hey, the world is so much more bigger than college. hold onto any idea of what you'd want to do in the world and use college as a tool to reach that goal. it's just a means to an end, not the final destination. i know it's hard to let go of that sort of thinking where college is the end-all-be-all especially at a competitive high school, but it's important to just focus on yourself, stop comparing yourself to others, and be original. i was also a stressed out junior at some point, but spending more time sulking in disappointment and regret is a guaranteed waste of time. you'll make it through life.
I’ve been going through this exact thing in senior year! I quickly found my dream school and applied ED and wasn’t even deferred but straight out rejected, I felt like my entire future had been stomped on and there was no point in even looking at other colleges. I’ve been pushing through it as hard as I can but just try to remember rejection is redirection
Don’t panic, you’ve got this. Failure is inevitable, but it’s also a great teacher. The earlier you face setbacks, the more opportunities you have to grow and mature. Keep going-you’re on the right track!
Hi Victoria, I usually don't comment on videos though I feel very compelled to. This past Tuesday I was flat out rejected by my ED school, Vanderbilt. I was absolutely devasted and really cried my eyes out. I like you am very passionate: good grades, stellar ECs and more. In the same way people who really "don't do much" got accepted in their ED. It really isn't you, but a stroke of luck that frankly no one can control. You are doing great. Hold your head high, you seem very bright.
another junior/pioneer and yygs applicant here. i know firsthand that it sucks to open that letter and see the rejection, especially after all the hard work you poured into it. i completely get how you feel. pioneer waitlisted me and there was just this sinking feeling of ‘well you could’ve just gone there and accepted me, but i guess i just wasnt good enough’. but these programs and applications don’t define you and can’t predict your college results in any way. i’m sure you’ll end up at a university you’ll absolutely love - don’t lose hope ❤
The best advice I can give you is to start small. Reach out for less prestigious opportunities that are more local. For example, I was able to attend a summer and year long program at my local university with no experience in that field. After completing the program, I have been invited to get placed in internships that pertain in my field of interest. I know it feels like there is no time left but you should still reach out and find opportunities. Please don’t give up 💗
Girl, I feel you. But from a bigger perspective, none of this is that big of a deal. You can only appreciate what you have. Everything is going to be alright. You are not an application, you are a person-and a very thoughtful and nice person. Don't forget it!
Hey Victoria, So idk why this video popped up on my feed, but it's very nice to hear your reflections and feelings from your recent disappointment. It sucks to not have life go according to your plans from facing setbacks; the anxiety of not feeling "good enough" or comparing yourself to others (impostor syndrome) is something that can really plague our minds. I remember experiencing disappointments from not being accepted to certain summer programs (music related, academic related). Growing up in a korean household and an extremely competitive high school, there was much more pressure from family and social status to do well and get into a good college - all I heard in highschool was "college college college". It sounded like everybody knew the "formula" for college applications: take 4 years of language, do music, join honors societies, take on leadership positions, do external projects, etc. Looking back it was mostly a gimmick: I wish I spent more time finding activities I loved and could happily invest for the years to come rather than joining clubs and orgs here and there. I do think (as you said) instead of doing the same things everyone else does, the character of the person and the passion you show for the few activities you love shines more bright. I'm not in the admissions of any schools, but you should remember the admissions board is made of adults not students, and adults think more about life than activities: character, personality, humanity... Adults care more about the story and narrative of who you are as Victoria in jr year in high school, why do you do what you do? But anyways, these things may sound important now, but whatever the result I hope you don't feel too discouraged because your life goes on. If you don't get into a summer program, okay how are you going to react and move on? Maybe it's a blessing in disguise and something else is waiting for you. After I graduated college I didn't get into any of the jobs I wanted and felt very discouraged and unqualified, but I took time to reflect and realized I actually loved teaching in university. I'm now in the final year of my PhD hoping to teach in academia, and, though I had to take some detours, don't regret being rejected from these companies. For you, i'm sure there are many exciting things to look forward to your last years in high school, in college and beyond! You should definitely keep these videos and watch them in 10 years. You'll be surprised how much you've matured.
ty so much for your advice! yeah i'm def gonna look back on this 10 yrs later and realize it wasn't a rly big deal lol, and i think i've already begun to move on from the deferral. life is so much more than one summer program. i hope you're able to become a teacher!
Hey! I totally understand how you feel. Last year, I got rejected from almost everything I applied for. For example, I applied for both pomona and notre dame summer programs. I even got rejected from local city scholarships lol. I felt very defeated, but just recently I actually got accepted into the University of Notre Dame! all im saying is don't lose hope. you are worth so much more than a summer program. xx
don't let this rejection (or the deferral) let you down. im a junior too and really resonated with a good chunk of what you said, but u gotta remember that college isnt the end all be all (tho it feels that way sometimes)! you seem rly well spoken and obviously care a lot about your future so i am sure that no matter where u go, ur going to thrive there (I rly mean that)! we both got this next year for college admissions but even if it doesnt go the way we want, our futures are still bright (fingers crossed)
Hey I’m also a junior. It’s currently 11:43 PM and I just started on some homework I had. Everything will always work out even if it doesn’t feel like it. I think we need to learn, as juniors, and as humans, to not compare ourselves to “better” counterparts. All comparing ourselves to “better” candidates is going to do is make us insecure and depressed. I heard this saying “I’d rather have a 3.3GPA and have a social life, than a 4.0 with zero social life and 40 hours of mindless studying” and that’s true!! I know it hurts now, but what more can we do? We acknowledge that it hurts, move on from it, and grow
As a high school senior, don’t panic about not knowing what you’re interested in when it comes to making a change. I wasn’t able to make myself stand out or realize what I truly wanted to do until well into this year. Just take time and try to explore, you never know what you could end up having a passion for.
hey girl! i'm also a junior who applied for yygs. last year, i got waitlisted after applying late decision, and i was definitely crushed! i've seen many people who got rejected from yygs and are now yale students in college. only half of the spots are taken at ea. you have a THOUSAND more spots at rd that you will be considered for. dont give up hope yet! my mom was also really disappointed when i didn't make it last year, but i locked in and got a spot ed this year. if you want a tip for applying (if you apply next year or just for yale), try to create some type of image or character about you. this is yale young GLOBAL scholars. what makes you "globalized" and involved? emphasize your cultural identity and backgrounds that not everyone has. look at yygs' mission statement and align your essays to it. do you volunteer, tutor, speak a different language, participate in activism or diversity things? are you a family person? what do your friends describe you as? i'm chinese middle class (idk what you are), so at first i felt very reluctant when first applying. There's so many chinese out there, and im not first gen, economically disadvantaged, or legacy. so what? make YOURSELF special! i honestly crashed out this year and did NOTHING. i sat in my room and rotted, and trust me, i got yelled at for it. but there are SO many ways to fix this. find remote volunteering, tutor people online, FIND opportunities. the thing about Yale is they emphasize diversity, care, and community SO much more than ECS/stats. Yes, you probably won't get in if you fail every class, but the thing is, I've won no competitions or gotten anything higher than regional awards, and I still got in. it's all about the ESSAY. the essay is your ONLY chance to show who you are. yes, they will see you did math club and student council, but so does everyone else. so show who YOU are in those 400 words. find ways to mention your top qualities or activities that you think align with yale the most. your activities WONT be that special. with 140 countries and thousands of applicants, EVERYONE will play piano or edit the newspaper. but how do you STAND out? do you write advice columns or advocate for global issues on your newspaper? do you teach piano or volunteer to play piano at senior homes? (if you don't, try it hint hint wink wink) your essays should also show dedication to PLE, since you applied. i would write about ways you show leadership or change in your community. sometimes, the smallest things to us show our dedication and ethic. perhaps you write tax returns for your immigrant parents who cant speak english. perhaps you clean up a park every week. perhaps you created/lead an asian american club at your school. perhaps you walk your elderly neighbor's dog because that person can't. perhaps you teach your friends math/financial literacy in your free time. perhaps you like to engage in social activism (Black Lives Matter, RoevWade, etc) or political activism (parties, voting drives). think about the small but GOOD things you do in your life. how do they relate to your passions? i know how you feel about passion. honestly, ive lost passion for so much and struggle with the validity of doing good versus doing things to be good. i get that. i would say just do the things you love, and TRY new things. find the things you love and make them good. dance for senior homes, teach little kids or underdeveloped parts of your city dance! honestly, this video/audio diary is a great way to start! you applied PLE? talk about how you questioned ethics and the status quo on this youtube channel and how it led you to want to involve yourself in LPE. talk about how traveling to different parts of your city for dance led you to fight for economic inequality. > these are just random things im making up. my yygs essay took like, 6 drafts. trust me, it never turns out the way you think but it will be OKAY! if you're still unsure abt some things, feel free to dm me on instagram (@alissafeng), and i can talk more abt it!
oh my gosh girl you don't know how much this means to me -- it's rare that i find someone who i can relate to sm in experience. reading all the stuff you wrote, i def think i was a bit lacking in my essays and in terms of relating my interests back to "globalization" and PLE in general. next time i apply to smth, i'm def gonna take your advice; ty so so much for this. and ahhh congrats on getting in!!
please dont let rejection from junior summer programs/research change your entire perspective that you cannot get into the college of your dreams. I have also applied for some top programs during junior year (Stem@GTRI, MITES, LEDA, RISE Boston University Program, and a couple internship programs from my state). When I was first rejected from these programs beginning of the year when these applications started to roll out, I have also thought my entire life is going to be over, but I did get into MITES! This same situation happened when applying to a couple of Fly-In programs (something u might want to look into), I have also got rejected from every single one, except an Emory Fly-In! When it finally came time to apply for colleges, i thought i would not get a top school considering my fly in rejections and other factors such as grades and sat, but i got into Duke! As a final reminder, please remember that rejection is redirection! Please try considering other programs I have mentioned or even beyond (maybe RSI or SSP might be good research programs for u too). Good luck on your college journey and wish u the best! 🙏
thank you sm! i'll def look into the programs you mentioned, i have definitely heard of MITES and all ik is that it's suuuper competitive lol so it's awesome that you got in! and congrats on Duke!
hey, the world is so much more bigger than college. hold onto any idea of what you'd want to do in the world and use college as a tool to reach that goal. it's just a means to an end, not the final destination. i know it's hard to let go of that sort of thinking where college is the end-all-be-all especially at a competitive high school, but it's important to just focus on yourself, stop comparing yourself to others, and be original. i was also a stressed out junior at some point, but spending more time sulking in disappointment and regret is a guaranteed waste of time. you'll make it through life.
I’ve been going through this exact thing in senior year! I quickly found my dream school and applied ED and wasn’t even deferred but straight out rejected, I felt like my entire future had been stomped on and there was no point in even looking at other colleges. I’ve been pushing through it as hard as I can but just try to remember rejection is redirection
Don’t panic, you’ve got this. Failure is inevitable, but it’s also a great teacher. The earlier you face setbacks, the more opportunities you have to grow and mature. Keep going-you’re on the right track!
Hi Victoria, I usually don't comment on videos though I feel very compelled to. This past Tuesday I was flat out rejected by my ED school, Vanderbilt. I was absolutely devasted and really cried my eyes out. I like you am very passionate: good grades, stellar ECs and more. In the same way people who really "don't do much" got accepted in their ED. It really isn't you, but a stroke of luck that frankly no one can control. You are doing great. Hold your head high, you seem very bright.
thank you, and the same goes for you! college apps are a tough time, but we'll make it through :)
another junior/pioneer and yygs applicant here. i know firsthand that it sucks to open that letter and see the rejection, especially after all the hard work you poured into it. i completely get how you feel. pioneer waitlisted me and there was just this sinking feeling of ‘well you could’ve just gone there and accepted me, but i guess i just wasnt good enough’. but these programs and applications don’t define you and can’t predict your college results in any way. i’m sure you’ll end up at a university you’ll absolutely love - don’t lose hope ❤
aughh i get how you feel pioneer waitlisted me too 😭 but yes tysm for the kind words and they apply to you too! don't give up, we both got this 💪
The best advice I can give you is to start small. Reach out for less prestigious opportunities that are more local. For example, I was able to attend a summer and year long program at my local university with no experience in that field. After completing the program, I have been invited to get placed in internships that pertain in my field of interest. I know it feels like there is no time left but you should still reach out and find opportunities. Please don’t give up 💗
Girl, I feel you. But from a bigger perspective, none of this is that big of a deal. You can only appreciate what you have. Everything is going to be alright. You are not an application, you are a person-and a very thoughtful and nice person. Don't forget it!
Hey Victoria,
So idk why this video popped up on my feed, but it's very nice to hear your reflections and feelings from your recent disappointment. It sucks to not have life go according to your plans from facing setbacks; the anxiety of not feeling "good enough" or comparing yourself to others (impostor syndrome) is something that can really plague our minds. I remember experiencing disappointments from not being accepted to certain summer programs (music related, academic related). Growing up in a korean household and an extremely competitive high school, there was much more pressure from family and social status to do well and get into a good college - all I heard in highschool was "college college college". It sounded like everybody knew the "formula" for college applications: take 4 years of language, do music, join honors societies, take on leadership positions, do external projects, etc.
Looking back it was mostly a gimmick: I wish I spent more time finding activities I loved and could happily invest for the years to come rather than joining clubs and orgs here and there. I do think (as you said) instead of doing the same things everyone else does, the character of the person and the passion you show for the few activities you love shines more bright. I'm not in the admissions of any schools, but you should remember the admissions board is made of adults not students, and adults think more about life than activities: character, personality, humanity... Adults care more about the story and narrative of who you are as Victoria in jr year in high school, why do you do what you do?
But anyways, these things may sound important now, but whatever the result I hope you don't feel too discouraged because your life goes on. If you don't get into a summer program, okay how are you going to react and move on? Maybe it's a blessing in disguise and something else is waiting for you. After I graduated college I didn't get into any of the jobs I wanted and felt very discouraged and unqualified, but I took time to reflect and realized I actually loved teaching in university. I'm now in the final year of my PhD hoping to teach in academia, and, though I had to take some detours, don't regret being rejected from these companies. For you, i'm sure there are many exciting things to look forward to your last years in high school, in college and beyond!
You should definitely keep these videos and watch them in 10 years. You'll be surprised how much you've matured.
ty so much for your advice! yeah i'm def gonna look back on this 10 yrs later and realize it wasn't a rly big deal lol, and i think i've already begun to move on from the deferral. life is so much more than one summer program. i hope you're able to become a teacher!
Hey! I totally understand how you feel. Last year, I got rejected from almost everything I applied for. For example, I applied for both pomona and notre dame summer programs. I even got rejected from local city scholarships lol. I felt very defeated, but just recently I actually got accepted into the University of Notre Dame! all im saying is don't lose hope. you are worth so much more than a summer program. xx
don't let this rejection (or the deferral) let you down. im a junior too and really resonated with a good chunk of what you said, but u gotta remember that college isnt the end all be all (tho it feels that way sometimes)! you seem rly well spoken and obviously care a lot about your future so i am sure that no matter where u go, ur going to thrive there (I rly mean that)! we both got this next year for college admissions but even if it doesnt go the way we want, our futures are still bright (fingers crossed)
aw tyyy and yes we got this! wishing you all the best too :)
Hey I’m also a junior. It’s currently 11:43 PM and I just started on some homework I had.
Everything will always work out even if it doesn’t feel like it. I think we need to learn, as juniors, and as humans, to not compare ourselves to “better” counterparts. All comparing ourselves to “better” candidates is going to do is make us insecure and depressed. I heard this saying “I’d rather have a 3.3GPA and have a social life, than a 4.0 with zero social life and 40 hours of mindless studying” and that’s true!! I know it hurts now, but what more can we do? We acknowledge that it hurts, move on from it, and grow
As a high school senior, don’t panic about not knowing what you’re interested in when it comes to making a change. I wasn’t able to make myself stand out or realize what I truly wanted to do until well into this year. Just take time and try to explore, you never know what you could end up having a passion for.
I knew someone who got rejected by YYGS and accepted to Yale! Hope isn't lost
everything gonna be alright bro u got it
hey girl! i'm also a junior who applied for yygs. last year, i got waitlisted after applying late decision, and i was definitely crushed! i've seen many people who got rejected from yygs and are now yale students in college. only half of the spots are taken at ea. you have a THOUSAND more spots at rd that you will be considered for. dont give up hope yet!
my mom was also really disappointed when i didn't make it last year, but i locked in and got a spot ed this year. if you want a tip for applying (if you apply next year or just for yale), try to create some type of image or character about you.
this is yale young GLOBAL scholars. what makes you "globalized" and involved? emphasize your cultural identity and backgrounds that not everyone has. look at yygs' mission statement and align your essays to it. do you volunteer, tutor, speak a different language, participate in activism or diversity things? are you a family person? what do your friends describe you as? i'm chinese middle class (idk what you are), so at first i felt very reluctant when first applying. There's so many chinese out there, and im not first gen, economically disadvantaged, or legacy. so what? make YOURSELF special!
i honestly crashed out this year and did NOTHING. i sat in my room and rotted, and trust me, i got yelled at for it. but there are SO many ways to fix this. find remote volunteering, tutor people online, FIND opportunities. the thing about Yale is they emphasize diversity, care, and community SO much more than ECS/stats. Yes, you probably won't get in if you fail every class, but the thing is, I've won no competitions or gotten anything higher than regional awards, and I still got in. it's all about the ESSAY.
the essay is your ONLY chance to show who you are. yes, they will see you did math club and student council, but so does everyone else. so show who YOU are in those 400 words. find ways to mention your top qualities or activities that you think align with yale the most. your activities WONT be that special. with 140 countries and thousands of applicants, EVERYONE will play piano or edit the newspaper. but how do you STAND out? do you write advice columns or advocate for global issues on your newspaper? do you teach piano or volunteer to play piano at senior homes? (if you don't, try it hint hint wink wink)
your essays should also show dedication to PLE, since you applied. i would write about ways you show leadership or change in your community. sometimes, the smallest things to us show our dedication and ethic. perhaps you write tax returns for your immigrant parents who cant speak english. perhaps you clean up a park every week. perhaps you created/lead an asian american club at your school. perhaps you walk your elderly neighbor's dog because that person can't. perhaps you teach your friends math/financial literacy in your free time. perhaps you like to engage in social activism (Black Lives Matter, RoevWade, etc) or political activism (parties, voting drives). think about the small but GOOD things you do in your life. how do they relate to your passions?
i know how you feel about passion. honestly, ive lost passion for so much and struggle with the validity of doing good versus doing things to be good. i get that. i would say just do the things you love, and TRY new things. find the things you love and make them good. dance for senior homes, teach little kids or underdeveloped parts of your city dance! honestly, this video/audio diary is a great way to start! you applied PLE? talk about how you questioned ethics and the status quo on this youtube channel and how it led you to want to involve yourself in LPE. talk about how traveling to different parts of your city for dance led you to fight for economic inequality.
> these are just random things im making up. my yygs essay took like, 6 drafts. trust me, it never turns out the way you think but it will be OKAY!
if you're still unsure abt some things, feel free to dm me on instagram (@alissafeng), and i can talk more abt it!
oh my gosh girl you don't know how much this means to me -- it's rare that i find someone who i can relate to sm in experience. reading all the stuff you wrote, i def think i was a bit lacking in my essays and in terms of relating my interests back to "globalization" and PLE in general. next time i apply to smth, i'm def gonna take your advice; ty so so much for this. and ahhh congrats on getting in!!
please dont let rejection from junior summer programs/research change your entire perspective that you cannot get into the college of your dreams. I have also applied for some top programs during junior year (Stem@GTRI, MITES, LEDA, RISE Boston University Program, and a couple internship programs from my state). When I was first rejected from these programs beginning of the year when these applications started to roll out, I have also thought my entire life is going to be over, but I did get into MITES! This same situation happened when applying to a couple of Fly-In programs (something u might want to look into), I have also got rejected from every single one, except an Emory Fly-In! When it finally came time to apply for colleges, i thought i would not get a top school considering my fly in rejections and other factors such as grades and sat, but i got into Duke! As a final reminder, please remember that rejection is redirection! Please try considering other programs I have mentioned or even beyond (maybe RSI or SSP might be good research programs for u too). Good luck on your college journey and wish u the best! 🙏
thank you sm! i'll def look into the programs you mentioned, i have definitely heard of MITES and all ik is that it's suuuper competitive lol so it's awesome that you got in! and congrats on Duke!
u good?
aww yes i'm fine! rejection happens to everyone, i just so happen to be very sensitive about it - so sensitive that i made a whole vid on it lmao
She is just like me fr
fr 😔
Wow same