDGE Experience as an Ivy League Student"
Hello! As a fellow Indonesian who’s always had a dream to study abroad, I’ve been wondering how colleges in the US evaluate international students’ applications? My school has a 4.0 GPA scale and does not offer AP classes at all. Based from what I’ve seen in college advice videos, everyone took the APs. Will not taking any AP classes throughout high school affect the entirety of my application? Anyways, thank you so much for making this video!
Valleria Hey Valleria! Apa kabar?? Not taking APs Will not hurt your chances as you're compared to the context of your high school and what YOUR school provides! Do the best with the resources available. :)
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thank you for answering - kabarku baik!!! Hahaha. :D I have another question, if you don’t mind .... Do you recommend self-studying for AP courses and take exams online?
I really want to get into an ivy leauge!! I currently have a good gpa and I am taking several ap classes and I am currently a junior but I feel like I don’t enough extracurriculars or have done things to stand out :/
Hi! my transition from 8th to 9th grade was taugh, I wasn't suppose be to in ESL class in 8th grade but the school put me in that class because there no seats in regular classes, so it didn't prepared me for high school sicne ESL classes were much easier than regular class, it did affetc my 9th grade grades, since there's a big difference in ESL classes and honor classes, I took honor classes in 9th grade. Should I explain that to colleges and they'll understand? Does it count as an extenuating circumstance? Thank you!!
Hi Yeqin! So my younger sister is going through the same situation and you should 100% explain this to colleges, but you should still continue to thrive and strive! I believe in you. :D
I’m a freshman in high school but I was wondering if you doubled up classes for high School? I know some kids that took two science classes or two English classes. I already submitted my classes for next year and I didn’t do that but I was wondering if it was necessary. I’m trying to always take an art class (my other two extra curricular are orchestra and German) so to make it look better, I’m taking AP art next year. I’m not planning on going to college for art, more for some type of engineering or computer science but I find it hard to not take an art class. Long story short, is it worth it to double up or is it ok to take a more chill and less academic class
Doubling up on classes is not necessary, but it depends on your specific school's curriculum! If you need to double up for specific requirements or if you want to show extra passion in a field, then go for it. :) Otherwise, it's totally fine to take a less academic class and prevent burnout. Just stay true to yourself and still try to challenge yourself as much as you can.
Arnold Setiadi awesome thanks! I was planning on taking as many honors and aps as I could (my parents would make me do it anyways haha) so it’s good to hear that I can have some chill classes
Hello, I have a question that if I’m ranked 4th in my class and valedictorian in my school will have 11 AP classes when he/she graduates and I’ll have 8 AP classes. So how does it look to college admissions in my context?
Hello Nguyen! :) I think that you shouldn't worry about others or compare yourself to others as much as you should be focusing on yourself! In your context, that's all up to your college admissions officer (not me), but I can see that you're in the top of your class (#4, wow, you must have worked really hard) and that you're challenging yourself with 8 AP classes. You have the ability to make YOUR story and class rank and course load is only one part of MANY! You're in control and make your story. :D
Arnold Setiadi Wow you’re so nice. I didn’t expect you’d respond since the video has already been uploaded 2 months ago. Thank you so much for your advice. I’m an immigrant and I came to the US 3 years ago. When I first came here, I didn’t know a lot about the college admission process. Thankfully, you’re one of the resources for the college admissions. I watched a lot of your videos when I first came to the States and I was really inspired to do well academically. In my 9th and 10th grades, I lived in a different state. My old school was an IB school so we didn’t have a lot of AP classes and I was already admitted to the IB program in my sophomore year. But then I had to moved to the state I’m currently living in during the summer transition to my junior year. I was really stressed back then with all the new changes and adjustments. But thankfully your videos really inspired me to work hard, push myself, and be resilient. I’ve never aimed to be in the top of my class but as I keep facing new obstacles and push through them, the reward just suddenly comes. Thank you so much for doing these videos. I really admire your hard work and I wish you all the best at Yale.
Nguyen Le Wow, no Nguyen, I admire YOU. Thank you for sharing your story and it's because of your brave experiences and engagement that fuels me to create these videos. You are an amazing human.
Is it a nice idea to write your common app about how you were inspired to choose the field/major you want to study in College and write the whole essay on it given that it will some epiphanies of my life?
There are many other ways the Admissions Officers can evaluate you -- your grades, courseload, transcript trends, GPA, what teachers say about you, what the guidance counselors say about your performance as well. :)
Is there a specific amount af AP classes one should take ? I couldn’t really take as much as I wanted because of my “situation”. Would it really affect my application?
ok so ik i’m 3yrs late but i’m an incoming freshman (yea ik i have a lot of time) and i have two really important questions!! 1. my school doesn’t allow freshman’s to take all honors classes (only ela and math and even then you have to test into them) but since the other classes won’t be as rigorous as others in their freshman yr would my chances go down? and 2. recently all you see are people creating non profits and getting in, do you *have* to do this/would it give you a boost? because ik you should only do things you’re passionate in but in every stats video they all mention starting a non profit and making over 100,000 dollars and at this point it feels like a requirement. (i plan on applying to all the ivies but my top two are yale and princeton)
hi! i’m from connecticut as well and i really admire your awards. is there any specific way i could find more information on them since my interests align with them?
@@ArnoldSetiadi oops, sure! to be more simple, i know it was a while ago for you but do you have links for the events/activities that’s you did for your honors/awards if i wanted more information on them? just wanted to check some of them out
@@alianna4325 In terms of Awards, I'd strongly recommend talking to your guidance counselor and teachers for any opportunities in your city. Some we're specific to my school. The first two related to Questbridge are both you can find online!
Hey Lauren! Thanks for the idea! :) To answer it now, however, it doesn't have to sound professional by any means! As long as your succinct, concise, and get your point across then you're good!
These tips are so helpful! Right now as freshman my extracurriculars are: varsity debate member, hands4hope volunteer, UNICEF club member, schools magazine president and co founder, and accepted SACOG YLA program (we basically learn about policy changes and our community). do you have any other ecs or awards you could recommend based on these interests?
I think that sounds really good! I’m a freshman currently and this is what I’ve done: On varsity girls soccer team, varsity mun debater, my city’s teen council (we give teens a voice on community policies in our city), freshman class president, editor for school news paper, created a non profit helping stray cats be sheltered and nurtured, internship at local hospital, CSF member, Interact (club centering around volunteering and community service at school), also a bunch of other volunteer programs.
Oh so I have no chance 😭 I am a freshman and here is all I have: Varsity Track & Field Team, HOSA (Future Health Professionals) we primarily focus on biology, chemistry, and medicine. We compete at county wide events and interview health professionals. I am also a Student Ambassdor. I haven’t done much because I was planning on focusing on my ec’s/ awards/ honors my sophomore year 💀
Hello! I have a question. I’m a junior and my school doesn’t have AP classes nor harder classes you can take. But every class in my school is considered to be honor class level. Does that affect my chances to get in?
im currently a sophomore, i run 4 clubs alone, in MUN, and do video editing. im planning to do horse riding and volunteer work and i currently have a 4.11 gpa, im from the middle east (Arab country) and wanna major in poli sci! its not usual to get a ''teacher rec'', what can i do to raise my chances of getting in to yale?
Hello! I am a sophomore right now and have a 97 average. My freshmen year average was a 94. My school does not use the 4.0 Gpa. My school is a top ten in the country as well, Stuyvesant High school. I took the SAT and a sophomore and got a 1550. Any recomendations?
Hey Efe! Great to hear from you -- I have friends from Stuy! I would maintain a strong academic profile, while focusing on developing your passions, interests, and extracurriculars!
That's fine! Your guidance counselor will note that in your school report! This is why teacher reccomendations are also great for establishing academic context.
Just make sure your guidance counselor can establish your academic context in other ways! For example, ask them to include the average testing scores at the school, percentile, etc. And make sure you get good teacher reccomendations!
I’m a freshman in high school right now and have a 4.6 weighted (4.0 unweighted) and got a 1400 on the psat in 8th grade (hoping to get a 1600 in 10th). I try so hard in school but whenever I do any of those calculators they give me like 15% it’s so discouraging. Next year would you recommend I take all AP and honors to raise my rank or only take 3 or 4?
For me, I go to a private school that’s pretty cutthroat when it comes to the difficulty of the classes. Also there are a few students (like 10 or so) who were literal geniuses and got 1560s on their first try without studying. We’ve only got 68 kids and my school doesn’t do class rank because of that. Are there other ways to prove that my school is harsh on the gpa without class ranking?
I have a question. I'm a senior and I've been enrolled in an independent study highschool, so there's no AP courses offered. Does class rank still matter for those schools?
Hey Lauren! Constantly challenging yourself is a good thing, but I think Junior year should be most difficult! For example, my Senior year was slightly easier than my Junior year. Don't burn out! Do what you're genuinely interested in but don't be lazy -- keep the grades up. ;D
Do you have any tips on how to advance my course selection for sophomore year? I am currently a freshman and have straight A’s in all of my classes, but take average classes. Due to personal reasons, the last couple summers before high school I could not take advanced math courses over the summer. I know I could take geometry over the summer and do algebra 2 sophomore year, but I don’t think that’s enough. I’m pretty good at math, and wish to skip 2 years, but don’t know how. My guidance councilor dismisses the idea, although my school doesn’t have the best support from them in general. Online courses like BYU let me only take one course over the summer. Do you have any other summer advancement programs that you can recommend that let me take multiple summer advancement courses? My school is very competitive, so if I don’t take the best courses, I fear that I will look like I wasn’t challenging myself through my schedule. Thanks.
Hi Flower Pot! Congrats on setting up a great foundation for your first year. My advice is to keep it simple. Take the most challenging course load that you can handle your Sophomore year that is provided by your school. For instance, I wasn't able to take Algebra II and Geometry until my Sophomore year.
Hi again! I have been waiting for this video for so long:) It was really motivating but I have a tiny question. I am in the best class in my school and my grades are great compared to many students. However, I am not an IB student so I have not taken AP classes during my high school years. Ofcourse I got Chemistry, Physics,Biology, Math, Literature etc. (there is a curriculum that all schools follow) but I can not help concerning about it. Does it create problem when I am applying?
@@ArnoldSetiadi My mistake, I thought IB program includes AP exams too. I haven't researched about it before but as I checked now, they are two different programs. But still, I got neither IB nor AP classes. Only regular curriculum which is offered by ministry of education in my country. Is it possible to apply without having IB or AP diploma? Thanks for answer by the way😅 I should have done more research I guess😶🤓
Bihter Batur You're totally good! You can most definitely get in without AP or IB. Context is important, so do the best you can given what your school offers! If they don't offer AP or IB, then you're fine. For example, my school only offered limited AP classes.
@@ArnoldSetiadi THANK YOU! I have been studying physics for all day but my mind was here. Thank you for setting my mind free by this beautiful and couraging answer! 😊😊😊
Hmm, I'm not sure if it's worth converting into GPA format? Cuz if your school goes based off percentages, colleges will view your application in that context.
Hi. Sorry to bother you again. I just don't know anybody that can answer my questions about applying for Yale, and I talk about Yale all the time, so my parents get often annoyed with me when I start to talk about it again. Your video says that class rank matters. Currently I am 21 out of 355 students and have a 103.5 gpa (about a 4.2 in normal rankings), but I am most likely transfering to a homeschool co-op where there are no GPA ranks or class ranks. Would that hurt my chance of getting into Yale or any ivy league university? Also, I am probably going g to have a lot of more questions, and if you are willing to answer them, you don't have to, is there another way I could contact you (like email or Instagram)?
Hello Emma -- dw, you're not bothering! I don't think it'll hurt your chances as the context of your situation explains why you wouldn't have a ranking anymore! DM me @asianarnold on IG and I'll try to respond to you ASAP. :D
I’m glad you mentioned the additional details section of the common app, specifically using it to describe our SAT score within context of our school. However, should that section be used to write any struggles or issues someone faced that affected their academics or will college admission officers not mind?
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thanks for answering! Also if my SAT score is under 1500 but higher than my schools average, would I just simply state that in a sentence in the additional section?
hi im international student and i want to studyivy league i have a question about my ECs I'll tell you a few of my activities I hope you can tell which ones will work i want to be a pre med student 1-]im tennis player 2 i took neuroscience clup (i think its good because i want to study neuroscience we did some match problem something like that) 3 i took biyomedical and genetic clup(we did medicine we did experiments in the laboratory) 4 i joined edinburgh international awards program 5 I volunteered at the hospital 6 i joined the losev (we did helps to losev patients) 7 and i joined young volunteer clup my last question is i have a bad gpa in my freshman year but i fixed 9th-76 10th-96 11-95 12-97 do you think colleges look over my freshman grade sorryy for my english btw u so cute
Hello, thanks for your comment! :) In general, it's great that you're doing all of these activities. They seem meaningful and what's #1 is if you're truly passionate about them! Do them because YOU want to, and it relates to your interests. Colleges do pay attention to your first year, but your growth and amazing performance for the other 3 years is really good!!!
For anyone who’s feeling down: Romans 8:18 “The pain you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that is coming!” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Whatever is going on right now, have faith, your situation will get better. :) Jesus bless anyone reading this and have a great day!!🥰✨💖
Hey Michelle, thank you for your comment! Honestly, at this point, I don't know so I really can't say -- the moment Yale or other colleges announce any changes, I'll be sure to get back to you or make a video about it! :) If anything, just prepare as you would! Thanks!
Important note about class rank: I got into Yale and I was outside of the top 20% for my class. So don’t be discouraged and think that you need to be top 10% or 5%. I just showed a lot of improvement over my high school career. I improved from getting 2 or 3 Bs in a year to getting straight As later in high school. So if you dropped Bs earlier in your high school career, if you show improvement you don’t have to be top 10%
Edit: and take the hardest classes in your school like he said.
This was really encouraging, thank you so much :) what was your cumulative UW gpa if you don’t mind sharing?
jk my school doesn’t calculate that for us, but I calculated it myself a while ago and I think I had a 3.77 after junior yr
This is so encouraging
What extracurriculars did you do??
I’m a rising senior, and Yale is my Dream school. I just found out that I got a 2 on my AP chem exam, but your video is making me feel a little bit less discouraged.
We're on the same boat Lucy (AP Chem was tough, lol) -- I wish you the best! Have hope!!! :D
howd it go
He is a really nice guy and has a very good positive attitude, he helped me with my queries within minutes.
He really do deserve to study not just in yale, but in all ivy league and prestigious college.😊
Aditya, you are too generous and kind for this world! I genuinely appreciate all of your support, and I wish you nothing but the best in your life. :D
@@ArnoldSetiadi Brother, you are too helpful and supportive, it really melted my heart. Thank you and all the best for you're future.
TOOO underrated😔
Thank you Princess Lia! The channel will continue to grow because of your support!
Great tips! I also make college advice vids and enjoyed watching this! :)
Thank you for the support! Wish you the best on your journey!!! :)
I saw you took a class called AP African American Literature? Is that correct? I didn't know that existed, I always wanted a class like that.
It's correct! My teacher actually submitted a request to rename it and adjust the curriculum specifically for this class -- he contacted College Board. :) It was amazing!!!
omg thankyou for the tips and advices. it really helps me a lot! #IndonesiaForTheWin!
Any time!!! You are very welcome; thank YOU! :) #IndonesiaForTheWin!
Hello!
I’m a sophomore that is possibly interested in attending Yale University. I have a few questions for you:
1. I play clarinet, and I was wondering if band could count as an extracurricular activity. My goal is the obtain a leadership position such as section leader, drum major, or band captain, and if I were to accomplish my goal, I was wondering if that could be something that would count as an extracurricular.
2. I’m worried that my certain achievements could not be as nationally recognized as the examples you provided. Is there any way that you specifically accessed certain opportunities such as the ones discussed in “Awards & Honors (Common App)?
3. How’s the student life/coursework at Yale? Do you like the environment, resources, campus, etc. I wanted to know from a current student attending.
Thank you for all of the information that you disclosed! It’s awesome that you’re getting such an experience, and I wish nothing but the best for you!
Hi Austin, thanks for your support! :)
1. 100%! Having a passion for the clarinet and making meaningful change in band is awesome!
2. It's really what you make out of it! Ask your school for any opportunities, no matter how big or small. Academic ones are also feasible (AP Scholar, etc.).
3. I love it! Coursework is what you make out of it, but overall I think Yale is really balanced in all aspects of student life.
What if my schools does not offer AP classes? I’m an international student...
I am studying in class XI in the science department of Bangla Medium ..
I want to study in needblind university in usa .. I can do science subjects but weak in English.
How to take sat preparation .. ??
I have a 3.3 gpa and I’m in the top 10% :)))))
There we go! :) Continue to work hard and do well within the context of your class and school environment. I believe in you!
Arnold Setiadi Awwwww. Thank you so much! Good luck to you, too. I’m sure that you are going to impact society in an amazing way
Omg me too, is that bad?
Hi! I’m a senior and these past few years hasn’t been easy especially when my mother suddenly passed away at the end of sophomore year. Everything got messed up with my grades due to missing a month of school and because of COVID I can’t take the sat. Would I still have a change getting into top schools with my essay ? and is it a bad idea to talk about my situation in my personal essay?
Hello Arisha, first and foremost, thank yiu so much for your vulnerability and sharing that with me.
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thank you ❤️
LETS GOOOOOO, ONCE I HEARD THAT THE FRESHMAN YEAR IS TESTING OUT THE WATER (still matters), AND SOPHOMORE YEAR IS THE TIME TO SHINE I GOT SO HAPPY!!!😤😤😤🤠
You got this!
How did you qualify for various national Awards as my daughter has been very successful in regional and state competitions ty….
The national awards were via online! For instance, QuestBridge is a national scholarship program and AP Scholar awards are all national!
Boii what a video!So you got in with a similar score as mien! That's great man lets see if I will get in this year!
I'm wishing you the best!!!
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thanks man!
I’m a junior and I have a 4.3 gpa, so this made my day . I see people be getting 4.96 .I don’t have a class rank at my school. we have a few valedictorians , if you have a certain gpa (which applies to me ) , so I’m a little confused how college will evaluate me with no rank. do you suggest taking the sat subject tests for 2020? I registered for the sat finally . But it’s hard because it’s in the fall , and I was planning to take it before covid 19 canceled all of the tests . Would love to hear back.
Thank you for your comment! I'm pretty sure you can ask your school guidance counselor for a school report -- if anything, maybe they could explain your situation? As always, make sure you can create a "narrative out of your numbers" and do well academically, potentially writing down helpful context in the Common App Additional Information section.
Definitely look into your specific college! I would prioritize getting a good score on the SAT, and if you think you have time for SAT Subject Tests to bolster your profile, then go for it! :)
May I ask what country you are from ? I admire your personal achievements !!
The US! :) But my parents are from Indonesia!
Lovely tips!!! Amazing video!!!!! But I have to say that I would’ve been bitter that I got a near perfect score on the sat and couldn’t even submit it😭 Kudos to you!!!!🍀
Thank you for the support!!! Haha, at the end of the day it worked out so I'm glad about that. :))
We don’t have class rank.
Could someone help me out please? I had a D grade in GCSE Math. I sat for my my O level (GCSE) in grade 10 and A Levels (IAL) in grade 11 and 12.
In my O levels I had seven subjects, consisting of 3As, 1B, a C in English Language B (which consists of Creative, Directive Writing and Comprehension) and D in Mathematics.
My subjects were Commerce, Business Studies, English, Accounting, Econ, Math and Bengali
In A levels, I had Accounting, Business and Law and I got As in all three.
I also have a pretty solid ‘businessy’ activities list with good leadership positions, internship and volunteering, all included.
How much will my US college decisions be affected by the D grade in maths back in o levels?
Will a good SAT score help make up for it?
I am applying for Business majors in 4 UCs, and 19 other universities.
Hi! I know this vid is super old but is there a reason you were a finalist for NCM but ended up doing common app?
Ahh, am I that old?! :') I actually have a video on this on my channel about QuestBridge - "FULL RIDE to YALE?! | My QUESTBRIDGE Experience as an Ivy League Student"
Hello! As a fellow Indonesian who’s always had a dream to study abroad, I’ve been wondering how colleges in the US evaluate international students’ applications? My school has a 4.0 GPA scale and does not offer AP classes at all. Based from what I’ve seen in college advice videos, everyone took the APs. Will not taking any AP classes throughout high school affect the entirety of my application? Anyways, thank you so much for making this video!
Valleria Hey Valleria! Apa kabar?? Not taking APs Will not hurt your chances as you're compared to the context of your high school and what YOUR school provides! Do the best with the resources available. :)
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thank you for answering - kabarku baik!!! Hahaha. :D I have another question, if you don’t mind .... Do you recommend self-studying for AP courses and take exams online?
Valleria People do that! Like my girlfriend, for example. If you have the time, for sure! But prioritize actual classes and requirements.
I really want to get into an ivy leauge!! I currently have a good gpa and I am taking several ap classes and I am currently a junior but I feel like I don’t enough extracurriculars or have done things to stand out :/
it would be best to start getting involved now before youre too late n regret it lolol
Hi! my transition from 8th to 9th grade was taugh, I wasn't suppose be to in ESL class in 8th grade but the school put me in that class because there no seats in regular classes, so it didn't prepared me for high school sicne ESL classes were much easier than regular class, it did affetc my 9th grade grades, since there's a big difference in ESL classes and honor classes, I took honor classes in 9th grade. Should I explain that to colleges and they'll understand? Does it count as an extenuating circumstance? Thank you!!
Hi Yeqin! So my younger sister is going through the same situation and you should 100% explain this to colleges, but you should still continue to thrive and strive! I believe in you. :D
I’m a freshman in high school but I was wondering if you doubled up classes for high School? I know some kids that took two science classes or two English classes. I already submitted my classes for next year and I didn’t do that but I was wondering if it was necessary. I’m trying to always take an art class (my other two extra curricular are orchestra and German) so to make it look better, I’m taking AP art next year. I’m not planning on going to college for art, more for some type of engineering or computer science but I find it hard to not take an art class. Long story short, is it worth it to double up or is it ok to take a more chill and less academic class
Doubling up on classes is not necessary, but it depends on your specific school's curriculum! If you need to double up for specific requirements or if you want to show extra passion in a field, then go for it. :) Otherwise, it's totally fine to take a less academic class and prevent burnout. Just stay true to yourself and still try to challenge yourself as much as you can.
Arnold Setiadi awesome thanks! I was planning on taking as many honors and aps as I could (my parents would make me do it anyways haha) so it’s good to hear that I can have some chill classes
Are you now going to sophomore year?
I am
ali habib yep
Hello, I have a question that if I’m ranked 4th in my class and valedictorian in my school will have 11 AP classes when he/she graduates and I’ll have 8 AP classes. So how does it look to college admissions in my context?
Hello Nguyen! :) I think that you shouldn't worry about others or compare yourself to others as much as you should be focusing on yourself! In your context, that's all up to your college admissions officer (not me), but I can see that you're in the top of your class (#4, wow, you must have worked really hard) and that you're challenging yourself with 8 AP classes. You have the ability to make YOUR story and class rank and course load is only one part of MANY! You're in control and make your story. :D
Arnold Setiadi Wow you’re so nice. I didn’t expect you’d respond since the video has already been uploaded 2 months ago. Thank you so much for your advice.
I’m an immigrant and I came to the US 3 years ago. When I first came here, I didn’t know a lot about the college admission process. Thankfully, you’re one of the resources for the college admissions. I watched a lot of your videos when I first came to the States and I was really inspired to do well academically. In my 9th and 10th grades, I lived in a different state. My old school was an IB school so we didn’t have a lot of AP classes and I was already admitted to the IB program in my sophomore year. But then I had to moved to the state I’m currently living in during the summer transition to my junior year. I was really stressed back then with all the new changes and adjustments. But thankfully your videos really inspired me to work hard, push myself, and be resilient. I’ve never aimed to be in the top of my class but as I keep facing new obstacles and push through them, the reward just suddenly comes.
Thank you so much for doing these videos. I really admire your hard work and I wish you all the best at Yale.
Nguyen Le Wow, no Nguyen, I admire YOU. Thank you for sharing your story and it's because of your brave experiences and engagement that fuels me to create these videos. You are an amazing human.
What if I don't have national awards, but only inter school and school level awards.
Don't worry, as there are many other aspects of your application, plus everything is looked at within the context of your school and environment.
what if my high school doesn’t rank??
That's fine! Admission Counselors have different ways of judging for context.
Is it a nice idea to write your common app about how you were inspired to choose the field/major you want to study in College and write the whole essay on it given that it will some epiphanies of my life?
That most definitely sounds like a great idea! Start jotting things down. :)
What if your school doesn’t do class rank?
There are many other ways the Admissions Officers can evaluate you -- your grades, courseload, transcript trends, GPA, what teachers say about you, what the guidance counselors say about your performance as well. :)
Is there a specific amount af AP classes one should take ? I couldn’t really take as much as I wanted because of my “situation”. Would it really affect my application?
There is not a specific amount, you’re totally good! Maybe if you made a not in the Additional Information section, that could be informative!
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thank you so much ! You really helped me with my anxiety ❤️
ok so ik i’m 3yrs late but i’m an incoming freshman (yea ik i have a lot of time) and i have two really important questions!! 1. my school doesn’t allow freshman’s to take all honors classes (only ela and math and even then you have to test into them) but since the other classes won’t be as rigorous as others in their freshman yr would my chances go down? and 2. recently all you see are people creating non profits and getting in, do you *have* to do this/would it give you a boost? because ik you should only do things you’re passionate in but in every stats video they all mention starting a non profit and making over 100,000 dollars and at this point it feels like a requirement. (i plan on applying to all the ivies but my top two are yale and princeton)
hi! i’m from connecticut as well and i really admire your awards. is there any specific way i could find more information on them since my interests align with them?
Hey Alianna! Thanks for commenting -- do you mind being more specific?
@@ArnoldSetiadi oops, sure! to be more simple, i know it was a while ago for you but do you have links for the events/activities that’s you did for your honors/awards if i wanted more information on them? just wanted to check some of them out
@@alianna4325 In terms of Awards, I'd strongly recommend talking to your guidance counselor and teachers for any opportunities in your city. Some we're specific to my school. The first two related to Questbridge are both you can find online!
@@ArnoldSetiadi awesome, thanks so much! :D
How do you think the process will change for the 2020/2021 round due to COVID-19?
Can you make a video about how to phrase things in the additional comments? Do you sound professional or have incomplete sentences?
Hey Lauren! Thanks for the idea! :) To answer it now, however, it doesn't have to sound professional by any means! As long as your succinct, concise, and get your point across then you're good!
These tips are so helpful! Right now as freshman my extracurriculars are: varsity debate member, hands4hope volunteer, UNICEF club member, schools magazine president and co founder, and accepted SACOG YLA program (we basically learn about policy changes and our community).
do you have any other ecs or awards you could recommend based on these interests?
I think that sounds really good! I’m a freshman currently and this is what I’ve done: On varsity girls soccer team, varsity mun debater, my city’s teen council (we give teens a voice on community policies in our city), freshman class president, editor for school news paper, created a non profit helping stray cats be sheltered and nurtured, internship at local hospital, CSF member, Interact (club centering around volunteering and community service at school), also a bunch of other volunteer programs.
Oh so I have no chance 😭 I am a freshman and here is all I have: Varsity Track & Field Team, HOSA (Future Health Professionals) we primarily focus on biology, chemistry, and medicine. We compete at county wide events and interview health professionals. I am also a Student Ambassdor. I haven’t done much because I was planning on focusing on my ec’s/ awards/ honors my sophomore year 💀
If my GPA and class rank was low for a special reason, should i explain that to colleges? Do they actually listen and will recalculate my GPA?
Hey Yeqin! I think it's worth mentioning, but I don't think they'll actually recalculate it. Context is important, however!
Hello! I have a question. I’m a junior and my school doesn’t have AP classes nor harder classes you can take. But every class in my school is considered to be honor class level. Does that affect my chances to get in?
Hey! No it won't! As long as you're doing the best given what your school *does* has. Context is key!
@@ArnoldSetiadi thank you so much!
Would he still get in if he wasn't in low income bucket?
im currently a sophomore, i run 4 clubs alone, in MUN, and do video editing. im planning to do horse riding and volunteer work and i currently have a 4.11 gpa, im from the middle east (Arab country) and wanna major in poli sci! its not usual to get a ''teacher rec'', what can i do to raise my chances of getting in to yale?
i dont have any ap classes offered, or any classes ''offerred''. basically everyone takes the same classes in the same grade.
Hello! I am a sophomore right now and have a 97 average. My freshmen year average was a 94. My school does not use the 4.0 Gpa. My school is a top ten in the country as well, Stuyvesant High school. I took the SAT and a sophomore and got a 1550. Any recomendations?
Hey Efe! Great to hear from you -- I have friends from Stuy! I would maintain a strong academic profile, while focusing on developing your passions, interests, and extracurriculars!
I'm in a similar boat as you! I go to Trinity in NYC (recently accepted). What is your major and do you have an extracurricular recommendations?
What if your school doesn’t give school ranks?
That's fine! Your guidance counselor will note that in your school report! This is why teacher reccomendations are also great for establishing academic context.
I like how I'm watching this with a heccing 3.47UW and a 3.8W :')
What should I do if my school doesn't have a class rank?
Just make sure your guidance counselor can establish your academic context in other ways! For example, ask them to include the average testing scores at the school, percentile, etc. And make sure you get good teacher reccomendations!
@@ArnoldSetiadi okay thank you!
I’m a freshman in high school right now and have a 4.6 weighted (4.0 unweighted) and got a 1400 on the psat in 8th grade (hoping to get a 1600 in 10th). I try so hard in school but whenever I do any of those calculators they give me like 15% it’s so discouraging. Next year would you recommend I take all AP and honors to raise my rank or only take 3 or 4?
Is the background a green screen? 💀
Haha it might seem like it is, but it's actually Pierson library!!!
For me, I go to a private school that’s pretty cutthroat when it comes to the difficulty of the classes. Also there are a few students (like 10 or so) who were literal geniuses and got 1560s on their first try without studying. We’ve only got 68 kids and my school doesn’t do class rank because of that. Are there other ways to prove that my school is harsh on the gpa without class ranking?
I have a question. I'm a senior and I've been enrolled in an independent study highschool, so there's no AP courses offered. Does class rank still matter for those schools?
Hey Michelle! Good question -- I think it still does matter if there is a ranking! Context is important. :D
If we challenged ourselves but not to the full extent, would you recommend we challenge ourselves senior year to the max?
Hey Lauren! Constantly challenging yourself is a good thing, but I think Junior year should be most difficult! For example, my Senior year was slightly easier than my Junior year. Don't burn out! Do what you're genuinely interested in but don't be lazy -- keep the grades up. ;D
Is it ok if I don’t have many extracurriculars for freshman year (I’m a sophomore now)
Of course! Make sure you start building them now and developing them throughout the years. :D
I saw that you were a QB finalist did you match to Yale?
Hello! I was indeed a QB Finalist, but I applied to Yale through SCEA with the Common App! :)
Arnold Setiadi why didn’t you just apply to Yale threw QuestBridge or did you? I’m a little lost😅
Do you have any tips on how to advance my course selection for sophomore year? I am currently a freshman and have straight A’s in all of my classes, but take average classes. Due to personal reasons, the last couple summers before high school I could not take advanced math courses over the summer. I know I could take geometry over the summer and do algebra 2 sophomore year, but I don’t think that’s enough. I’m pretty good at math, and wish to skip 2 years, but don’t know how. My guidance councilor dismisses the idea, although my school doesn’t have the best support from them in general. Online courses like BYU let me only take one course over the summer. Do you have any other summer advancement programs that you can recommend that let me take multiple summer advancement courses? My school is very competitive, so if I don’t take the best courses, I fear that I will look like I wasn’t challenging myself through my schedule. Thanks.
Hi Flower Pot! Congrats on setting up a great foundation for your first year. My advice is to keep it simple. Take the most challenging course load that you can handle your Sophomore year that is provided by your school. For instance, I wasn't able to take Algebra II and Geometry until my Sophomore year.
Awesome!
Ahh, thank you so much!
Hi again! I have been waiting for this video for so long:) It was really motivating but I have a tiny question. I am in the best class in my school and my grades are great compared to many students. However, I am not an IB student so I have not taken AP classes during my high school years. Ofcourse I got Chemistry, Physics,Biology, Math, Literature etc. (there is a curriculum that all schools follow) but I can not help concerning about it. Does it create problem when I am applying?
Hello there friend! :) Thank you for your support! I'm sorry, did you mean that you are an IB student so you haven't taken AP classes?
@@ArnoldSetiadi My mistake, I thought IB program includes AP exams too. I haven't researched about it before but as I checked now, they are two different programs. But still, I got neither IB nor AP classes. Only regular curriculum which is offered by ministry of education in my country. Is it possible to apply without having IB or AP diploma? Thanks for answer by the way😅 I should have done more research I guess😶🤓
Bihter Batur You're totally good! You can most definitely get in without AP or IB. Context is important, so do the best you can given what your school offers! If they don't offer AP or IB, then you're fine. For example, my school only offered limited AP classes.
@@ArnoldSetiadi THANK YOU! I have been studying physics for all day but my mind was here. Thank you for setting my mind free by this beautiful and couraging answer! 😊😊😊
Yoo Ar, how to turn a percent to gpa
Hmm, I'm not sure if it's worth converting into GPA format? Cuz if your school goes based off percentages, colleges will view your application in that context.
@@ArnoldSetiadi Really? Keep in mind I wasn’t schooled in the us.
@@Khaloood125 Yeah, I'm sure they go based off your school's system.
Man, have anyone told how great u r?
@@Khaloood125 Haha, I appreciate your kindness, but YOU are the great one! :)
Hi. Sorry to bother you again. I just don't know anybody that can answer my questions about applying for Yale, and I talk about Yale all the time, so my parents get often annoyed with me when I start to talk about it again. Your video says that class rank matters. Currently I am 21 out of 355 students and have a 103.5 gpa (about a 4.2 in normal rankings), but I am most likely transfering to a homeschool co-op where there are no GPA ranks or class ranks. Would that hurt my chance of getting into Yale or any ivy league university? Also, I am probably going g to have a lot of more questions, and if you are willing to answer them, you don't have to, is there another way I could contact you (like email or Instagram)?
Hello Emma -- dw, you're not bothering! I don't think it'll hurt your chances as the context of your situation explains why you wouldn't have a ranking anymore! DM me @asianarnold on IG and I'll try to respond to you ASAP. :D
@@ArnoldSetiadi Ok. Thank you.
Why am I watching this i already committed to college
I mean, I'm not complaining... 🙄 Haha, thanks for the support! Congrats on committing! Where?
@@ArnoldSetiadi Hey, thanks for the reply! I love your content. And I committed to Yale, actually :) See you in the fall!
Boola Boola!!! CONGRATS! See you in the fall! :DD
I’m glad you mentioned the additional details section of the common app, specifically using it to describe our SAT score within context of our school. However, should that section be used to write any struggles or issues someone faced that affected their academics or will college admission officers not mind?
Hey Royal! That section can definitely be used to write struggles and issues you faced that affected your academics! :)
@@ArnoldSetiadi Thanks for answering! Also if my SAT score is under 1500 but higher than my schools average, would I just simply state that in a sentence in the additional section?
@@royalflutes Yes!
@@ArnoldSetiadi thanks!
Also thanks for the good content
Thank YOU!
Emailed :) Thank you!
Received! :)
Good quality
Thanks so much, Araash!
ty!!!
How did you study to improve your SAT English score from a 680 to an 800? I got a 690 on mine and I really want to raise it into the mid-high 700s.
I did a lot of practice tests!
keep doing big things
Thank you so much Caleb!
@@ArnoldSetiadi no problem always enjoy your videos! maybe one day you'll give me a tour of yale
Ada kk Patrick
Haha, yes!
hi im international student and i want to studyivy league i have a question about my ECs I'll tell you a few of my activities I hope you can tell which ones will work i want to be a pre med student 1-]im tennis player 2 i took neuroscience clup (i think its good because i want to study neuroscience we did some match problem something like that) 3 i took biyomedical and genetic clup(we did medicine we did experiments in the laboratory) 4 i joined edinburgh international awards program 5 I volunteered at the hospital 6 i joined the losev (we did helps to losev patients) 7 and i joined young volunteer clup my last question is i have a bad gpa in my freshman year but i fixed 9th-76 10th-96 11-95 12-97 do you think colleges look over my freshman grade sorryy for my english btw u so cute
Hello, thanks for your comment! :) In general, it's great that you're doing all of these activities. They seem meaningful and what's #1 is if you're truly passionate about them! Do them because YOU want to, and it relates to your interests. Colleges do pay attention to your first year, but your growth and amazing performance for the other 3 years is really good!!!
@@ArnoldSetiadi
do my chance decrease because of the freshman year :(
Is that Aquaman Nice video
Arigato! :)
For anyone who’s feeling down:
Romans 8:18 “The pain you’ve been feeling can’t compare to the joy that is coming!” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Whatever is going on right now, have faith, your situation will get better. :) Jesus bless anyone reading this and have a great day!!🥰✨💖
Thank you, have a great day too!
How do you think the process will change for the 2020/2021 round due to COVID-19?
Hey Michelle, thank you for your comment! Honestly, at this point, I don't know so I really can't say -- the moment Yale or other colleges announce any changes, I'll be sure to get back to you or make a video about it! :) If anything, just prepare as you would! Thanks!