I think instead of looking for a well-rounded student, they look for more of a well-rounded class. A student who has extreme passion and dedication towards a certain subject area is probably what they wanted rather than a student trying to get involved with everything. You are an amazing student, just didn't quite find your passion
This is true because my daughter just got admitted to 4 out of 5 ivys. She did all by herself without any coaching or guidance but she did use the specialization technique versus generalization
As someone who regularly interviews global STEM talent, starting with MS and PhDs, I can usually glance at a resume or application and know what their potential and capabilities are in just a few minutes. Irrespective of someone's Ivy league pedigree and setting aside a candidate's stellar academic achievements, I want to know *who* they are, what drives them, i.e., what makes them tick and, of course, what they want to do. In the professional world, there are other criteria we look for which apply less to your situation, but know these include strategic vision, structured thinking and, well, general pragmatism. Now, you're coming out of high school so it's understandable you might not know what you want to do, but as this video highlights, laser-focused clarity would've given you an edge over your competitors. Many candidates I see did 1-2 things well since they were very young, e.g., coding/building apps/games/played an instrument/chess/etc since age 9. Another started a Hispanic bank in high school, raised $2M and lent money to low-income members of his community. He didn't have a two-page list of clubs and activities. But if you don't have that experience, strive for depth and precision, which will naturally highlight 'passion' versus the other candidates who *say* they're passionate about [insert trend here]. Examples: "I want to research cures for retinopathy..." or "...research and develop biomedical (non-resection) alternatives to [insert type of] cancer " "I want to pursue quantum computing, especially to solve problems in area [X]" or "...computer science to research better ways to mitigate large-scale disinformation/propaganda using generative adversarial networks and large scale language models..." "...research and (eventually) build a company that specializes in micro-plastic and related industrial/environmental hazard remediation..." (ok, you want to be an entrepreneur, but so do many other business majors with lesser qualifications than yours... tell me what and why exactly!) Lastly, know your audience - whether it's attending a networking event, an interview, a public presentation or an application. Those reviewing your application probably *do* read The New York Times, The Economist, etc., among others (this is in reference to a prior video you posted). Take a day and actually read through a Sunday edition of the NYT and you will find some of the best writing (along with ideas for essays and careers) on Earth there... just staggering talent and brilliant stories every single day. It would've also helped focus your essay(s) and help you tap into narrative styles that engage the reader. As for favorite books - the same rules apply... everyone read Harry Potter, but "Wait, this wAmy candidate loved the Brothers Karamazov, Nabokov's Lolita - but Appel's Annotated Edition...now this is interesting..." Given your stellar academic achievement, I'm sure will do fine no matter where you land. Some of our best hires have been valedictorians and high achievers from *non-Ivy league* schools. Good luck!
unless you major in english and put all novels cause you want to become an actual novelist i think harry potter is fine but only if you want to specialize in creative writing but I would imagine someone focusing on creative writing would make a much more interesting introduction like "Every time, I open my eyes, I can feel the pain in my chest as I try to put my dreams into words. I greatly fear that sinking feeling that my dreams will be forgotten.."
Many people say that elite schools care about what kind of a person is and what drives them. They care more about how much passion and determination a person can have than their academics though academics is also important enough. But no one actually tells anyone what makes the person reading the application think that this applicant is special and how they know which seed will have the tree with the sweetest fruits. No one can objectively say how a student can be better than thousands of other world champions
Thanks for writing this thoughtful and helpful comment. I agree that it’s more about what you do and many other points. Regarding Harry Potter - I was trying to be genuine and not make everything look like I was trying to get into college haha
What differentiates you is after rejection you had the fortitude to seek help to determine why they rejected you and the magnanimity to share it with others. Don't worry or regret. Live well. i think Harvard made a mistake. It happens.
@@yulin114 Hi! I will ask my parents if they know, but I’m sorry to say we might not be able to help because the doctor who helped me as a baby is no longer alive and that’s why my sister still has eczema :(
I was a National Merit Scholar and more qualified than most of my classmates. I went to subpar schools in a violent and poor neighborhood in a poor crime ridden city. I had to navigate gangs and racist schools and thugs on the way to and from school. We had no tutors and no way to get help with homework. i was receuited by over 100 schools, none for sports. I was MVP, all conference in football and track and field and went to a top 20 law school. My goddaughter was raised by an immigrant single parent, domestic violence victim. I live in Berkeley and took my goddaughtetr to visit Cal. She hated it because it lacked diversity. She is Asian and my wife and I are Black. We love her a great deal and she loves us. She was admitted to Ivy league schools but goes to an excellent school in California. Harvard is not heaven. What you make of the experience is on you. This is from a former UC law school admissions officer.
FYi You got recruited for being black. Its also why you got everything else. Outside of legacy jewish whites there are a total of ZERO white christian men in ivy league schools. ZERO!! Hasn't been for many decades.
@@drsuicide8474 I believe that race comes into play in virtually everything that happens in the world. I would be naive to think that being Black was not a factor but name me all of the National Merit Scholars who were great students, All-Conference in 2 sports and, earned a prestigious fellowship AND internship before going to a top law school. My race was a big plus as NO other students have done such and my example is used by my college to recruit others. It is obvious you are not a graduate of a quality college as your allegations are baseless. It's typical of people who want to blame the Black guy for their shortcomings. Diversity is necessary because you need different points of view in class etc. Also, look at schools like UC Berkeley that lack diversity where you can walk around campus and not see any Black people. That is a huge detriment when recruiting. Look at their football team and look at Alabama or Ole Miss where the student body looks more like America.
“More qualified” doesn’t really exist after one is qualified. You just have better scores. But if one meets the minimum qualifications, they are , by definition, qualified. One is either qualified or not.
Yes, I indeed have been wanting to show my other sides - I just didn’t know other people would care, so thanks for letting me know! In the meantime, I do have some videos where I dive into my thoughts and concerns like this: th-cam.com/video/L0uDVR0-uts/w-d-xo.html
@@wamyy5 Harvard practices affirmative action. Definitely stopped you getting into one of them. Asians are discriminated against in affirmative action more then caucasians. I personally believe in giving people who have a hard lot in life a chance that normally wouldn’t have one, but deciding that based on race is unfair, rather then examining each person as a individual.
Excellent advice given! However, the whole process makes me reflective and sad. Many bright, lower income students lack the resources to fund lots of activities and experiences that promote self-discovery. I was one of those kids, no summer camps, childhood sports etc. I supposed there's always volunteer work, but a savvy adult mentor to encourage and motivate out-of-the box thinking is critical.
Yeah totally agree! I feel you. Even though people may think I had great opportunities, one critical thing I was missing was the proper advice and mentorship. It’s tough being first gen immigrant kids
Non-traditional student here! I recently got out of the military after 14 years and have been in community college for the past year. I’ve done pretty well and in the process of applying to transfer to a 4 year University. Ultimately I plan to go to medical school (was an army medic) and originally I was aiming for a decent state school. Until this summer. I worked with a nonprofit organization made for veterans attending college called the Warrior Scholar Project and they offer educational ‘boot camps’ at the best universities across America in STEM, humanities, and business. I attended the MIT boot camp in July. The experience was mind blowing, getting taught physics from MIT professors and phd candidates was insane. And what was even more amazing was watching my cohort and myself grasp the material and slowly gain confidence. Most of us were NOT excellent high school students, we did not imagine we would be at MIT discussing exoplanets and physics. Towards the end of the boot camp, we had their admissions reps come down and speak to us. They talked about their admissions process and how we all had a genuine shot if we A. Showed recent academic success at community college B. Could write compelling essays. What was kind of a ‘cheat code’ being a non traditional student with 14 years of military experience we have a very generous amount of material to fall back on. Seeing an generic essay question of “talk about facing a difficult moment in your life” gives me pause to answer not because I don’t know what to write, but because I’ve faced so many hardships after 4 deployments I need to figure out how to craft the answer in the best possible light. I’m wrapping up my applications now, with my now top choice being Princeton. I don’t know if I’ll get in, but I commend everyone aiming high because dreamers like us will typically do something compelling to change the future regardless. Good luck to everyone on their higher education journey, especially the old guys like me.
I have always thought that people with atypical journeys in school or jobs are the most interesting people to interview and hire. They can adapt super easily.
I get that you were rejected, I was as well in highschool and I had 1.5 years of college under my belt. The difference was that the Ivy league school that wanted me, rejected me, only later to find out my application never made it to the Native American representative. Infact it was no where to be found which only can conclude a error on their part. This was brought up in an embarrassing way at a lunch and I got an apology since they missed out on an opportunity with me. I know they had accepted someone who wrote about me in her essay that same year. I knew her and felt sorry that she didn't prosper there. At the end of the day, Stanford would have been the worst decision for me & my family. The amount of money I saved helped us as a unit to get a 30 acre farm that I am building my dream pink barn on to live in. I am not even 30 now and I have lived more of a life than most people. So much prosperity came from not waisting money on a piece of paper and to have no student loans from my Cal State which prepared me to take risks. In college I got paid to speak at various places, I got to go to the Whitehouse for dinner, be featured in books, have my art in a museum, and scored a prop deal with a major movie company. My current job pays more than anything I ever did in my field of study and I am happy than I ever have been. I will say that it took me a long time to reach this point, but it does get better. If I could tell myself one thing back then it would be to get over it fully and take more risks. Ivy leagues are not meant to have every student, and cant provide every opportunity that changes lives. Only you can
admissions readers are human. rule #1 - you have to be distinctive amongst literally tens of thousands of people JUST LIKE YOU. but therein lies your edge - year in and year out, the same kinds of people with the same perfect grades, write the same kinds of personal statements about themselves. this is advice most have heard, but implementing this advice, now that's the real now trick isn't it? :)
true, i think the main issue was she writes like a journalist detailing about her environment, but has nothing that actually tells us about herself if she used a first person introduction immediately, im sure it would've been more interesting than writing about lanterns like she was writing for a tourism brochure
@@madhatten00 did she add feeling to it? Did it made the person feel anything while reading her essay? As far as i know, i seen some “best” Harvard essays that made the reader laugh, cry, or smile.
@@charlesdarwin5185 I'd say the EU/British systems are better. (A mixture of your grades, how well you did on admissions tests, super-cirriculars, interviews and a personal statement that doesn't actually impact much)
The problem with the essay is that you did not tell the reader enough about yourself. We did not get a sense of "who is Amy?" Learning about being empathetic, etc., is just pedestrian and something that anyone could have said. It's why college essays are so hard to write. It is literally a master class in learning how to BS.
This. Talked too much about China than yourself. Should have picked a specific moment and spent 10% on explaining the moment, and 90% on how you grew through the moment.
Bingo ! "...a master class in learning how to BS." Which is the formerly elite schools today have no idea of what kind of intellectual activity they are admitting into their freshman classes and why formerly second tier schools now get the most talented students.
@@ichangedmyusernamebecausei2551 It’s just so fucking stupid. Everyone in my graduating class who got into a T14 school embellished their results. They lacked integrity, lying about their positions and skills. Some of them even had the positions, but never devoted any time to actually bettering the work they did. They were so hyperfocused on going to an ivy school they were willing to stomp on more than qualified people just to make sure they’d be the only ones with the golden ticket. The whole system is fucked and the greedy will always beat the needy. Fuck the American education system and fuck the ivies. I’ve seen too many shitty people rise to the top on the backs of others for admissions.
One thing I got clear seeing her all videos is that admission readers wants to know you personally by the application you wrote. That's crazy how she's unknowingly helping people out with their confusions.
I love how you turn your failures into growth and advice for others! You also show how being perfect isn’t the key to everything and I love that a lot! ❤
What you don't realize is you're competing against other Asians and not against the entire study body. Harvard doesn't want too many Asians since they need to leave some space for other kind of students. As a result, small weaknesses in your essay can make or break getting in since your competition is so tough.
Don’t even know how this video popped up. I never was interested in Ivy League college so I don’t have a valid opinion, but through out my 30 years of life and evaluating this acceptance process whether through movies and whatnot, I think it’s about being authentic and knowing how to present yourself. So many students wants to join these college for shallow reasons, but that doesn’t beat someone going to a school they know they belong in and it will definitely show in their essay.
99% Percentile is as high as you can go! I believe that alone differentiates an individual from many people. You are young and the future is bright. You will find something to specialize in and when you do you will get to 99th percentile of that as well. I appreciate how you talk about rejection in a healthy and constructive way, and this mindset will only improve your likelihood of success in future endeavors. Just seeing you work hard inspires me to work hard and plan to go to Grad school. Thank you, Don
Wow, Don! Thanks so much for your thoughtful words and encouragement! I believe that hard work is what helped me do the things you said :) Also, I appreciate you pointing out looking at rejection using a constructive way. That's how we can let each "failure" lead to success. I'm so happy I can inspire you. It seems you have a great mindset. Wishing you the best as well!
I know how difficult this can be, especially because I went through a similar experience when I was in high school. My parents are hardworking immigrants, which inspired me to do everything possible to get into Princeton University. Aside from the institution's prestige, I had actual reasons for going there. I seemingly did everything right, but it just wasn't enough. I, too, investigated discrimination against Asian Americans in the application process, and it really hurt. I ultimately went to a state university for my undergrad and felt depressed every morning for almost a whole year. However, that state university gave me the space to shine and grow as a person in ways that have permanently changed me for the better. I applied to Harvard University for my graduate studies, and I was accepted. I know it's tough right now, but I want to say that you clearly have the brilliance and wisdom now to succeed in your future education. You will have no problem being a success, because you are already one.
At least now Asian students are aware that the requirements and standards are much higher for Asian students. Back when I applied, people didn't know that fact, so I was left wondering how did my best friend with C's get into MIT (he is 1/8th under-represented minority) but I being valedictorian with top math awards did not. I think if I had known about the fact that the odds are stacked against Asians, I wouldn't have taken the rejection as hard as I did. Just like you, I was depressed every day that I was at my safety school wishing that I was at MIT. In the end you learn that some things are out of our control and we just have to pivot the best we can.
@@SO-jp6gh they don't need another valedictorian with math. they need students who can handle the academics, but who actually has a soul and a drive to do something important in life because they have something they truly care about. you come off as a cookie cutter grades-first applicant. and the delusional blaming on the institution is not a healthy sign at all.
omg it's ridiculous you didn't get into any ivies. back in the mid 90s, with my resume which was way inferior to yours, I got waitlisted at stanford and got into the 2/3 ivies (brown and cornell) I applied to, and of course got rejected by Harvard. Things have changed so much since. My daughter will be looking at colleges in 4 years so seeing this is really alarming to me.
RY, I got into Harvard with a significantly worse gpa and scores than the person in this video. I wanted to study (and wrote about) a very niche intersection between art, education and informal learning opportunities. I wrote about being a nanny and my admiration of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy and how these things shape my life and goals. From my experience, Harvard doesn’t necessarily want all the same great students who all have the same great grades; they want a mix of people with diverse skills, passions and talents who show they can preform at the highest level. Harvard wants an interesting student body. If you are a polymath, you have to sell the thread that underlines all your skills and tie it into one narrative. I think if the OP had maybe written about how math and tennis collide, they could have gotten in.
@@wamyy5 How in the world did you get so many 5's on your AP? Did you study them over the summer or did you simply have time during the school year? By the way, you should be proud, regardless of whether or not you got into an Ivy League, you would have done amazing.
@@roxiethecockapoo1138 thank you! I did not prepare over the summer and I actually had many extracurriculars like varsity sports! I didn’t have more time than my peers, but this is what I did! : th-cam.com/users/shortsu8cEenbHIFY?feature=share
That was EXACTLY how we were taught to write essays in high school, right down to the quote at the end. Even valedictorian speeches sound like that. Most people don't learn how to sell themselves until they have to write cover letters for jobs.
While visiting Yale University on a campus tour, the student guide was asked about her admission to Yale. Her response: she was a passionate baseball fan and considered herself an expert on facts and statistics of the game. That interest (and, perhaps, combined with her gender) made her application stand out. True story.
Along that line , a friend who interviewed for an office / computer related job said that after briefly glancing over the education & job history parts of her resume , the interviewer focused on her two hobbies , a car club & showing horses , w/ a lengthy yet casual discussion . She felt sure that her diverse interests clinched her getting the job.
I really admire you sharing your experience so others can learn and get a better chance to get into their dream school! By the way, I am so impressed that you can do so much in such limited time, awesome time management! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Harvard has admitted -in court - that they intentionally discriminate against Asian students. (The case is pending before the Supreme Court) That may have mattered more than anything you could have written on an essay.
if the essay was actually good, and the applicant clearly had a strong, dedicated lifelong pursuit, that may have been the case. but the essay was not only bland, but had serious, serious problems to it. so that gave them a legitimate reason to reject, along with the lack of using that essay to explore what the applicant's singular focus was.
@@darkiepoo8949 It's easy to pick somebody else's work apart. Even successful, professional writers receive this sort of criticism. Realistically, an 18 year old who has a "dedicated *lifelong* pursuit" is probably embellishing the truth a bit.
If you have something that you are passionate about, you will still have that wonderful thing to sustain you even if you don’t get into a particular school. The passion will be more important to you than getting into the school will be.
Hi, Amy, I wouldn't dwell so much about being rejected from Harvard but I'd be very happy with a BS from Caltech because it will open many doors to attractive career paths in the future!
if she’s dwelling on it, she wouldn’t even be able make video like these - she’s using it as an opportunity (i mean it in the best way possible) to help others and profit by making it into a youtube content. just a thought from first time watching her video.
@@kyungminnam Both of your comments just prove the OP's point. Also, I do no think they were being rude, but your responses were a bit. Anyhow, I wish you the best. You had fantastic stats and others, but your essay needed so much help. Make the best out of it, build relationships and have fun! You can always apply back for grad school.
As a writing enthusiast, it was pretty easy for me to see what was wrong with your essay even without watching the consultation. For the most part, it was cliche and without personality. I predicted that when you returned to see the doctor he would have died before you mentioned it. The people at Harvard might have been more intrigued with you and what you have to offer if you wrote with more character and passion, since from what I saw you just retold what happened with a generic theme to tie it together and make it seem like an event that had a huge impact on you. I hope this doesn’t come off as mean, since this is just what I noticed. I know it’s probably hard to make a great essay about what changed you as a person for a team of admission officers without it sounding like a love letter to yourself or the blandest thing imaginable.
amy i really wanna tell you being interested in a lot of things is good like it's best because you can experience new things and will not regret sacrificing your energy for one thing you have a lot of potential and you can use it in a lot of things not just one thing ......... i really wanna thank you for helping student out there and not asking for anything the last Quote really match you amy you are like a big sister for me helping not just in study but in also other things if you are reading this you are a super heroin of students
Good video. Thank you for posting it 😊. Don’t beat yourself up too much, it’s hard to say if the advice would have made a difference. Let’s also remember that Harvard is currently being sued for discriminating against Asian applicants.
Reason #1 - there is no spot reserved for you. Schools like Harvard receive tenfold the number of qualified applicants than admitted. Any student who does not understand this from the outset, is probably less qualified than they think. Reason #2 - your essay is one time you should be talking about yourself. Don't use empty phrases like "living life to my fullest potential." What did you do? What does it mean for your future pursuits? Show me, don't tell me. Keep in mind that top schools will get in the neighborhood of 40,000 essays. Take a risk. Open in Mandarin. Be creative. Make your essay the one that is not forgotten but the one passed to other readers as a must read. Tip: Show your creative spark. Ironically, wAmy shows it in channel about being rejected. For interview be able to answer the question why you want to attend school X with more than, "it is a tough school that I know will challenge me." Exploit any unfair advantage you might have. If you know someone who went to Harvard, have them read your essay. Does your school have a college counselor? Get advice. Can you make a campus visit? Do it.
Not directly related to this but I am jealous of anyone able to know what direction they want to go with in their life by high school graduation. Despite being near top of my class in High School I couldn't even finish the first step of college at a community college because I had no drive. School wasn't hard enough so it didn't push me into anything, but because I wasn't top 3 of my class literally no colleges wanted me and I could not afford anything other than a community college. The lack of extracurricular activities was the nail in the coffin for scholarships, because my Crohns Disease made it infeasible to stay after school or really do anything. When I started college I felt so defeated that I couldn't push past my health issues and finish. If only they didn't make it seem like it's a bad thing to go to a community college. But absolutely everything was placed on how important it was to get in to one of these ivy league level colleges. Now I am 30, in poor health, and still no direction in life. It left me a failure of a human who is stuck relying on family to even survive. If I hadn't been made to be a failure for having to go to community college maybe I would be somewhere now.
You’re not a failure ❤️ you’re an amazing person and going to community college is better than not going at all. This was years ago don’t be too hard on yourself and focus on the moment is the best advice I could give you! Have a great day and I pray your health is better 🙏
Don't get discouraged, you have a whole life ahead of you. You will keep living. Why not live with the purpose of still trying to find yourself, even if you think it's too late
@@user-ct5ni6zl1b 8 Months later and still nothing. I lose motivation by the day, and it only feels like my health continues to get worse. How the hell am I supposed to figure things out when i have nothing for me?
Wow these videos are so great to see. I'm very bad at receiving rejection. For you to be so open and reflecting at what you did wrong just to help us all. I can tell how brave and nice that is!! I hope you ended up in a great place anyway ❤
Not everything is about grades. Top American schools like Harvard and Stanford wants people that are world class at something outside academia, something very specific (e.g. Tiger Woods at golf, Elon Musk at starting businesses). Perfect grades are NOT enough. If academia is your only niche, apply to top UK colleges like Cambridge or Oxford.
But what gold has to do with becoming a doctor? Sorry I don’t get the whole assay about your “passion”in USA. European system is more fair and most importantly transparent. You got the grade you enter, that’s it. No one cares about your hobbies.
It might be useful to look at the application slightly differently, rather than who you are and what you want, look at it from their perspective, who do they want. You have been involved in a lot of different activities and done well in each but as your coach says, it would be better to be more focused on those things that center on your academic goals and achieve a significant accomplishment on that path. If you want to study biology your accomplishments on the tennis court are a sideshow. Consider too, where you are (i.e. high school senior), if you plan on studying medicine they don't expect you focus on curing some obscure disease but if you developed skills in first aid and taught first aid at a summer camp and maybe helped train others that would show a focus. You might also consider who they want generally, they might be wanting more minority and third world students in their base, you are asian but that no longer counts here.
u do know u can be asian & from a third world country...right? & they stopped the "aesthetics/pageant competitions as college admissions" back when jim crow laws were outlawed...race no longer matters since then...or whatever ur trying to imply.
@@TK-nw3bc medical major requires someone who can handle extremely intense academics which then translates into competence when dealing with people's lives. not having clean grades is absolutely unthinkable.
@@darkiepoo8949 should we get international olypmaid medals in highschool. And what about other sports or cultural achievements at national level? Are they really important
My daughter is at Stanford. The sad fact is that these top schools now carve up the incoming freshman class and unless you fill a specific slot, there is simply no room for you. If you're a minority (especially African American), recruited athlete, first in your family ever to go to college, child of an alum, etc. there might be a spot for you. If you're an excellent white or Asian highschool student with lots of APs, top grades and terrific extracurricular activities, you're a dime a dozen to these schools. They are taking 1 in 30 applicants. There is no way you'll get the nod. It's very unfortunate, but that's the reality. The reality also is that you can get just as good an education at many other schools. Ultimately it doesn't matter much where you went to undergrad. I'm a recruiter who has placed CEOs for 25 years. Most did not go to a top name school.
@Jenifer R Daniels Have you ever stopped to consider that its because too many American students have perfect grades and nothing else going for them? To get into Harvard, Stanford, MIT or any other top US college you need to be world class at something outside academia that is likely to make you very successful. E.g. golf, F1, born royalty, your dad is Obama, good actor/actress. Anything like that.
1. To the Quik: 🐬In brevity, the [Impossible] is [Possible]!🐦 2. To the Point: 🐬What's the [Drawback]? [Negativity] instead of [Positivity].🐦 3. 🐬Amy, at every step, of her [Ivy League Choices], was met with [Negativity].🐦 4. To Note: 🐬(a) She ranked [#1 in her Class]. (b) She "excelled" in all other [Ivy League Admission Categories]. 5. 🐬[Consistent Negativity], at such a [High level of Excellence] & [Personal Courage], shows [Extreme Bias] that's uncalled for, especially, at the [Ivy League Level].🐦 6. 💎A Personal POV: (a) Amy "exemplifies" [Excellence] & [Personal Courage] in "everything she does". (b) She "excels" without being distracted!🐦 7. 🐬[Admission Errors occur].🐬When [Admission Errors are made [Consistently] then [Extreme Bias] is realized!🐦 8. 🎀Yours truly, Jamieson (PF) Steele where the [Blue Eyed Lion] is a [Facebook Meta Outcome]! 9.🐬[Al] for Remedy!🐦
Too much emphasis is placed on attending a “dream school.” Focus on attaining dream knowledge, dream understanding, and dream skills. As you do, keep making and fostering new connections to the world you wish to inhabit. You will inevitably find yourself part of that world. But take heed to chose wisely and be willing to adapt yourself and your end goals as you evolve your values and priorities so your life leaves you not only successful but fulfilled.
Great honesty and willingness to be open. 2 things: 1) Has your sister tried Dupixent (a newer medication called a monoclonal antibody) or something similar? 2) This piece of advice is both unsolicited and after the fact, so take it for what it is. It may not be helpful for your college entrance essay, but may be helpful for future writing. I would have started your essay with your initial thoughts "How different it is..."...immediately draws your reader into an emotional frame of mind that makes them wonder. THEN, you go into some kind of establishing paragraph of where you are. You don't have to throw in as much detail/verbiage as you did...it bogs down the flow. Sometimes less is more. But this is a fantastic premises of an essay. Really well thought out. Okay, gonna shut up now.
Really appreciate your comment! No, my sister has not tried that - I’ll let her know to look into it. And thank you for the essay advice. With my current knowledge and experience, I agree that your intro would’ve been more effective :)
girl i'm so sorry you didn't get into any ivies, it feels like u tried really hard and now you're helping people. i wish that u could get into an ivy but at the same time i wouldn't wish it cuz it's crazily competitive (you're just gonna work so hard in HS, then you get into an ivy and there's more work). i wish people could be told that whatever school they get into, they're gonna be okay. i wish ppl were told that from an early age. i wish people were told that this whole ivy and competitive colleges' applications are just toxic and damaging and we should just stray away from it. but life is a mystery cuz u learn things on your own.
Ah thanks for your nice comment! Yes, I’m really thankful that at least now I can help other people and also let more students know that the college admissions game indeed has many things wrong/toxic about it. You’re right that life is just a journey we have to learn from!
We learn so much more from our failures. Remember as well, you can do everything right and work really hard, and it does not pay off. Bad things happen to good people all the time.
99% Percentile is as high as you can go! I believe that alone differentiates an individual from many people. You are young and the future is bright. You will find something to specialize in and when you do you will get to 99th percentile of that as well. I appreciate how you talk about rejection in a healthy and constructive way, and this mindset will only improve your likelihood of success in future endeavors. Just seeing you work hard inspires me to work hard and plan to go to Grad school. Thank you, Don
Your grades and achievements are stellar, but I felt that you tried too hard to make your essay sound impressive such that it lacked authenticity. In and of itself the essay is excellent writing, but it just felt like something was missing. At any rate, don't give up on your dream of attending an Ivy League college. There are also opportunities to enter these colleges at the graduate level, to do a Masters or PhD, if you decide on furthering your studies in future. I was never good enough at the undergraduate level to attend these institutions, but picked up an SM from MIT a bit later in life, after working for a few years.
the writing was not good whatsoever. no style, no substance, no understanding of narrative flow, no progression and advancement of ideas and concepts, no strong effort to build up to a compelling piece. even the word choices and sentence structures were sloppy.
i’ve read a few of these, ones that did get in show a strong sense of self, the writer is able to effectively communicate who it is they are and through these experiences activities passion projects all served to discover or build what it was they identified with
That being said, eczema, in the grand scheme of things, is not a subject of global gravitas, no matter how important it is to you. It also has a "flaky" connotation, which I am sure is not the image you wish to project, no matter how skillfully you wordsmith other thoughts around the topic.
I know ppl who went to Harvard, and ppl who passed it by once admitted. My doctor's kids did not even apply there, but went to a great school that was also a smaller liberal arts school. Her reasoning was because if they went to Harvard, everyone is a shining star and it would not nourish students who want to try new things. For example, a choir at Harvard would have all of the shining star singers and anyone who was a beginner or even great singer might not have a spot, because of all of the phenomenal talent already there. A great-but-lesser-known school would have more opportunities for students to try things. Isn't going to college supposed to be about learning new things? I personally love being able to learn new things, so accessibility is important to me. A great lesser known school would still give you contacts and a chance to prove yourself. Then if you are really still craving Ivy, go to grad school.
I think all this is going to make people not even want to go to the Ivys. Way to much drama. Free your mind to be creative. Steve Jobs went to Reed college and Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard,, I don’t think you need this kind of drama to be successful. All this might produce a bunch of stressed out non productive individuals.
You are a great student with a lot of potential. The main reason I think you were not accepted is that colleges especially Ivy League love a student who sticks to one thing and isn't an all-rounded type of student. Your essay was outstanding, but it was hard to find your personality who you are as a character, and what your main thing is doing. overall, I think you should have stuck to one topic/ theme and expanded it based on that theme then you would have gotten in. Anyway, have a wonderful future.
I’d say the biggest knock against your essay is that it was all about you( but not in a good way). Your health issues, your travel to China for a cure, your return to China, your epiphany about others. Now if you’d written that that following your 1st trip to China, you reformulated his cure and distributed it for cost to hundreds and kept stats how many you helped, that might have played better. You would have shown the committee that following a life changing event as a young child you paid it forward. As is, the essay was just too formulaic, predictable, and pedantic. No reason to grant admission; thousands have your academic achievements and accolades. You needed to tell Harvard how your admission would benefit their community. Your essay did not accomplish this task.
It's because they're afraid of your intellectual capabilities. They won't take losing as a way of living. They're too scared for their asses. You r a great person wAmy, don't let them treat u like you aren't capable. Be good and rise to their inequities. YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!
Ah thanks for your sweet comment! Haha I’ll keep trying my best and hope I can encourage others to try their best regardless of the results :) You are awesome. Happy holidays!
don't feed people with fake support hype. real critique is what helps. they looked at the essay and saw a lack of soul, genuineness, and drive. literally everyone applying has intellectual capabilities. it's the fking minimum.
Here are some things that can add shine to the application: 1. Become an Eagle Scout. This shows all of the training you got, volunteer job experience, leadership skills, and ability to work as part of a team. This will add a lot of shine to your resume as well. 2. Your voter's registration card will tell them if you are favoring the political party that is the majority at the moment, meaning, prospective donations or a troublemaker making campus protests. 3. If you have family that served in the military honorably, mention it. 4. If you can manage to befriend someone from the inside with a high-level position, do it. Do a little bit of sleuthing, find out who they are, and do your thing.
We all singular entities with multiple interests. Those interests typically are connected somehow, often in ways most people would miss. Showing how they are connected indicates self-awareness and gives a sense of who the student will continue to be in college. While showing how the activities have an impact on the student is valuable, even more beneficial would be showing how the activities have an impact of other people. Colleges like Harvard want students who will make their campus better, both academically and non-academically.
I hope this person knows that if they want to go to the school of their choice, they still can. Being rejected once is just the beginning of their journey. It's not mentioned in this video but the applicant should spend the next year getting experience in doing exactly what they love, or figuring out what it is that they love and just reapply. I am Ivy League alumni and I volunteer helping the admissions office by interviewing select alumni. Every student that gets assigned to me for an interview is a great student. Many are passionate about getting into an Ivy League school and have spent a great deal of their school career preparing to get into the school. It's amazing, however, that a lot of times that seems to be the primary goal and that is it. What I want to know is what are they going to do with the degree? After all, university is only four years, so what about the rest of their life? How is a degree and the experience from going to this particular school going to help them in what they really want to do? Also, I personally think that how you make a positive impact in the world is very valuable, BUT what I believe is even MORE important is how this will make the applicant happy? How is this step in their life going to contribute to their overall wellbeing and joy in life? When I talk with a student and see that they got good grades, participated in sports, student government, extra curricular activities, etc. It often feels like they are just doing it for the sake of impressing school admissions. Even worsts, sometimes they want to impress school admissions, so they can get in and impress their parents. This is just sad. Instead, do what makes you happy and talk about what that is. Also, share how going to any particular school will add to this goal. This is the "passion" that is exciting to hear about from a student. Get me excited about you going to this school because it fits so well with the bigger plan.
For the broke/poor people I know with straight A's. They shouldn't have to hire a "coach" to manipulate a top schools into considering them. It's sad that the more money you have or having a complete lack of scruples can get you into these schools. If these schools genuinely cared about "struggling" people they should heavily weight people of low socio-economic backgrounds in admissions.
@@wamyy5 Unfortunately, even Asians from disadvantaged backgrounds get harshly graded as if they weren't disadvantaged. A documentary mentioned an example of an Asian girl who had to overcome becoming orphaned, in and out of homes, financially disadvantaged, etc. got met with a "Meh" from the admissions officer, whereas somebody from a different race who overcame the same challenges would have gotten extra credit for those challenges.
It's not manipulation. Wealth is ALWAYS going to play a factor. I live in an affluent neighborhood where many students have private tutors for them. Do you think that's fair? Do you think that we should prevent parents from hiring tutors for their kids? Or, kids from wealthy families don't have to work or be saddled with financial stress. Do you think that's fair? I've talked to parents from low-income neighborhoods and some actually say that until access to education is equal, they aren't going to put any effort into it. This is such backward thinking. The poor will always have a disadvantage. That's the nature of capitalism whether it's education, business, or marriage. Instead of complaining about it, you need to try harder and be smarter in order to move up. That's just how capitalism works.
As someone who was in the top 0.1% of Australians in high school, who got full scholarships + bonus for university, yeah that Harvard letter sounded very lame. It was hard to hear, felt very cliche and un-real. It sounded try-hard, and not very logical for forming the person you are. Based on your rejection letters it feels like you need to be more grounded, and to think critically and in terms of what’s truly reality.
@@vatsalasaxena8430 all of the essay sounded fake and forced. no one said it was just the eczema, although that was also glaringly fake. the reason is because it got cured when they were a baby, so it was never a struggle in their life. they have no memory of having it, suffering from it, or recovering from it. making your condition your identity is always a red flag. you need to present yourself as compelling and driven by something you truly care about, not as a charity case.
@@darkiepoo8949 Sorry, I don't remember the part in the video when it got cured as a baby I don't really remember the video at all really well, maybe at the time when I was listening the writing didn't feel off to me, but if what you are saying is true, I agree with you 👍
Umm.. I get it, but I wonder why the US/ some other Western countries' admissions process is so mangled up, sometimes in a wrong way. I mean, what do you want from a 16-year-old!? - better give them a clear direction that can help them through the application process - and perhaps significantly contribute to their growth, in a tangible way. The essay takes more precedence than the student as a person, and their talents and interests. In short, it's like ranking and judging musicians based on essays they wrote about their music rather than actually listening to it. Background: I mostly went through Asian and European application processes - and the applications were very well-rounded and tested me in all areas. It was evident in the process. It didn't ask me to sell myself or my story - it was straightforward, assessed, and challenged me in every possible way, and the process was interactive. The 2 year-long journey for the preparation shaped me and gave me the skills that I used for my research and publications at university and even in my job after 8 years. I also helped my friends with their US university applications - some went to Ivy League schools. However, I still think the application process gets too subjective, and so mangled up in terms of their impact on the candidates and what they ask of them, compared to Europe and Asia.
With the fazing out of SAT test scores, the essay is very important. Pay a professional to have someone look it over if you want to get into an Ivy League university.
Here is some advice from someone older who has spent many years in business and corporate America. The goal shouldn't be to get into an Ivy. The goal should be to get into a quality university where you will not incur any student loan debt. Corporate America doesn't care if you went to Harvard if Mary Smith -- who went to a quality university -- out works you, is better at building relationships and adds more value.
Amy, if you still want to have a fancy Ivy League name on your resume, you can still do that for your masters degree. I'm not sure what your career goals are (CS/EE?), and different fields place varying amounts of emphasis on having a MS/MA. Regardless, know that it's a lot easier to get into a grad program at Ivies than it is to get into undergrad. Keep up the good work!
Actually this is a good video because you accepted the advice and actually you would reiterate for better understanding. You'll do well going forward, Ivy or not. Also, just think how much money you'll save by going to a State school assuming you're going to Cal Tech
I'll be honest with your percentile you should have been able to get into any college of your choice, it was just bad luck that you didnt get into harvard. And personally i like the more merit based judgement for selection like in our Indian IIts and colleges rather than the american concept of including socalled other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character because I think their hard work says enough of their character [Note*: I don't study in america I am not completely familiar with the american education system but this is my take on it(Trust me its not favouratism I am trying to be fair😅)]. Ofcourse it is also important to consider them for athletes or students who had something genuine they dedicated themselves to like students having a bussiness or who volunteer at some NGO etc... but they should have their diff college or a segment of admission where they are actually deciding to pursue their sport or other activity. Personally I Think the talk was more of a random talk madeup to justify for not selecting you when in truth collages and only give a set number of seats to foreign or immigrant students and the rest is reserved for american students (politics😮💨) which I think is somewhat justified to some extent, I think the lack of proper eye contact and excessive blinking from the other person justifies that( Human psychology ) or it could be just a habit ( in other words I may be wrong). * I have watched many other videos on this topic where teachers mention the exact opposite, of the points you mentioned like 1. Not having diversity in your essay or lack of ideas (in essay with really indepth explanation of those 2or 3 topics they covered ) 2. Having a too narrow pallet of things you are passinate about Lack of showing(that she mentioned) was valid, from my perspective and the last advice from her that no one really knows how colleges actually select their students is also valid as ofcourse Luck plays a major role when so many topnotch students are applying of a college, and even from the teachers perspective you can select good students even with your eyes closed (filtering out those with under 95% percent marks) So my advice to you: "Be so successful that it becomes Harvard's loss they did not accept you" I think I had a very open minded take on the video, ofcourse you are agree or disagree with me but just know you are wrong if you dont agree with me 😅😅😅(I'm kidding) Edit*: Damn I wrote a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGG ass comment people seeing this comment: Damn! I ain't reading that🤨 😂😂😂
This is the oppressive side of affirmative action that no one seems to want to discuss… affirmative action discriminates against Asian students on Ivy League school admission-there is actually a case regarding this issue, currently at the SCOTUS.
Hello Amy, this is really helpful. Would it be okay (with proper credits to you and your channel) for me to use this video as a reference material for my students? I help Indigenous Vietnamese get into competitive schools and this would really help. Thank you!
Can’t you try the next year? Not really know how USA admissions work. In Europe all the students make an anonymous entry exams the correctors only have our barcode number not even a name and those who have the higher grades (when I did it the final grade is 60% entry exams + 40% your institute finals grade) enter in their preferred university and career. One can try every year if wasn’t able to get the a place in their preferred career also if one got accepted but want to change to a different university (same career) it’s possible after one year in that university and good grades. Obviously one doesn’t need to write any assay if you get a higher or equal grade to the acceptance grade you are in. To be fair I’m quite shocked that in USA the selection process is not transparent.
I’ve had eczema and so does my son. It’s really not that deep. I think you took a generic topic and tried to make it into the life challenge that is wasn’t. You have excellent writing skills, I hardly doubt it had much to do with that.
My daughter did not make it into Yale until 32 years old and she already had a masters and a lot of work experience to prepare her for the intense work load of Yale
People dont realize that you may been in the top class in your school but your also in completion with other people like you around the world. If your parents is not wealthy and dont know anybody at that school, you will have a slim chance of getting in.
For my college essay I was thinking about writing about this: So, I was wanting to write about how my biggest passion is growing. I found that even though I love learning new instruments, helping people, and getting good grades, they all help me grow. And that’s what makes it so enlightening. I was going to talk about how I got out of an abusive home and how leaving changed my mindset… is that bad? Cuz I heard from another TH-camr who said not to talk about abuse…
I have similar thoughts, centered around 'challenges', how they helped build my perception and way of thinking. But isn't sure whether they want to see that, considering the many suggestions on writing about a singular 'passion' instead.
I haven't watched the entire video yet, but as someone who just recently submitted my personal statement and like 2 of my ED/EA (8 supplements in total), I think the main issues are - 1. You're telling rather than showing 2. Too many points (not streamlined) ^ those are two issues that my college counselor and my friend who's really good at writing kept pointing out to me
Work harder and smarter than 97% of the people in your chosen field, focus on constantly learning and teaching yourself through out your career and I promise you it will not matter what school you went to, You will do extremely well in life.
What are my chances of getting into an Ivy? I'm applying to Harvard, Princeton and a lot of other ivy's this year. I'm a 27 year old non-traditional student who recently left the U.S. Air Force. Far as stats go, I've been in college for a few months having finished my service in May 2022 and my GPA is a 3.95. To tip the scale in favor of extracurriculars, I'm a prolific author. Having co-written 18 books with my sister; we've composed books in 13 different genre's ranging from science fiction, fantasy, poetry, a philosophical treatise on life and death, a parable of WWII with mice, chess endgame theory (Pawn endings, Knight endings, Bishop endings, and Rook endings thus far), political fantasy, short stories, essays, etc... No this is not a joke, I'm a real person...
TOP 5 THINGS COLLEGE ADMISSION OFFICERS AT IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY LOOK FOR. 1. Are your parents someone important 2. Are you related to anyone in politics 3. Do you come from money 4. Did your parents go to the school or are you a legacy student 5. Are you black, latino, native american, or from some country that will help the school reach its race quota Not a joke. The #1 factor that they consider is how much money your parents and/or you have
I know a girl who got into an Ivy with no money, low grades, quietly working in an illegal industry, just because she got recommendation letters from a couple of accomplished Ivy alumni she met along the way. She studied hard, did her work, and graduated too. For some people, admission is purely charisma, street smarts, and a lot of luck.
I've never really had trouble noticing when something is poorly written, I generally see something and just know that something's wrong with it. However, I have trouble figuring out what's wrong with them, especially when the problem is something unorthodox. It is nice being able to tell when something could be written better though.
Avoiding the elephant in the room, I guess you have been trained well to think and say the right things about this issue, even to your own disadvantage.
If you didn’t get accepted with those stats, awards, and extracurricular activities, then there’s not much promise for the rest of us. 😂 It’s almost like you’re too good academically and well rounded to the point where it’s not good. Which is crazy to me because those are the type of students that I would want at my school.
that's just the complete wrong way of looking at it. those things matter to a point. like with so much in life, there is diminishing value. this applicant did not submit a proficient essay, the messaging was poor, and there seemed to be lack of genuineness and soul and a true expression of their purpose. it is actually a very simple choice to eliminate based off this.
the advice the person gave about having a focus applies yo getting a job as well. For most jobs they don’t want resumes with a laundry list of experiences. Folks want something that highlights your relevant experience and strengths that will help the employer build the best team possible
Not sure how your video ended up on my feed…but I watched it because many, many years ago I was rejected by Yale. My stats were pretty good but compared to you…not good and I see that. Clearly, they rightly chose someone like you. I went to a UC and had the time of my life in college and more importantly built a good life for myself after I graduated. The purpose of college (I think) is to give one opportunities and I’ve had my fair share. With 30 plus yrs of hindsight, where you go to college is probably not going to define your life…besides there is always grad school to try again if you’re so included. Good luck ! Wish you nothing but the best
even the perfect applicants forget not just passion, but genuineness. presenting themselves honestly. writing in their actual voice, not in a faux-poet voice that has to stuff their sentences with pointless imagery, sloppy syntax, and forced themes. when this is also reflected in being unable to portray an authentic commitment to something meaningful and fresh, it becomes a clear indication of yet another overachiever with no "soul." so many students who do get accepted burn out because they never found out what they actually wanted in life. do not try to get accepted as that kind of student. the essay itself needed a lot more work. i doubt that whoever helped to proofread and revise was qualified to do so. the whole premise was a mistake -- someone received eczema treatment as a 1 or 2 year old, who as a baby was physically unable to retain memories or learn empathy, yet somehow developed a lifelong appreciation for something they can't possibly remember suffering from or feeling relief from. only the parents could possibly feel and understand it. when something happens to you at that age, you don't learn anything from it. continuing an entire essay based on this alone is a glaring mistake. each additional talking point, about US-China or East-West cooperation, does nothing to express who the applicant really is. and it feels like a ranting mess. there are structural issues, pacing issues, weird word choices and sentences, and an end quote that is just fluff because the narrative of the writing piece just flopped along to the end.
I appreciate your honesty and I love how you’re not bitter towards the college or those who got in…….. what college is for you will be for you. Edit: you go to CalTech (which is an amazing school) I was accepted there years ago for English (ironic I know) but I turned it down for a program closer to home.
Hi, I'm a Junior in High School right now and I'm kind of lost on where to start to aim for my dream schools. I have only a few extracurriculars and my grades are nowhere near yours. Where can I start to improve my chances for a prestigious school like Stanford or just any Ivy League?
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THE FULL REASON (Harvard update video): th-cam.com/video/VHQ4J_T9pPQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=u5TFyI_b-uWntEFr
I think instead of looking for a well-rounded student, they look for more of a well-rounded class. A student who has extreme passion and dedication towards a certain subject area is probably what they wanted rather than a student trying to get involved with everything. You are an amazing student, just didn't quite find your passion
Lmao says a weaboo clown watching hentai... are you even in college? Bum
@@TheWill0fStrength dawg what are you saying seems like youre projecting
That makes alotta sense now
YOOOOO WHAT THATS THE BEST ADVICE IVE EVER HEARD!!! I actually understand it now omg thank u
This is true because my daughter just got admitted to 4 out of 5 ivys. She did all by herself without any coaching or guidance but she did use the specialization technique versus generalization
As someone who regularly interviews global STEM talent, starting with MS and PhDs, I can usually glance at a resume or application and know what their potential and capabilities are in just a few minutes. Irrespective of someone's Ivy league pedigree and setting aside a candidate's stellar academic achievements, I want to know *who* they are, what drives them, i.e., what makes them tick and, of course, what they want to do. In the professional world, there are other criteria we look for which apply less to your situation, but know these include strategic vision, structured thinking and, well, general pragmatism.
Now, you're coming out of high school so it's understandable you might not know what you want to do, but as this video highlights, laser-focused clarity would've given you an edge over your competitors. Many candidates I see did 1-2 things well since they were very young, e.g., coding/building apps/games/played an instrument/chess/etc since age 9. Another started a Hispanic bank in high school, raised $2M and lent money to low-income members of his community. He didn't have a two-page list of clubs and activities. But if you don't have that experience, strive for depth and precision, which will naturally highlight 'passion' versus the other candidates who *say* they're passionate about [insert trend here].
Examples:
"I want to research cures for retinopathy..." or
"...research and develop biomedical (non-resection) alternatives to [insert type of] cancer "
"I want to pursue quantum computing, especially to solve problems in area [X]" or
"...computer science to research better ways to mitigate large-scale disinformation/propaganda using generative adversarial networks and large scale language models..."
"...research and (eventually) build a company that specializes in micro-plastic and related industrial/environmental hazard remediation..."
(ok, you want to be an entrepreneur, but so do many other business majors with lesser qualifications than yours... tell me what and why exactly!)
Lastly, know your audience - whether it's attending a networking event, an interview, a public presentation or an application. Those reviewing your application probably *do* read The New York Times, The Economist, etc., among others (this is in reference to a prior video you posted). Take a day and actually read through a Sunday edition of the NYT and you will find some of the best writing (along with ideas for essays and careers) on Earth there... just staggering talent and brilliant stories every single day. It would've also helped focus your essay(s) and help you tap into narrative styles that engage the reader.
As for favorite books - the same rules apply... everyone read Harry Potter, but "Wait, this wAmy candidate loved the Brothers Karamazov, Nabokov's Lolita - but Appel's Annotated Edition...now this is interesting..."
Given your stellar academic achievement, I'm sure will do fine no matter where you land. Some of our best hires have been valedictorians and high achievers from *non-Ivy league* schools.
Good luck!
unless you major in english and put all novels cause you want to become an actual novelist
i think harry potter is fine but only if you want to specialize in creative writing
but I would imagine someone focusing on creative writing would make a much more interesting introduction like
"Every time, I open my eyes, I can feel the pain in my chest as I try to put my dreams into words. I greatly fear that sinking feeling that my dreams will be forgotten.."
Many people say that elite schools care about what kind of a person is and what drives them. They care more about how much passion and determination a person can have than their academics though academics is also important enough. But no one actually tells anyone what makes the person reading the application think that this applicant is special and how they know which seed will have the tree with the sweetest fruits. No one can objectively say how a student can be better than thousands of other world champions
Thanks for this !
Thanks for writing this thoughtful and helpful comment. I agree that it’s more about what you do and many other points. Regarding Harry Potter - I was trying to be genuine and not make everything look like I was trying to get into college haha
love your comment
What differentiates you is after rejection you had the fortitude to seek help to determine why they rejected you and the magnanimity to share it with others. Don't worry or regret. Live well. i think Harvard made a mistake. It happens.
Thanks so much for your kind words. I hope I can help more people
@@wamyy5 -- My daughter also have eczema. Can you share what Chinese herbs and things to do? We are from Fujian, China. Thank you!
@@yulin114 Hi! I will ask my parents if they know, but I’m sorry to say we might not be able to help because the doctor who helped me as a baby is no longer alive and that’s why my sister still has eczema :(
I think it's amazing how you pivoted and took a disappointing experience and turned it into helping others who tune into your channel. Awesome!
Ah so glad you are seeing that’s what I’m trying to do :) Appreciate the kind words!
a paradox no? In theory, this is what you would think Harvard wants out of a student, analysis, problem solving and action.
I was a National Merit Scholar and more qualified than most of my classmates. I went to subpar schools in a violent and poor neighborhood in a poor crime ridden city. I had to navigate gangs and racist schools and thugs on the way to and from school. We had no tutors and no way to get help with homework. i was receuited by over 100 schools, none for sports. I was MVP, all conference in football and track and field and went to a top 20 law school. My goddaughter was raised by an immigrant single parent, domestic violence victim. I live in Berkeley and took my goddaughtetr to visit Cal. She hated it because it lacked diversity. She is Asian and my wife and I are Black. We love her a great deal and she loves us. She was admitted to Ivy league schools but goes to an excellent school in California. Harvard is not heaven. What you make of the experience is on you. This is from a former UC law school admissions officer.
Thank you sir. Your inspiring words have given me a little more light in my life.
Thank you for explaining this clearly. Even in California there is still a diversity struggle.
FYi You got recruited for being black. Its also why you got everything else. Outside of legacy jewish whites there are a total of ZERO white christian men in ivy league schools. ZERO!! Hasn't been for many decades.
@@drsuicide8474 I believe that race comes into play in virtually everything that happens in the world. I would be naive to think that being Black was not a factor but name me all of the National Merit Scholars who were great students, All-Conference in 2 sports and, earned a prestigious fellowship AND internship before going to a top law school. My race was a big plus as NO other students have done such and my example is used by my college to recruit others. It is obvious you are not a graduate of a quality college as your allegations are baseless. It's typical of people who want to blame the Black guy for their shortcomings.
Diversity is necessary because you need different points of view in class etc. Also, look at schools like UC Berkeley that lack diversity where you can walk around campus and not see any Black people. That is a huge detriment when recruiting. Look at their football team and look at Alabama or Ole Miss where the student body looks more like America.
“More qualified” doesn’t really exist after one is qualified. You just have better scores. But if one meets the minimum qualifications, they are , by definition, qualified.
One is either qualified or not.
you were a great high school student then, however, just don't know why you're so good? Don't just show how great you are, show us your vulnerable.
Yes, I indeed have been wanting to show my other sides - I just didn’t know other people would care, so thanks for letting me know! In the meantime, I do have some videos where I dive into my thoughts and concerns like this: th-cam.com/video/L0uDVR0-uts/w-d-xo.html
@@wamyy5 Harvard practices affirmative action. Definitely stopped you getting into one of them. Asians are discriminated against in affirmative action more then caucasians. I personally believe in giving people who have a hard lot in life a chance that normally wouldn’t have one, but deciding that based on race is unfair, rather then examining each person as a individual.
"you're" 😂
Be a victim even if you are not.
“show us you’re vulnerable” this is terrible advice
Excellent advice given! However, the whole process makes me reflective and sad. Many bright, lower income students lack the resources to fund lots of activities and experiences that promote self-discovery. I was one of those kids, no summer camps, childhood sports etc. I supposed there's always volunteer work, but a savvy adult mentor to encourage and motivate out-of-the box thinking is critical.
Yeah totally agree! I feel you. Even though people may think I had great opportunities, one critical thing I was missing was the proper advice and mentorship. It’s tough being first gen immigrant kids
Non-traditional student here! I recently got out of the military after 14 years and have been in community college for the past year. I’ve done pretty well and in the process of applying to transfer to a 4 year University. Ultimately I plan to go to medical school (was an army medic) and originally I was aiming for a decent state school.
Until this summer. I worked with a nonprofit organization made for veterans attending college called the Warrior Scholar Project and they offer educational ‘boot camps’ at the best universities across America in STEM, humanities, and business. I attended the MIT boot camp in July. The experience was mind blowing, getting taught physics from MIT professors and phd candidates was insane. And what was even more amazing was watching my cohort and myself grasp the material and slowly gain confidence. Most of us were NOT excellent high school students, we did not imagine we would be at MIT discussing exoplanets and physics.
Towards the end of the boot camp, we had their admissions reps come down and speak to us. They talked about their admissions process and how we all had a genuine shot if we A. Showed recent academic success at community college B. Could write compelling essays. What was kind of a ‘cheat code’ being a non traditional student with 14 years of military experience we have a very generous amount of material to fall back on. Seeing an generic essay question of “talk about facing a difficult moment in your life” gives me pause to answer not because I don’t know what to write, but because I’ve faced so many hardships after 4 deployments I need to figure out how to craft the answer in the best possible light.
I’m wrapping up my applications now, with my now top choice being Princeton. I don’t know if I’ll get in, but I commend everyone aiming high because dreamers like us will typically do something compelling to change the future regardless. Good luck to everyone on their higher education journey, especially the old guys like me.
I have always thought that people with atypical journeys in school or jobs are the most interesting people to interview and hire. They can adapt super easily.
Princeton is a cool place to learn. Update us if you get in.
Hey man, how did it go?
How did it go?
I get that you were rejected, I was as well in highschool and I had 1.5 years of college under my belt. The difference was that the Ivy league school that wanted me, rejected me, only later to find out my application never made it to the Native American representative. Infact it was no where to be found which only can conclude a error on their part. This was brought up in an embarrassing way at a lunch and I got an apology since they missed out on an opportunity with me. I know they had accepted someone who wrote about me in her essay that same year. I knew her and felt sorry that she didn't prosper there. At the end of the day, Stanford would have been the worst decision for me & my family. The amount of money I saved helped us as a unit to get a 30 acre farm that I am building my dream pink barn on to live in. I am not even 30 now and I have lived more of a life than most people. So much prosperity came from not waisting money on a piece of paper and to have no student loans from my Cal State which prepared me to take risks. In college I got paid to speak at various places, I got to go to the Whitehouse for dinner, be featured in books, have my art in a museum, and scored a prop deal with a major movie company. My current job pays more than anything I ever did in my field of study and I am happy than I ever have been. I will say that it took me a long time to reach this point, but it does get better. If I could tell myself one thing back then it would be to get over it fully and take more risks. Ivy leagues are not meant to have every student, and cant provide every opportunity that changes lives. Only you can
admissions readers are human. rule #1 - you have to be distinctive amongst literally tens of thousands of people JUST LIKE YOU. but therein lies your edge - year in and year out, the same kinds of people with the same perfect grades, write the same kinds of personal statements about themselves. this is advice most have heard, but implementing this advice, now that's the real now trick isn't it? :)
true, i think the main issue was she writes like a journalist detailing about her environment, but has nothing that actually tells us about herself
if she used a first person introduction immediately, im sure it would've been more interesting than writing about lanterns like she was writing for a tourism brochure
@@madhatten00 did she add feeling to it? Did it made the person feel anything while reading her essay? As far as i know, i seen some “best” Harvard essays that made the reader laugh, cry, or smile.
Tell them what they want to hear. Admission is grounded in behavioral psychology.
Just use the Chinese system. Competitive and fair.
@@charlesdarwin5185 I'd say the EU/British systems are better. (A mixture of your grades, how well you did on admissions tests, super-cirriculars, interviews and a personal statement that doesn't actually impact much)
@@shaaravguha3760 this
The problem with the essay is that you did not tell the reader enough about yourself. We did not get a sense of "who is Amy?" Learning about being empathetic, etc., is just pedestrian and something that anyone could have said. It's why college essays are so hard to write. It is literally a master class in learning how to BS.
Exactly man. I had to over exaggerate and even lie in my essay in order to get accepted to my college.
This. Talked too much about China than yourself. Should have picked a specific moment and spent 10% on explaining the moment, and 90% on how you grew through the moment.
Bingo ! "...a master class in learning how to BS." Which is the formerly elite schools today have no idea of what kind of intellectual activity they are admitting into their freshman classes and why formerly second tier schools now get the most talented students.
@@ichangedmyusernamebecausei2551
It’s just so fucking stupid. Everyone in my graduating class who got into a T14 school embellished their results. They lacked integrity, lying about their positions and skills. Some of them even had the positions, but never devoted any time to actually bettering the work they did. They were so hyperfocused on going to an ivy school they were willing to stomp on more than qualified people just to make sure they’d be the only ones with the golden ticket.
The whole system is fucked and the greedy will always beat the needy. Fuck the American education system and fuck the ivies. I’ve seen too many shitty people rise to the top on the backs of others for admissions.
One thing I got clear seeing her all videos is that admission readers wants to know you personally by the application you wrote. That's crazy how she's unknowingly helping people out with their confusions.
"Unknowingly"? Isn't helping others the point of the video?
I love how you turn your failures into growth and advice for others! You also show how being perfect isn’t the key to everything and I love that a lot! ❤
What you don't realize is you're competing against other Asians and not against the entire study body. Harvard doesn't want too many Asians since they need to leave some space for other kind of students. As a result, small weaknesses in your essay can make or break getting in since your competition is so tough.
Don’t even know how this video popped up. I never was interested in Ivy League college so I don’t have a valid opinion, but through out my 30 years of life and evaluating this acceptance process whether through movies and whatnot, I think it’s about being authentic and knowing how to present yourself. So many students wants to join these college for shallow reasons, but that doesn’t beat someone going to a school they know they belong in and it will definitely show in their essay.
99% Percentile is as high as you can go! I believe that alone differentiates an individual from many people.
You are young and the future is bright. You will find something to specialize in and when you do you will get to 99th percentile of that as well.
I appreciate how you talk about rejection in a healthy and constructive way, and this mindset will only improve your likelihood of success in future endeavors.
Just seeing you work hard inspires me to work hard and plan to go to Grad school.
Thank you,
Don
Wow, Don! Thanks so much for your thoughtful words and encouragement! I believe that hard work is what helped me do the things you said :) Also, I appreciate you pointing out looking at rejection using a constructive way. That's how we can let each "failure" lead to success.
I'm so happy I can inspire you. It seems you have a great mindset. Wishing you the best as well!
I love this!!! I'm looking into a program called Zenith for my children to help them with their resumes and extra curriculum. I love this. Thank you!
Yay! Best wishes for you and your children’s success!
I know how difficult this can be, especially because I went through a similar experience when I was in high school. My parents are hardworking immigrants, which inspired me to do everything possible to get into Princeton University. Aside from the institution's prestige, I had actual reasons for going there. I seemingly did everything right, but it just wasn't enough. I, too, investigated discrimination against Asian Americans in the application process, and it really hurt. I ultimately went to a state university for my undergrad and felt depressed every morning for almost a whole year. However, that state university gave me the space to shine and grow as a person in ways that have permanently changed me for the better. I applied to Harvard University for my graduate studies, and I was accepted. I know it's tough right now, but I want to say that you clearly have the brilliance and wisdom now to succeed in your future education. You will have no problem being a success, because you are already one.
At least now Asian students are aware that the requirements and standards are much higher for Asian students. Back when I applied, people didn't know that fact, so I was left wondering how did my best friend with C's get into MIT (he is 1/8th under-represented minority) but I being valedictorian with top math awards did not. I think if I had known about the fact that the odds are stacked against Asians, I wouldn't have taken the rejection as hard as I did. Just like you, I was depressed every day that I was at my safety school wishing that I was at MIT. In the end you learn that some things are out of our control and we just have to pivot the best we can.
@@SO-jp6gh they don't need another valedictorian with math. they need students who can handle the academics, but who actually has a soul and a drive to do something important in life because they have something they truly care about. you come off as a cookie cutter grades-first applicant. and the delusional blaming on the institution is not a healthy sign at all.
@@SO-jp6ghboohoo shutup. Bye!
omg it's ridiculous you didn't get into any ivies. back in the mid 90s, with my resume which was way inferior to yours, I got waitlisted at stanford and got into the 2/3 ivies (brown and cornell) I applied to, and of course got rejected by Harvard. Things have changed so much since. My daughter will be looking at colleges in 4 years so seeing this is really alarming to me.
It’s gotten so much more competitive these recent years!
RY, I got into Harvard with a significantly worse gpa and scores than the person in this video. I wanted to study (and wrote about) a very niche intersection between art, education and informal learning opportunities. I wrote about being a nanny and my admiration of Charlotte Mason’s educational philosophy and how these things shape my life and goals. From my experience, Harvard doesn’t necessarily want all the same great students who all have the same great grades; they want a mix of people with diverse skills, passions and talents who show they can preform at the highest level. Harvard wants an interesting student body. If you are a polymath, you have to sell the thread that underlines all your skills and tie it into one narrative. I think if the OP had maybe written about how math and tennis collide, they could have gotten in.
Considering the trends I predict things will be much worse in 4 years. Luckily getting into these top schools isn't even that important
@@wamyy5 How in the world did you get so many 5's on your AP? Did you study them over the summer or did you simply have time during the school year? By the way, you should be proud, regardless of whether or not you got into an Ivy League, you would have done amazing.
@@roxiethecockapoo1138 thank you! I did not prepare over the summer and I actually had many extracurriculars like varsity sports! I didn’t have more time than my peers, but this is what I did! : th-cam.com/users/shortsu8cEenbHIFY?feature=share
That was EXACTLY how we were taught to write essays in high school, right down to the quote at the end. Even valedictorian speeches sound like that.
Most people don't learn how to sell themselves until they have to write cover letters for jobs.
While visiting Yale University on a campus tour, the student guide was asked about her admission to Yale. Her response: she was a passionate baseball fan and considered herself an expert on facts and statistics of the game. That interest (and, perhaps, combined with her gender) made her application stand out. True story.
Was Giamatti president then?
Along that line , a friend who interviewed for an office / computer related job said that after briefly glancing over the education & job history parts of her resume , the interviewer focused on her two hobbies , a car club & showing horses , w/ a lengthy yet casual discussion . She felt sure that her diverse interests clinched her getting the job.
I really admire you sharing your experience so others can learn and get a better chance to get into their dream school! By the way, I am so impressed that you can do so much in such limited time, awesome time management! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I appreciate your comment so much! Glad people can benefit from what I share :) And thank you!
Harvard has admitted -in court - that they intentionally discriminate against Asian students. (The case is pending before the Supreme Court) That may have mattered more than anything you could have written on an essay.
Yes, Internal study revealed they had an anti Asian bias. They buried the study and never did anything about it.
I doubt it she's literally telling her why she didn't get in.......
if the essay was actually good, and the applicant clearly had a strong, dedicated lifelong pursuit, that may have been the case. but the essay was not only bland, but had serious, serious problems to it. so that gave them a legitimate reason to reject, along with the lack of using that essay to explore what the applicant's singular focus was.
@@darkiepoo8949 It's easy to pick somebody else's work apart. Even successful, professional writers receive this sort of criticism. Realistically, an 18 year old who has a "dedicated *lifelong* pursuit" is probably embellishing the truth a bit.
They should higher me as their lawyer, one sentence and everyone, not just the law, would agree on why they SHOULD be biased against Asian students.
You put so much effort in helping students getting into their dream school, and that is really impressive. I LOVE YOU!!
your essay is so beautiful still. I loved the concept and execution
Aw thanks so much! I appreciate it :)
If you have something that you are passionate about, you will still have that wonderful thing to sustain you even if you don’t get into a particular school. The passion will be more important to you than getting into the school will be.
Absolutely
Hi, Amy, I wouldn't dwell so much about being rejected from Harvard but I'd be very happy with a BS from Caltech because it will open many doors to attractive career paths in the future!
Hi thanks! I’m not dwelling on any of my rejections - just making videos to help other students!
if she’s dwelling on it, she wouldn’t even be able make video like these - she’s using it as an opportunity (i mean it in the best way possible) to help others and profit by making it into a youtube content. just a thought from first time watching her video.
@@kyungminnam Both of your comments just prove the OP's point. Also, I do no think they were being rude, but your responses were a bit. Anyhow, I wish you the best. You had fantastic stats and others, but your essay needed so much help. Make the best out of it, build relationships and have fun! You can always apply back for grad school.
@@wamyy5 Who cares about getting rejected from Harvard if you got into Caltech? Caltech doesn’t do legacy admissions.
@@wamyy5 ll
Watched all your vids and applied to Cornell ED following your essay advice... here we go!
Good luck!! :D
@@wamyy5 Holy sh** I got in all thanks to you
@@santiagopalacios3313 YAY CONGRATS!
@@santiagopalacios3313congratulations!!
@@santiagopalacios3313congrats!
As a writing enthusiast, it was pretty easy for me to see what was wrong with your essay even without watching the consultation. For the most part, it was cliche and without personality. I predicted that when you returned to see the doctor he would have died before you mentioned it. The people at Harvard might have been more intrigued with you and what you have to offer if you wrote with more character and passion, since from what I saw you just retold what happened with a generic theme to tie it together and make it seem like an event that had a huge impact on you. I hope this doesn’t come off as mean, since this is just what I noticed. I know it’s probably hard to make a great essay about what changed you as a person for a team of admission officers without it sounding like a love letter to yourself or the blandest thing imaginable.
exactly this. it sounded fake and forced and still could not present anything compelling.
Yep sounded fake and bland
I’m not an expert at writing but it didn’t really grab me at the start. It felt kind of bland.
amy i really wanna tell you being interested in a lot of things is good like it's best because you can experience new things and will not regret sacrificing your energy for one thing you have a lot of potential and you can use it in a lot of things not just one thing ......... i really wanna thank you for helping student out there and not asking for anything the last Quote really match you amy you are like a big sister for me helping not just in study but in also other things if you are reading this you are a super heroin of students
Good video. Thank you for posting it 😊. Don’t beat yourself up too much, it’s hard to say if the advice would have made a difference. Let’s also remember that Harvard is currently being sued for discriminating against Asian applicants.
Reason #1 - there is no spot reserved for you. Schools like Harvard receive tenfold the number of qualified applicants than admitted. Any student who does not understand this from the outset, is probably less qualified than they think.
Reason #2 - your essay is one time you should be talking about yourself. Don't use empty phrases like "living life to my fullest potential." What did you do? What does it mean for your future pursuits? Show me, don't tell me.
Keep in mind that top schools will get in the neighborhood of 40,000 essays. Take a risk. Open in Mandarin. Be creative. Make your essay the one that is not forgotten but the one passed to other readers as a must read.
Tip: Show your creative spark. Ironically, wAmy shows it in channel about being rejected.
For interview be able to answer the question why you want to attend school X with more than, "it is a tough school that I know will challenge me."
Exploit any unfair advantage you might have. If you know someone who went to Harvard, have them read your essay. Does your school have a college counselor? Get advice. Can you make a campus visit? Do it.
Well this video was made before the recent SC decision...
Not directly related to this but I am jealous of anyone able to know what direction they want to go with in their life by high school graduation.
Despite being near top of my class in High School I couldn't even finish the first step of college at a community college because I had no drive. School wasn't hard enough so it didn't push me into anything, but because I wasn't top 3 of my class literally no colleges wanted me and I could not afford anything other than a community college.
The lack of extracurricular activities was the nail in the coffin for scholarships, because my Crohns Disease made it infeasible to stay after school or really do anything. When I started college I felt so defeated that I couldn't push past my health issues and finish.
If only they didn't make it seem like it's a bad thing to go to a community college. But absolutely everything was placed on how important it was to get in to one of these ivy league level colleges.
Now I am 30, in poor health, and still no direction in life. It left me a failure of a human who is stuck relying on family to even survive. If I hadn't been made to be a failure for having to go to community college maybe I would be somewhere now.
You’re not a failure ❤️ you’re an amazing person and going to community college is better than not going at all. This was years ago don’t be too hard on yourself and focus on the moment is the best advice I could give you! Have a great day and I pray your health is better 🙏
Don't get discouraged, you have a whole life ahead of you. You will keep living. Why not live with the purpose of still trying to find yourself, even if you think it's too late
@@user-ct5ni6zl1b 8 Months later and still nothing. I lose motivation by the day, and it only feels like my health continues to get worse.
How the hell am I supposed to figure things out when i have nothing for me?
Wow these videos are so great to see. I'm very bad at receiving rejection. For you to be so open and reflecting at what you did wrong just to help us all.
I can tell how brave and nice that is!! I hope you ended up in a great place anyway ❤
Not everything is about grades. Top American schools like Harvard and Stanford wants people that are world class at something outside academia, something very specific (e.g. Tiger Woods at golf, Elon Musk at starting businesses). Perfect grades are NOT enough. If academia is your only niche, apply to top UK colleges like Cambridge or Oxford.
But what gold has to do with becoming a doctor? Sorry I don’t get the whole assay about your “passion”in USA. European system is more fair and most importantly transparent. You got the grade you enter, that’s it. No one cares about your hobbies.
What a cool, humble, honest video!
Thank you!
It might be useful to look at the application slightly differently, rather than who you are and what you want, look at it from their perspective, who do they want. You have been involved in a lot of different activities and done well in each but as your coach says, it would be better to be more focused on those things that center on your academic goals and achieve a significant accomplishment on that path. If you want to study biology your accomplishments on the tennis court are a sideshow. Consider too, where you are (i.e. high school senior), if you plan on studying medicine they don't expect you focus on curing some obscure disease but if you developed skills in first aid and taught first aid at a summer camp and maybe helped train others that would show a focus. You might also consider who they want generally, they might be wanting more minority and third world students in their base, you are asian but that no longer counts here.
u do know u can be asian & from a third world country...right? & they stopped the "aesthetics/pageant competitions as college admissions" back when jim crow laws were outlawed...race no longer matters since then...or whatever ur trying to imply.
i have the highest level in first aid, but mediocre grades. how can i use my knowledge and participation in first aid to get me into a medical major?
@@TK-nw3bc medical major requires someone who can handle extremely intense academics which then translates into competence when dealing with people's lives. not having clean grades is absolutely unthinkable.
@@darkiepoo8949 should we get international olypmaid medals in highschool. And what about other sports or cultural achievements at national level? Are they really important
My daughter is at Stanford. The sad fact is that these top schools now carve up the incoming freshman class and unless you fill a specific slot, there is simply no room for you. If you're a minority (especially African American), recruited athlete, first in your family ever to go to college, child of an alum, etc. there might be a spot for you. If you're an excellent white or Asian highschool student with lots of APs, top grades and terrific extracurricular activities, you're a dime a dozen to these schools. They are taking 1 in 30 applicants. There is no way you'll get the nod. It's very unfortunate, but that's the reality. The reality also is that you can get just as good an education at many other schools. Ultimately it doesn't matter much where you went to undergrad. I'm a recruiter who has placed CEOs for 25 years. Most did not go to a top name school.
Well... its Stanford. The hardest school in America to get into.
@Jenifer R Daniels Have you ever stopped to consider that its because too many American students have perfect grades and nothing else going for them? To get into Harvard, Stanford, MIT or any other top US college you need to be world class at something outside academia that is likely to make you very successful. E.g. golf, F1, born royalty, your dad is Obama, good actor/actress. Anything like that.
1. To the Quik: 🐬In brevity, the [Impossible] is [Possible]!🐦
2. To the Point: 🐬What's the [Drawback]? [Negativity] instead of [Positivity].🐦
3. 🐬Amy, at every step, of her [Ivy League Choices], was met with [Negativity].🐦
4. To Note: 🐬(a) She ranked [#1 in her Class]. (b) She "excelled" in all other [Ivy League Admission Categories].
5. 🐬[Consistent Negativity], at such a [High level of Excellence] & [Personal Courage],
shows [Extreme Bias] that's uncalled for, especially, at the [Ivy League Level].🐦
6. 💎A Personal POV: (a) Amy "exemplifies" [Excellence] & [Personal Courage] in "everything she does".
(b) She "excels" without being distracted!🐦
7. 🐬[Admission Errors occur].🐬When [Admission Errors are made [Consistently]
then [Extreme Bias] is realized!🐦
8. 🎀Yours truly, Jamieson (PF) Steele where the [Blue Eyed Lion] is a [Facebook Meta Outcome]!
9.🐬[Al] for Remedy!🐦
Too much emphasis is placed on attending a “dream school.” Focus on attaining dream knowledge, dream understanding, and dream skills. As you do, keep making and fostering new connections to the world you wish to inhabit. You will inevitably find yourself part of that world. But take heed to chose wisely and be willing to adapt yourself and your end goals as you evolve your values and priorities so your life leaves you not only successful but fulfilled.
Great honesty and willingness to be open. 2 things: 1) Has your sister tried Dupixent (a newer medication called a monoclonal antibody) or something similar? 2) This piece of advice is both unsolicited and after the fact, so take it for what it is. It may not be helpful for your college entrance essay, but may be helpful for future writing. I would have started your essay with your initial thoughts "How different it is..."...immediately draws your reader into an emotional frame of mind that makes them wonder. THEN, you go into some kind of establishing paragraph of where you are. You don't have to throw in as much detail/verbiage as you did...it bogs down the flow. Sometimes less is more. But this is a fantastic premises of an essay. Really well thought out.
Okay, gonna shut up now.
Really appreciate your comment! No, my sister has not tried that - I’ll let her know to look into it. And thank you for the essay advice. With my current knowledge and experience, I agree that your intro would’ve been more effective :)
girl i'm so sorry you didn't get into any ivies, it feels like u tried really hard and now you're helping people. i wish that u could get into an ivy but at the same time i wouldn't wish it cuz it's crazily competitive (you're just gonna work so hard in HS, then you get into an ivy and there's more work). i wish people could be told that whatever school they get into, they're gonna be okay. i wish ppl were told that from an early age. i wish people were told that this whole ivy and competitive colleges' applications are just toxic and damaging and we should just stray away from it. but life is a mystery cuz u learn things on your own.
Ah thanks for your nice comment! Yes, I’m really thankful that at least now I can help other people and also let more students know that the college admissions game indeed has many things wrong/toxic about it. You’re right that life is just a journey we have to learn from!
We learn so much more from our failures. Remember as well, you can do everything right and work really hard, and it does not pay off. Bad things happen to good people all the time.
I’m not applying to an Ivy league but I’m trying for an exchange studies opportunity abroad and this is so helpful. Thank you!
99% Percentile is as high as you can go! I believe that alone differentiates an individual from many people.
You are young and the future is bright. You will find something to specialize in and when you do you will get to 99th percentile of that as well.
I appreciate how you talk about rejection in a healthy and constructive way, and this mindset will only improve your likelihood of success in future endeavors.
Just seeing you work hard inspires me to work hard and plan to go to Grad school.
Thank you,
Don
Your grades and achievements are stellar, but I felt that you tried too hard to make your essay sound impressive such that it lacked authenticity. In and of itself the essay is excellent writing, but it just felt like something was missing.
At any rate, don't give up on your dream of attending an Ivy League college. There are also opportunities to enter these colleges at the graduate level, to do a Masters or PhD, if you decide on furthering your studies in future.
I was never good enough at the undergraduate level to attend these institutions, but picked up an SM from MIT a bit later in life, after working for a few years.
the writing was not good whatsoever. no style, no substance, no understanding of narrative flow, no progression and advancement of ideas and concepts, no strong effort to build up to a compelling piece. even the word choices and sentence structures were sloppy.
@@darkiepoo8949I’m genuinely curious, what would you consider a good essay?? Like any points that might be helpful.
i’ve read a few of these, ones that did get in show a strong sense of self, the writer is able to effectively communicate who it is they are and through these experiences activities passion projects all served to discover or build what it was they identified with
That being said, eczema, in the grand scheme of things, is not a subject of global gravitas, no matter how important it is to you. It also has a "flaky" connotation, which I am sure is not the image you wish to project, no matter how skillfully you wordsmith other thoughts around the topic.
I know ppl who went to Harvard, and ppl who passed it by once admitted. My doctor's kids did not even apply there, but went to a great school that was also a smaller liberal arts school. Her reasoning was because if they went to Harvard, everyone is a shining star and it would not nourish students who want to try new things. For example, a choir at Harvard would have all of the shining star singers and anyone who was a beginner or even great singer might not have a spot, because of all of the phenomenal talent already there. A great-but-lesser-known school would have more opportunities for students to try things. Isn't going to college supposed to be about learning new things? I personally love being able to learn new things, so accessibility is important to me. A great lesser known school would still give you contacts and a chance to prove yourself. Then if you are really still craving Ivy, go to grad school.
I wouldn't let those rejections knock your sense of self. After all you are MORE than just grades. You seem very nice.
Thank you! Yes, I’m over it now and just want to help more students :)
I think all this is going to make people not even want to go to the Ivys. Way to much drama. Free your mind to be creative. Steve Jobs went to Reed college and Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard,, I don’t think you need this kind of drama to be successful. All this might produce a bunch of stressed out non productive individuals.
But when you were a celebrity child they would not care about your score.
You deserve so much more girl wish you the best in live.
True haha. Thank you. Wishing you the best too!
You are a great student with a lot of potential. The main reason I think you were not accepted is that colleges especially Ivy League love a student who sticks to one thing and isn't an all-rounded type of student. Your essay was outstanding, but it was hard to find your personality who you are as a character, and what your main thing is doing. overall, I think you should have stuck to one topic/ theme and expanded it based on that theme then you would have gotten in. Anyway, have a wonderful future.
I’d say the biggest knock against your essay is that it was all about you( but not in a good way). Your health issues, your travel to China for a cure, your return to China, your epiphany about others. Now if you’d written that that following your 1st trip to China, you reformulated his cure and distributed it for cost
to hundreds and kept stats how many you helped, that might have played better. You would have shown the committee that following a life changing event as a young child you paid it forward. As is, the essay was just too formulaic, predictable, and pedantic. No reason to grant admission; thousands have your academic achievements and accolades. You needed to tell Harvard how your admission would benefit their community. Your essay did not accomplish this task.
You summed it up very well
Only 99th percentile? Harvard and Stanford cannot accept 1/100 applicants.
The acceptance rate for both schools are 1-2%, so yeah around 1/100 applicants get accepted
It's because they're afraid of your intellectual capabilities. They won't take losing as a way of living. They're too scared for their asses. You r a great person wAmy, don't let them treat u like you aren't capable. Be good and rise to their inequities. YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!
Ah thanks for your sweet comment! Haha I’ll keep trying my best and hope I can encourage others to try their best regardless of the results :) You are awesome. Happy holidays!
@@wamyy5 Happy Holidays!! Hope you r well & blessed.
don't feed people with fake support hype. real critique is what helps. they looked at the essay and saw a lack of soul, genuineness, and drive. literally everyone applying has intellectual capabilities. it's the fking minimum.
@@darkiepoo8949 ok buddy
Here are some things that can add shine to the application:
1. Become an Eagle Scout. This shows all of the training you got, volunteer job experience, leadership skills, and ability to work as part of a team. This will add a lot of shine to your resume as well.
2. Your voter's registration card will tell them if you are favoring the political party that is the majority at the moment, meaning, prospective donations or a troublemaker making campus protests.
3. If you have family that served in the military honorably, mention it.
4. If you can manage to befriend someone from the inside with a high-level position, do it. Do a little bit of sleuthing, find out who they are, and do your thing.
Plot twist she did get in and they mixed up the admissions
We all singular entities with multiple interests. Those interests typically are connected somehow, often in ways most people would miss. Showing how they are connected indicates self-awareness and gives a sense of who the student will continue to be in college.
While showing how the activities have an impact on the student is valuable, even more beneficial would be showing how the activities have an impact of other people.
Colleges like Harvard want students who will make their campus better, both academically and non-academically.
Great content as usual
Thanks so much for the support ❤
I hope this person knows that if they want to go to the school of their choice, they still can. Being rejected once is just the beginning of their journey. It's not mentioned in this video but the applicant should spend the next year getting experience in doing exactly what they love, or figuring out what it is that they love and just reapply. I am Ivy League alumni and I volunteer helping the admissions office by interviewing select alumni. Every student that gets assigned to me for an interview is a great student. Many are passionate about getting into an Ivy League school and have spent a great deal of their school career preparing to get into the school. It's amazing, however, that a lot of times that seems to be the primary goal and that is it. What I want to know is what are they going to do with the degree? After all, university is only four years, so what about the rest of their life? How is a degree and the experience from going to this particular school going to help them in what they really want to do? Also, I personally think that how you make a positive impact in the world is very valuable, BUT what I believe is even MORE important is how this will make the applicant happy? How is this step in their life going to contribute to their overall wellbeing and joy in life? When I talk with a student and see that they got good grades, participated in sports, student government, extra curricular activities, etc. It often feels like they are just doing it for the sake of impressing school admissions. Even worsts, sometimes they want to impress school admissions, so they can get in and impress their parents. This is just sad. Instead, do what makes you happy and talk about what that is. Also, share how going to any particular school will add to this goal. This is the "passion" that is exciting to hear about from a student. Get me excited about you going to this school because it fits so well with the bigger plan.
Don't state your qualities, describe you exhibiting those qualities.
For the broke/poor people I know with straight A's. They shouldn't have to hire a "coach" to manipulate a top schools into considering them.
It's sad that the more money you have or having a complete lack of scruples can get you into these schools.
If these schools genuinely cared about "struggling" people they should heavily weight people of low socio-economic backgrounds in admissions.
True, college indeed like rich kids 😁 which isn’t me either haha
It’s easier to blame black and brown people
There’s a formerly homeless guy who got into Harvard, and there are other true stories like that, but not many.
@@wamyy5 Unfortunately, even Asians from disadvantaged backgrounds get harshly graded as if they weren't disadvantaged. A documentary mentioned an example of an Asian girl who had to overcome becoming orphaned, in and out of homes, financially disadvantaged, etc. got met with a "Meh" from the admissions officer, whereas somebody from a different race who overcame the same challenges would have gotten extra credit for those challenges.
It's not manipulation. Wealth is ALWAYS going to play a factor. I live in an affluent neighborhood where many students have private tutors for them. Do you think that's fair? Do you think that we should prevent parents from hiring tutors for their kids? Or, kids from wealthy families don't have to work or be saddled with financial stress. Do you think that's fair?
I've talked to parents from low-income neighborhoods and some actually say that until access to education is equal, they aren't going to put any effort into it. This is such backward thinking. The poor will always have a disadvantage. That's the nature of capitalism whether it's education, business, or marriage. Instead of complaining about it, you need to try harder and be smarter in order to move up. That's just how capitalism works.
As someone who was in the top 0.1% of Australians in high school, who got full scholarships + bonus for university, yeah that Harvard letter sounded very lame. It was hard to hear, felt very cliche and un-real. It sounded try-hard, and not very logical for forming the person you are. Based on your rejection letters it feels like you need to be more grounded, and to think critically and in terms of what’s truly reality.
It’s easier to blame black people
I also wrote about my vitiligo and it sounded similar to hers. Why is her eczema struggle fake?
I have eczema lol, it is not something that shaped me as a person, i just get an itchy rash on my legs that is preventable if i mosturise.
@@vatsalasaxena8430 all of the essay sounded fake and forced. no one said it was just the eczema, although that was also glaringly fake. the reason is because it got cured when they were a baby, so it was never a struggle in their life. they have no memory of having it, suffering from it, or recovering from it. making your condition your identity is always a red flag. you need to present yourself as compelling and driven by something you truly care about, not as a charity case.
@@darkiepoo8949 Sorry, I don't remember the part in the video when it got cured as a baby
I don't really remember the video at all really well, maybe at the time when I was listening the writing didn't feel off to me, but if what you are saying is true, I agree with you 👍
Umm.. I get it, but I wonder why the US/ some other Western countries' admissions process is so mangled up, sometimes in a wrong way. I mean, what do you want from a 16-year-old!? - better give them a clear direction that can help them through the application process - and perhaps significantly contribute to their growth, in a tangible way. The essay takes more precedence than the student as a person, and their talents and interests.
In short, it's like ranking and judging musicians based on essays they wrote about their music rather than actually listening to it.
Background: I mostly went through Asian and European application processes - and the applications were very well-rounded and tested me in all areas. It was evident in the process. It didn't ask me to sell myself or my story - it was straightforward, assessed, and challenged me in every possible way, and the process was interactive. The 2 year-long journey for the preparation shaped me and gave me the skills that I used for my research and publications at university and even in my job after 8 years. I also helped my friends with their US university applications - some went to Ivy League schools. However, I still think the application process gets too subjective, and so mangled up in terms of their impact on the candidates and what they ask of them, compared to Europe and Asia.
I feel some students do too much to impress these schools that they forget to enjoy their teen yrs.
With the fazing out of SAT test scores, the essay is very important. Pay a professional to have someone look it over if you want to get into an Ivy League university.
Here is some advice from someone older who has spent many years in business and corporate America. The goal shouldn't be to get into an Ivy. The goal should be to get into a quality university where you will not incur any student loan debt. Corporate America doesn't care if you went to Harvard if Mary Smith -- who went to a quality university -- out works you, is better at building relationships and adds more value.
yeah but, overachievers gotta have their fake ivy clout and reassurance for having dumped their youth.
Amy, if you still want to have a fancy Ivy League name on your resume, you can still do that for your masters degree. I'm not sure what your career goals are (CS/EE?), and different fields place varying amounts of emphasis on having a MS/MA. Regardless, know that it's a lot easier to get into a grad program at Ivies than it is to get into undergrad. Keep up the good work!
Actually this is a good video because you accepted the advice and actually you would reiterate for better understanding. You'll do well going forward, Ivy or not. Also, just think how much money you'll save by going to a State school assuming you're going to Cal Tech
I'll be honest with your percentile you should have been able to get into any college of your choice, it was just bad luck that you didnt get into harvard. And personally i like the more merit based judgement for selection like in our Indian IIts and colleges rather than the american concept of including socalled other criteria, such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, and personal qualities and character because I think their hard work says enough of their character [Note*: I don't study in america I am not completely familiar with the american education system but this is my take on it(Trust me its not favouratism I am trying to be fair😅)]. Ofcourse it is also important to consider them for athletes or students who had something genuine they dedicated themselves to like students having a bussiness or who volunteer at some NGO etc... but they should have their diff college or a segment of admission where they are actually deciding to pursue their sport or other activity.
Personally I Think the talk was more of a random talk madeup to justify for not selecting you when in truth collages and only give a set number of seats to foreign or immigrant students and the rest is reserved for american students (politics😮💨) which I think is somewhat justified to some extent, I think the lack of proper eye contact and excessive blinking from the other person justifies that( Human psychology ) or it could be just a habit ( in other words I may be wrong).
* I have watched many other videos on this topic where teachers mention the exact opposite, of the points you mentioned like
1. Not having diversity in your essay or lack of ideas (in essay with really indepth explanation of those 2or 3 topics they covered )
2. Having a too narrow pallet of things you are passinate about
Lack of showing(that she mentioned) was valid, from my perspective and
the last advice from her that no one really knows how colleges actually select their students is also valid as ofcourse Luck plays a major role when so many topnotch students are applying of a college,
and even from the teachers perspective you can select good students even with your eyes closed (filtering out those with under 95% percent marks)
So my advice to you:
"Be so successful that it becomes Harvard's loss they did not accept you"
I think I had a very open minded take on the video, ofcourse you are agree or disagree with me but just know you are wrong if you dont agree with me 😅😅😅(I'm kidding)
Edit*: Damn I wrote a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNGGGGGG ass comment
people seeing this comment: Damn! I ain't reading that🤨
😂😂😂
This is the oppressive side of affirmative action that no one seems to want to discuss… affirmative action discriminates against Asian students on Ivy League school admission-there is actually a case regarding this issue, currently at the SCOTUS.
Hello Amy, this is really helpful. Would it be okay (with proper credits to you and your channel) for me to use this video as a reference material for my students? I help Indigenous Vietnamese get into competitive schools and this would really help. Thank you!
Hi, yes! Feel free to :) Thanks!
Thanks Amy you're so helpful
Yay so glad to help!
Can’t you try the next year? Not really know how USA admissions work. In Europe all the students make an anonymous entry exams the correctors only have our barcode number not even a name and those who have the higher grades (when I did it the final grade is 60% entry exams + 40% your institute finals grade) enter in their preferred university and career. One can try every year if wasn’t able to get the a place in their preferred career also if one got accepted but want to change to a different university (same career) it’s possible after one year in that university and good grades. Obviously one doesn’t need to write any assay if you get a higher or equal grade to the acceptance grade you are in.
To be fair I’m quite shocked that in USA the selection process is not transparent.
I’ve had eczema and so does my son. It’s really not that deep. I think you took a generic topic and tried to make it into the life challenge that is wasn’t. You have excellent writing skills, I hardly doubt it had much to do with that.
I see, was yours cured as well?
My brother has it as well
My daughter did not make it into Yale until 32 years old and she already had a masters and a lot of work experience to prepare her for the intense work load of Yale
People dont realize that you may been in the top class in your school but your also in completion with other people like you around the world. If your parents is not wealthy and dont know anybody at that school, you will have a slim chance of getting in.
she has perfect stats, its obvious why she didn't get accepted
For my college essay I was thinking about writing about this: So, I was wanting to write about how my biggest passion is growing. I found that even though I love learning new instruments, helping people, and getting good grades, they all help me grow. And that’s what makes it so enlightening. I was going to talk about how I got out of an abusive home and how leaving changed my mindset… is that bad? Cuz I heard from another TH-camr who said not to talk about abuse…
I have similar thoughts, centered around 'challenges', how they helped build my perception and way of thinking. But isn't sure whether they want to see that, considering the many suggestions on writing about a singular 'passion' instead.
I haven't watched the entire video yet, but as someone who just recently submitted my personal statement and like 2 of my ED/EA (8 supplements in total), I think the main issues are -
1. You're telling rather than showing
2. Too many points (not streamlined)
^ those are two issues that my college counselor and my friend who's really good at writing kept pointing out to me
DANG I was correct (and lack of passion which is the point I missed)
Bingo! You too good 😁
I’m gonna trust Amy and purchase the curicular programme.
Work harder and smarter than 97% of the people in your chosen field, focus on constantly learning and teaching yourself through out your career and I promise you it will not matter what school you went to, You will do extremely well in life.
What are my chances of getting into an Ivy?
I'm applying to Harvard, Princeton and a lot of other ivy's this year. I'm a 27 year old non-traditional student who recently left the U.S. Air Force. Far as stats go, I've been in college for a few months having finished my service in May 2022 and my GPA is a 3.95.
To tip the scale in favor of extracurriculars, I'm a prolific author. Having co-written 18 books with my sister; we've composed books in 13 different genre's ranging from science fiction, fantasy, poetry, a philosophical treatise on life and death, a parable of WWII with mice, chess endgame theory (Pawn endings, Knight endings, Bishop endings, and Rook endings thus far), political fantasy, short stories, essays, etc...
No this is not a joke, I'm a real person...
TOP 5 THINGS COLLEGE ADMISSION OFFICERS AT IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY LOOK FOR.
1. Are your parents someone important
2. Are you related to anyone in politics
3. Do you come from money
4. Did your parents go to the school or are you a legacy student
5. Are you black, latino, native american, or from some country that will help the school reach its race quota
Not a joke. The #1 factor that they consider is how much money your parents and/or you have
@@naturalselection7185 You are correct. Big donation opens many doors.
@@naturalselection7185 no offense but are you someone from ivy league (student or professor) or just a random person saying this?
I know a girl who got into an Ivy with no money, low grades, quietly working in an illegal industry, just because she got recommendation letters from a couple of accomplished Ivy alumni she met along the way. She studied hard, did her work, and graduated too. For some people, admission is purely charisma, street smarts, and a lot of luck.
@@naturalselection7185 no those kinds of people get in through other methods. Like they know faculty at harvard who can talk to the admissions team
I've never really had trouble noticing when something is poorly written, I generally see something and just know that something's wrong with it. However, I have trouble figuring out what's wrong with them, especially when the problem is something unorthodox. It is nice being able to tell when something could be written better though.
Thank you for this
Thanks so much for watching! ❤
Avoiding the elephant in the room, I guess you have been trained well to think and say the right things about this issue, even to your own disadvantage.
If you didn’t get accepted with those stats, awards, and extracurricular activities, then there’s not much promise for the rest of us. 😂 It’s almost like you’re too good academically and well rounded to the point where it’s not good. Which is crazy to me because those are the type of students that I would want at my school.
There’s a lot of luck that goes into it too, and you never know! You have your own strengths :)
Thanks for your kind words though :)
that's just the complete wrong way of looking at it. those things matter to a point. like with so much in life, there is diminishing value. this applicant did not submit a proficient essay, the messaging was poor, and there seemed to be lack of genuineness and soul and a true expression of their purpose. it is actually a very simple choice to eliminate based off this.
the advice the person gave about having a focus applies yo getting a job as well. For most jobs they don’t want resumes with a laundry list of experiences. Folks want something that highlights your relevant experience and strengths that will help the employer build the best team possible
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Thanks for watching! Hope it was helpful :)
Not sure how your video ended up on my feed…but I watched it because many, many years ago I was rejected by Yale. My stats were pretty good but compared to you…not good and I see that. Clearly, they rightly chose someone like you. I went to a UC and had the time of my life in college and more importantly built a good life for myself after I graduated. The purpose of college (I think) is to give one opportunities and I’ve had my fair share. With 30 plus yrs of hindsight, where you go to college is probably not going to define your life…besides there is always grad school to try again if you’re so included. Good luck ! Wish you nothing but the best
I was not accepted by Harvard for many reasons besides not applying :) .
even the perfect applicants forget not just passion, but genuineness. presenting themselves honestly. writing in their actual voice, not in a faux-poet voice that has to stuff their sentences with pointless imagery, sloppy syntax, and forced themes. when this is also reflected in being unable to portray an authentic commitment to something meaningful and fresh, it becomes a clear indication of yet another overachiever with no "soul." so many students who do get accepted burn out because they never found out what they actually wanted in life. do not try to get accepted as that kind of student.
the essay itself needed a lot more work. i doubt that whoever helped to proofread and revise was qualified to do so. the whole premise was a mistake -- someone received eczema treatment as a 1 or 2 year old, who as a baby was physically unable to retain memories or learn empathy, yet somehow developed a lifelong appreciation for something they can't possibly remember suffering from or feeling relief from. only the parents could possibly feel and understand it. when something happens to you at that age, you don't learn anything from it. continuing an entire essay based on this alone is a glaring mistake. each additional talking point, about US-China or East-West cooperation, does nothing to express who the applicant really is. and it feels like a ranting mess.
there are structural issues, pacing issues, weird word choices and sentences, and an end quote that is just fluff because the narrative of the writing piece just flopped along to the end.
I appreciate your honesty and I love how you’re not bitter towards the college or those who got in…….. what college is for you will be for you.
Edit: you go to CalTech (which is an amazing school) I was accepted there years ago for English (ironic I know) but I turned it down for a program closer to home.
Totally agree that we typically end up where we are meant to be :) wow English at Caltech! Glad it worked out
@@wamyy5 ikr enjoy your college years
ahhhh thank you so much for this
Show them you are the best in one particular field.
You are very smart, you will do well.
Hi, I'm a Junior in High School right now and I'm kind of lost on where to start to aim for my dream schools. I have only a few extracurriculars and my grades are nowhere near yours. Where can I start to improve my chances for a prestigious school like Stanford or just any Ivy League?
Watch this! th-cam.com/video/SzeM9WVpfh0/w-d-xo.html
Get some real-world experience in an area that interests you.
For my sister who got into Harvard, having a Phd. Harvard Grad as a writing coach/consultant was key.....And expect to pay $$$$$$$ for the service
They wanted a 5.0. 4.8 just not good enough