5. Pursuing a remote internship 4. Start an online community 3. Write/Publish a Book 2. Creating an Organization 1. Starting a COVID related initiative
for the last tip, please don’t start a covid initiative with the intention of doing it solely for college. you have to really care to make that activity meaningful, and TONS of students in my (fairly competitive) area have already started nonprofits/organizations that are related to blm or covid-19. none of these organizations have any real impact on the community, at least any more than helping out the national and area-wide organizations and people in charge of dealing with covid-19. do activities because you WANT to do them, don’t just start them because you want to get into a “prestigious” college- because tbh, prestige doesn’t really matter for most majors. just do things that you love and actually care about/want to do and you will be ok!
Sadly many students learn how to take advantage of situations to get into a prestigious school. That is why one can see so many adults working without passion for what they do or without compassion for what others are going through.
Publishing a children’s book seems like something I could be good at, I’ve been illustrating for about a year now and never thought of it. Thank you for the idea!!
@@irisfu6929, who do you work with to get a book published? I can see a situation where you have a great idea for a book, you draft it but then you're not sure who to reach out to. Even if you find someone, it seems like it could take a while for it to actually get approved and published.
I’ll be honest, this is pretty unrealistic when you have a life outside of school. And have responsibilities such as a working and studying while living on your own.
@@Hephzibah624 Not that many highschool students have a spouse and kids though and typically if you don't watch TV or stay on social media aimlessly you'll find you have lots of time to do these extracurriculars
this video makes me think of this one: th-cam.com/video/Ro_AiGdwoWU/w-d-xo.html both youtubers are very interested in something and are giving advice about going through quarantine meaningfully also both stanford students
Hello I am Tenzing Dheden currently doing an internship with International Model United Nations. If you are interested in building up your CV please check out my Instagram @dheden01 there are online conferences where by the end of the seminar you can get certificate recognised by United Nations and an incredible experience. Do dm me it will help you and me too
You don’t hAve to do everything. Get into high school and do the things that interest you. if you like choir take choir if you like sports take sports. Get good grades and smash the SAT which if you start preparing in your freshman year the test won’t be that hard by your junior. You will most likely be able to get into a descent state school which can be all you need. You don’t have to get into the most prestigious school to be successful. Also get into some after school activity’s and club’s that your interested in as well
just try and do as many clubs that you are interested in once you enter highschool. I was interested in a lot of clubs in 9th grade but I didn't join any because I didn't see a point. now I REALLY regret it because I feel like I wasted an entire year of highschool
lol never do extracurricular activities just so you can get into college. figure out what you're passionate about and work on whatever that is and then find ways to convey that passion in your college applications imho.
Translation: figure out what you can pretend to be passionate about, because there's no way in hell you can say you're passionate about that other thing you didn't do well in in school
Iris, no cap but it's been more than one year since I've started watching college related videos and ur videos are one of the most helpful. Tysmm❤ you are inspiring
I actually didn't know how what to do for my college application but now thanks to you, i have so many ideas! Especially about the writing and publishing a book. So thank you!
okay like now seriously im in 8th grade and omg! this video really helped me alot! i want to study in harvard medical and become a cardiothoaric surgeon! as you said im going to publish a book in ebook form for students who are not able to study in quarentine! i hope it will really help em!
I can’t say how much I’m thankful to you♥️I’m a 16 year old girl from Iran and I’m gonna immigrate to Canada next year alone and Im really scared to the pony that I can’t sleep at nights, in Iran I’m a top student and I can easily attend the best universities here but well everything is pretty much awful in my homeland(it’s Middle East after all lol) and I can’t stand living in this place wasting my life away,I don’t really know what to do I also don’t know how I can be accepted in a good school I’ve been searching for some advice and I found your channel thanks so so so much for explaining this things you are helping me a lot♥️
i'd appreciate it if you could focus a little on international students. As a person living in Saudi Arabis It's difficult to engage in any extracurricular activity (community service, music camp etc.)
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for making this video - I'll be in grade 11 in September and I've been super stressed about universities and extracurriculars, and your videos are the most helpful videos ever. Thank you so much Iris!!
I was feeling super discouraged as my junior year is coming to a close and I haven’t started any clubs, businesses, etc. Then you brought up writing and publishing! I’ve actually written a novel and am currently working on editing down all 686 pages. Publishing would definitely be a challenge but it has been my goal for years! If you’re a freshman or sophomore, I would definitely recommend getting into writing. You could even do poetry 🖋📖
I’m a 14-year-old from the Philippines, and my dream is to become a Vassar graduate to pursue law. My grades surely aren’t the best, and I don’t have ANY extracurriculars, but I found this video really motivating for me! I have a passion for social equality and would love to write a book and create an organization that advocates it. Thank you for showing your young audience that we can be capable of doing so much more than what we are expected to do! However, I would like to start doing lighter and easier extracurriculars because everything is so overwhelming at the moment. Would you recommend any small and easy extracurriculars; just so that I can slowly adjust as I am very new to doing these sort of activities.
Hello I am Tenzing Dheden currently doing an internship with International Model United Nations. If you are interested in building up your CV please check out my Instagram @dheden01 there are online conferences where by the end of the seminar you can get certificate recognised by United Nations and an incredible experience. Do dm me it will help you and me too😊
I kinda disagree with #1, since I feel like everyone is starting a COVID-related initiative though, especially in tutoring and research. Maybe colleges would see through that unless their passion was already in COVID-related stuff (epidemiology/public health) and it could take away from a spike that was developed prior to COVID?
I think it can be adapted to anything tho - for example a business/finance initiative addressing COVID situations. I think with all of these, there’s the risk that colleges would see through (esp if u do something like, as you said, tutoring), but as long as you’re being creative, authentic, and genuine about any of them, you should be fine.
Hey guys! I’m actually a high school student and I self published a book about North Korea. A girl named Yebin must defect from her home country North Korea in order to live. Its called Defector: Escaping out of North Korea. Hope someone would read it. Thanks ❤️
@@iheartkira. you can read it here: www.amazon.com/Defector-Escaping-out-North-Korea-ebook/dp/B07VRN8T9Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OFODXQPY8UWD&dchild=1&keywords=escaping+out+of+north+korea&qid=1594219773&sprefix=Escping+out%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-1
I love your channel so much! Can you make a video on “How to Study” (techniques, methods, etc.) and “How to manage your time well” (Less phone time, organization tips, etc.)
Hey! I plan to make more of these in the future, but for now, check out “how to ace any test” and “planning for a productive summer”. I talk about the tips you’re looking for there ☺️
hi iris! the "what i make as a high school graduate" video sounds really interesting to me. maybe it doesn't have to be the direction of the overall channel, but i think it could be cool!
similar to writing a book; if you are a musician, record an album/ep. It's really easy to record, edit, and produce at home with a lot less money than you think. It looks impressive and it also helps show colleges your personality and your drive
Tbh i don't usually comment on any video but ig your tips were heck useful and since you asked for suggestions this video is incredible!♡ Would you mind doin' some research on internships available for teenagers because most of online internships are for college students and not for high schoolers.♡♡♡
Hi Sneha! Thanks for the comment. I’d recommend checking out the internship and cold calling videos I’ve made! Most internships (that I’ve gotten) were not through an application. Hope the videos helps and lmk if you have more questions about internships!
I think I'm going to write a book. If it does really well, that can be my spike. Writing was never the problem, it was just that I didn't know WHAT to wite about, but now I do :)
I'm sad that I found this video late. I don't think my extracurricular activities from freshmen and sophomore were that impressive. I'm going into junior year and this year I have to do remote, so there aren't many extracurricular activities. I noticed you said to start an online community. I do have a fan account on Instagram for a kpop band I love (this sounds so cringey and embarrassing XD) that I'm currently growing. I don't think colleges would find it impressive but what do you think? Would it be considered an online community that seems good to mention?
I think anything that you genuinely love and can write compellingly on will be interesting and impressive. I honestly didn't start unique activities (mostly bc I didn't know I could) until junior year. I think anything you do is worthwhile of mentioning, if they're close to your heart
Hello I am Tenzing Dheden currently doing an internship with International Model United Nations. If you are interested in building up your CV please check out my Instagram @dheden01 there are online conferences where by the end of the seminar you can get certificate recognised by United Nations and an incredible experience. Do dm me it will help you and me too😊
@@irisfu6929 what do you suggest for those interested in multiple things. i’m stuck between stem and business. i also don’t have many awards, arts or sports and i really want to a good school but i don’t think it will happen
this video showed up on my discovery page and it was super helpful! so you achieved your goal! thank you! also you’re the cutest and i’m in love with you
Hi Katherine, avoid writing in a whiny tone. Try not to complain about anything without explicit saying what you did to make the situation better. Frame every challenge as an opportunity that you took to push yourself and make a contribution to your community.
what a wholesome video!!! it’s a good thing I found your channel! just by watching this I can already tell that your content is something else. Everything you just said is really very helpful and beneficial 😊❤️
I'm an incoming senior in high school. If most of my activities started during my junior or senior year, would the admission panel thinks I did it for the sake of the application?
Don’t worry about what they think. If you do it bc you’re interested in doing it (even without the goal of college apps), then it’d come off as genuine and you’d be able to write authentic essays that convey the motives behind your projects.
I personally didn’t start my book until summer before senior year but it just happened to be the right time/the time when I learned of how to you can self publish.
Kim Huynh same! I did a sport freshman year that i decided to drop and i only did one other club :/ im still in that club but im nervous colleges wont like how poor my ecs were freshman yr, cuz i dont think im gonna put the sport on my app since i didnt follow through with it.
Hi, where can we find these internships? Because I tried on LinkedIn, and other websites but I didn’t find any because I am still a junior in high school
Usually you have to do some cold outreach. Check out my internship video (linked in description) for more info. But a lot of the times, there would be no job posting or application per se - you almost create the position for yourself by doing outreach
Here's a place where I post virtual programs/internships: www.successbasemass.com/post/virtual-summer-programs-for-high-school-students You can also join these youth led organizations as interns/volunteers: www.successbasemass.com/post/50-youth-led-organizations-accepting-youth-volunteers
what are some more specific examples of covid related initiatives? also congrats on this video being a huge success i thought it was super informational!
in my country extracurricular activities don't exist and aren't appreciated. so this is unfortunately the best i can do. and with my school offering no honors classes and no ap classes, i'm not going to get in. i know it. but it's worth a shot.
I agree totally that writing a book sounds very cool and unique, but will it still look impressive to colleges if no one actually bought the book or if it was written in a very poor manner? I would love to pursue it but I'm just worried about whether I could end up in a sticky situation and wasting my time.
The effort is what counts! Write you book to the best of your ability and try to sell as many copies as you can. Don’t ever ever worry about “failing” or “not being good enough”. Just try your best and the best will happen!
i wrote a novel on wattpad, its a fictional storyline book, would that count or is that stupid to put in my application? (its a romantic teen fiction thingy)
ive done the same but idk if its worth putting unless you publish it which you can do yourself with amazon bc that shows more initiative but honestly its entirely up to you like if you think it makes your application better then go for it!! theres no limitations to what you can and cant include :)
@@1purplepancakes i want to but i just dont want it to backfire yk, like its- idek but im scared. i feel like i have one shot at this and i do NOT wanna mess it up ://
@@noorulain3180 i get that sm!! talk to your careers counsellor and see if they think its a good idea, if youre proud and think its good and shows more of who you are and your careers counsellor person agrees then go for it! putting your all and your whole self in can never be a bad thing, if they dont like you for you then screw them!!!
@@beyz1241 well personally me as a high schooler, me I've done an internship for a big HR company, aswell as a renowned NGO in my locality. I'm also a part of a student led NGO. That's all for my internships. I'm sure alot of companies do keep high scholers as interns
Girl, I live in Mexico and I was searching for this video since like, two months ago, I knew that I was moving to US and haven't done anything interesting since I started high school here. Sooooo thanks!!
I am writing a paper titled "Corona Virus and its impact on US Economy", and I am planning to pursue Economics at University. How do you think this is going to work? Thank you!!!
Hey i know you probably don't know much about international applicants but my school doesn't have that big of an emphasis on extracurriculars and no one really does anything outside of school other than a couple of sports. What do i do to make my ecs stronger if i don't have any opportunities in school?
All of the ideas I suggested in this video can be done outside of school. That's why they are so great. You can initiate them on your own and find other people to join outside your school's network. Or, for something like publishing a book, you don't need anyone else but yourself. For something like doing research, it would HAVE to be outside of high school. Therefore, you don't need clubs from your school for any of these, and tbh I think joining clubs at schools is simply too basic and doesn't show any initiative or character. Hope this helps but lmk if you have more questions!
I think maybe something that helps educate people about financial recessions/how to prepare for them, or you could create something that provides financial support for low income families, or you can create a business that donates proceeds to a cause that helps those affected by COVID, etc. the possibilities are endless - I’m sure you can brainstorm some more, but be creative and have fun with it!
hey! I've got a question - on Wattpad, I'm writing an researching all about highschool and college, its basically an in-depth guide about everything you need to know from what to do in freshman year to how to save up money and so much more. is that something that will look good as a personal project? ill be writing it over the course of 4 years as well
That is a pretty cool personal project! But I think as a third-person I'm still not sure on what exactly your "passion" or "interest" is. Are you into education? Personal finance? Or something else? That's something you could consider and think about. After all, I think your "passion project" should really clearly convey your personal values and such
@@irisfu6929 I'm really into education and informative writing! currently, I'm in 9th still kind of figuring it out but I'm really passionate about helping people
@@irisfu6929 Can you please guide me how to apply for it and the procedure? If you want to talk to me personally my whatsapp: 9566358453 Email: swastiksinha0309@gmail.com Please contact me as fast as you could because I rarely use TH-cam.
Thanks for this amazing video! This is like the most informative college related video I've ever seen! Loved all the points that u made! Extremely Helpful!
I made a video on landing research opportunities and another on landing internships. I go more in depth about doing cold outreach there, def recommend watching those. But of course, lmk if you have more questions afterward!
Hi! I have a question. Alot of people say doing clubs (obviously before corona) and getting high positions within clubs is a really impressive thing to put on your college applications. Did you do clubs in high school? And as someone with terrible social anxiety, do you have any suggestions regarding finding a club with ... how do you say "limited interaction" LOL. Thanks so much!
hi, i saw your video on my recommended and i really like your channel! i have a question about writing a book. if i do write a book what kind of topics should i write about. should it be a topic that i’m really interested in or just a regular fiction novel?
100% a topic you're really interested in. it seems like most ppl on this channel are writing a nonfiction book on their area of interest, and ppl's interests vary widely!
Ooohh none of them seems to be possible for me. For context I'm from Bihar(India), the poorest state in India, and no I'm not one of the few rich. The situation is so bad that we have had no income in last 4 months. Still these are some of my ECs:- 1. Spread awareness about covid and the dos and don'ts. My native place is not that attached with the main stream society, so they really didn't know what the covid really is. 2. Have done a software development course from Duke. 3. Am pursuing a computational neuroscience course from U of Washington. 4. I teach some local children. 5. An NTSE(National talent search examination) qualified. This is conducted by the union govt and so is a pan India competition. 6. Founder and president of my school's coders club and president of maths club. 7. Was selected for Harvard ssp but couldn't attend due to this covid situation. 8. Helped make a local study center it's website. Does that sound good? I am targeting Harvard. I know it's a lot less than you said. And am also my school's highest scorer in10th and 11th grade. Haven't attempted SAT yet but expect a 1550 around.
Nice that’s great! As long as you’re making the most out of you’re situation and excelling in your context, you will stand out. Also, I’d suggest focusing more on what you love and less on doing things you think will impress colleges. At the end, what you love will come off as most genuine, unique, and impressive
@@irisfu6929 Thanks for the reply. I actually decided to apply to US in the March itself. So most of it is about what I like. And to be honest I had the applications in my mind when applying for the different courses but that was not the primary reason. My school was not conducting online classes, so I had some free time. I used it to hone my computer skills and also read some books on ancient civilizations.
Could creating a club when school starts in the fall be something? I've out forth a lot of though and research into what I want to do, I'm planning on relating it to mental health and overall healthy living, a safe space where people can come after school to talk and decompress. This summer I've mainly been researching colleges and starting applications, but would starting this club be beneficial?
@@irisfu6929 No yeah of course! I've had this idea and I feel like itd really be a good thing especially during the school year with dealing with covid. Thank you for the feedback and the video altogether!! Really helpful!
hi! i have a question concerning one of the activities you listed. i created a discord server about last week dedicated to productivity, studying, and helping others with their schoolwork. we currently have members from different parts of the world, and it's growing slowly but surely. would that count as starting an online community?
This summer, I’ve just started looking into colleges and being prudent of my future.. I feel as if I’m behind other students. I’m going into junior year of high school. I regretted not taking any APs or Honors class during my sophomore year as I didn’t look much into them and I didn’t want to overburden myself with the extra work. However, now I’m trying to attain as much informations as I can about colleges and about what I should be doing during my remaining time in high school. I’ve just found out about your channel and I’m definitely going to check out the rest of your videos to see what I can do, as well as things that I should be keeping in mind this summer.
Hi Iris, love your videos! I have a question though, what would make me stand out more on my college apps, my grades, passion projects, or both? Because my grades are a little bit above average and I just wanted to stand out more but people say all I need to do is get better grades. Anyhoo, I just want to get into a great out-of-state university and just wanted some advice on how to achieve that goal! 😁
I don’t think you’d ever stand out with good grades bc everyone has good grades, but u need good enough grades to show that you’re ready for the academics at these schools
can i get pinned 🥺🌸
;)
OMG I MADE IT 😪😭💖💖 My educational queen noticed me 🧚💘🌸
LOL!!!
Awww..
This is sad; do activities that you enjoy, not for the purpose of looking impressive on college apps
5. Pursuing a remote internship
4. Start an online community
3. Write/Publish a Book
2. Creating an Organization
1. Starting a COVID related initiative
Wow this makes me feel so legit bc I see videos from really big channels getting these types of summaries in the comments 😂😂🙌 thx ☺️
Iris Fu would a good extra curricular activity be something u interest in ?
Thanxx☺️
Thank you
This is sad; do activities that you enjoy, not for the purpose of looking impressive on college apps
Unfortunately in my country nobody care about extracurricular activities and I think I’m literally by myself trying to make it works
Me too! Were you able to do anything be yourself?
Mee to
Are u indian too bro? Coz im
And here its terrible situation ..Nothing excepts study
@@guywithoutglasses0199 Yea ikr
Nobody literally cares bout extracurriculars
for the last tip, please don’t start a covid initiative with the intention of doing it solely for college. you have to really care to make that activity meaningful, and TONS of students in my (fairly competitive) area have already started nonprofits/organizations that are related to blm or covid-19. none of these organizations have any real impact on the community, at least any more than helping out the national and area-wide organizations and people in charge of dealing with covid-19. do activities because you WANT to do them, don’t just start them because you want to get into a “prestigious” college- because tbh, prestige doesn’t really matter for most majors. just do things that you love and actually care about/want to do and you will be ok!
WORD 🙌🏼
Sadly many students learn how to take advantage of situations to get into a prestigious school. That is why one can see so many adults working without passion for what they do or without compassion for what others are going through.
Totally Agree!
Is there anything i can help? please reply. Ik i’m an year late. but it’s never too late. uk.
Publishing a children’s book seems like something I could be good at, I’ve been illustrating for about a year now and never thought of it. Thank you for the idea!!
Yeah!!! Have fun with it:)
How are you doing?
@@irisfu6929, who do you work with to get a book published? I can see a situation where you have a great idea for a book, you draft it but then you're not sure who to reach out to. Even if you find someone, it seems like it could take a while for it to actually get approved and published.
I’ll be honest, this is pretty unrealistic when you have a life outside of school. And have responsibilities such as a working and studying while living on your own.
Yeah for sure. These are all just ideas esp for bored students trapped at home with nothing to do atm
Yeah, or if you have a husband and kids on top of work and school. 😵
@@Hephzibah624 atleast he didn't leave you
@@Hephzibah624 Not that many highschool students have a spouse and kids though and typically if you don't watch TV or stay on social media aimlessly you'll find you have lots of time to do these extracurriculars
Yep I barley get extra time and if I do I’m drained :(
unfortunately i'm too busy being sad, but maybe in the next time
:/ so sad
this video makes me think of this one: th-cam.com/video/Ro_AiGdwoWU/w-d-xo.html
both youtubers are very interested in something and are giving advice about going through quarantine meaningfully
also both stanford students
Hello I am Tenzing Dheden currently doing an internship with International Model United Nations. If you are interested in building up your CV please check out my Instagram @dheden01 there are online conferences where by the end of the seminar you can get certificate recognised by United Nations and an incredible experience. Do dm me it will help you and me too
This video made me sad lmao
Uh no don’t invite me to the next time lol
Every time i watch these videos my self esteem drops
I'm only going into 7th-grade right now, but watching this, I'm already internally freaking out
Don't be!! All of these are supposed to be fun -- have fun in high school and don't do anything just for college. it's not worth it
Me to man, this shit is scary
Man you are brave
You don’t hAve to do everything. Get into high school and do the things that interest you. if you like choir take choir if you like sports take sports. Get good grades and smash the SAT which if you start preparing in your freshman year the test won’t be that hard by your junior. You will most likely be able to get into a descent state school which can be all you need. You don’t have to get into the most prestigious school to be successful. Also get into some after school activity’s and club’s that your interested in as well
just try and do as many clubs that you are interested in once you enter highschool. I was interested in a lot of clubs in 9th grade but I didn't join any because I didn't see a point. now I REALLY regret it because I feel like I wasted an entire year of highschool
lol never do extracurricular activities just so you can get into college. figure out what you're passionate about and work on whatever that is and then find ways to convey that passion in your college applications imho.
WORD. I hope I didn’t come off as “do this for college” but I 100% agree that you should do everything for your personal & long-term growth.
This.
i like to self learn too so that's gonna look bad for me . i learn through courses and stuff
yeah but just so u know iris wasnt trying to say that u should just do extracurriculars for college.
Translation: figure out what you can pretend to be passionate about, because there's no way in hell you can say you're passionate about that other thing you didn't do well in in school
Iris, no cap but it's been more than one year since I've started watching college related videos and ur videos are one of the most helpful. Tysmm❤ you are inspiring
I appreciate that!
Yess, we want more college content Iris. Love your enthusiasm and energy!
good to hear!
agree!!
i wish you were my counselor LOL
LOL school counselors are actually a fat rip sometimes :/ i guess this is the beauty of the internet!
Iris Fu my counselor never answers-
@@AWong-ss5pn :// life is tough. they've also got sooo many students it's actually impossible.
@@irisfu6929 very true we gotta love the internet, i dont even have a counselor :((
Can we get a part 2 with 5 (or even 10) more passion project ideas? I think it would help a lot of us brainstorm.
Yes that’s actually kinda a good idea. What about worst 5 tho.. 🤔🤔 thoughts?
Iris Fu YES!! and worst five would be interesting too
Are scientific webinars or symposium good activities?
Who else here are introverts and trying to find a way to shine in your own way ..slay guys we all can do this
I actually didn't know how what to do for my college application but now thanks to you, i have so many ideas! Especially about the writing and publishing a book. So thank you!
okay like now seriously im in 8th grade and omg! this video really helped me alot! i want to study in harvard medical and become a cardiothoaric surgeon! as you said im going to publish a book in ebook form for students who are not able to study in quarentine! i hope it will really help em!
Ahh so good to hear this!! Best of luck with your book and have fun in HS!!
Dude i m out with same goals as yours just i am an high school junior (10th grade) .. Hope we can make it 🤧✊💜✨✨
I can’t say how much I’m thankful to you♥️I’m a 16 year old girl from Iran and I’m gonna immigrate to Canada next year alone and Im really scared to the pony that I can’t sleep at nights, in Iran I’m a top student and I can easily attend the best universities here but well everything is pretty much awful in my homeland(it’s Middle East after all lol) and I can’t stand living in this place wasting my life away,I don’t really know what to do I also don’t know how I can be accepted in a good school I’ve been searching for some advice and I found your channel thanks so so so much for explaining this things you are helping me a lot♥️
Wow you have an amazing story, and I’m glad my videos are helping you!
Well if it helps you western universities eat stories like that up, it may increase your chance of getting into a good school.
缘份YUANFEN wow good luck!
how are you now?
hey ,it's been 4 years ,where are you now 😄😄😄😉
I’m already a college student, and STILL I was driven to click this... why, idk 🤷🏽♂️😂
Me too JAJAJA
HAHAH
I'm hoping extracurriculars will look good on a transfer application. I hear requirements aren't as tough so idek if I should only focus on classes
i'd appreciate it if you could focus a little on international students. As a person living in Saudi Arabis It's difficult to engage in any extracurricular activity (community service, music camp etc.)
hey! all of these activities don't require organized clubs/community service/camps. these are completely ideas that you can start and do on your own!
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for making this video - I'll be in grade 11 in September and I've been super stressed about universities and extracurriculars, and your videos are the most helpful videos ever. Thank you so much Iris!!
I'm so glad that I could help!! Thank you for this message ❤️
hey yein, i will be in grade 11 in march ,can you also suggest me some extracurricular you did in this time span
You have no idea how valuable and helpful these videos are. thank you and you are a saint for taking your time and posting these!!
Of course!! So good to hear that they’re helpful
I was feeling super discouraged as my junior year is coming to a close and I haven’t started any clubs, businesses, etc. Then you brought up writing and publishing! I’ve actually written a novel and am currently working on editing down all 686 pages. Publishing would definitely be a challenge but it has been my goal for years! If you’re a freshman or sophomore, I would definitely recommend getting into writing. You could even do poetry 🖋📖
When your done, i'll definitely read it if you tell me the title!
@Afton Crain, who did you work with to actually get it published? Just wondering who to reach out to to start that process.
ur camera quality has gotten so much better! luv the video iris
Hahaha yes new camera!! 😍🤩
YES,WE WANT THE MONEY VIDEO!!!
By the way,I actually looked for a video like this all over TH-cam ,so thank you!
Hahahaha I’m making it soon!!
It might not be long before this channel blows up. Keep up the great work and slide into my recommendations more, please!
That's the plan! Thanks for the encouraging words, Kenji
I’m a 14-year-old from the Philippines, and my dream is to become a Vassar graduate to pursue law. My grades surely aren’t the best, and I don’t have ANY extracurriculars, but I found this video really motivating for me! I have a passion for social equality and would love to write a book and create an organization that advocates it. Thank you for showing your young audience that we can be capable of doing so much more than what we are expected to do! However, I would like to start doing lighter and easier extracurriculars because everything is so overwhelming at the moment. Would you recommend any small and easy extracurriculars; just so that I can slowly adjust as I am very new to doing these sort of activities.
i hope you succeed 🤧💕
Hello I am Tenzing Dheden currently doing an internship with International Model United Nations. If you are interested in building up your CV please check out my Instagram @dheden01 there are online conferences where by the end of the seminar you can get certificate recognised by United Nations and an incredible experience. Do dm me it will help you and me too😊
Tenzing Dheden ahhhh, thank you!
thanks for putting dartmouth in the thumbnail. it makes me feel like my college is cool.
Lol dartmouth is cool!!!
thanks! 🥺
Loved this video! Super informative!!! I especially liked it cause we can actually do this while in quarantine!
Glad you liked it!!
I kinda disagree with #1, since I feel like everyone is starting a COVID-related initiative though, especially in tutoring and research. Maybe colleges would see through that unless their passion was already in COVID-related stuff (epidemiology/public health) and it could take away from a spike that was developed prior to COVID?
I think it can be adapted to anything tho - for example a business/finance initiative addressing COVID situations. I think with all of these, there’s the risk that colleges would see through (esp if u do something like, as you said, tutoring), but as long as you’re being creative, authentic, and genuine about any of them, you should be fine.
@@irisfu6929 I am now concerned since I started a local tutoring program to help students in my area, would this look bad???
Hey guys! I’m actually a high school student and I self published a book about North Korea. A girl named Yebin must defect from her home country North Korea in order to live. Its called Defector: Escaping out of North Korea. Hope someone would read it. Thanks ❤️
sounds awesome!
where can i read it
@@iheartkira. you can read it here: www.amazon.com/Defector-Escaping-out-North-Korea-ebook/dp/B07VRN8T9Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OFODXQPY8UWD&dchild=1&keywords=escaping+out+of+north+korea&qid=1594219773&sprefix=Escping+out%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-1
This is super cool! Congrats!
@@irisfu6929 Thank you😊
Omg thank you! This video is so useful !
I'm so glad! best of luck!
thank you girlie !
I love your channel so much! Can you make a video on “How to Study” (techniques, methods, etc.) and “How to manage your time well” (Less phone time, organization tips, etc.)
Hey! I plan to make more of these in the future, but for now, check out “how to ace any test” and “planning for a productive summer”. I talk about the tips you’re looking for there ☺️
OMY U REPLIED!! Thank you for answering 💕
hi iris! the "what i make as a high school graduate" video sounds really interesting to me. maybe it doesn't have to be the direction of the overall channel, but i think it could be cool!
thanks for the feedback! i've heard the same from multiple other people so I will be making that video very soon!
Could you still make the video about how much you make? I would find that interesting. Thanks!
hahaha yes if I find one other comment saying this I'll make it!
@@irisfu6929 please do!:)
@iris Fu pls do
@@chillbeatz9886 noted!
Iris Fu aye you responded. Great yeah please do for sure. Love your videos!
I square Iris is the best college TH-camr I’ve ever followed 💕
Thank you so much for this video!!! 🥰
Hahaha THANK YOU and of course!! Always lmk if you have new video ideas or questions! Sending a big virtual hug 💕💕
Iris Fu ofc 💕💕💕 btw do u think making an educational website is an impressive extracurricular?
just the fact that you got into Stanford, I m blown away 🤯
similar to writing a book; if you are a musician, record an album/ep. It's really easy to record, edit, and produce at home with a lot less money than you think. It looks impressive and it also helps show colleges your personality and your drive
Tbh i don't usually comment on any video but ig your tips were heck useful and since you asked for suggestions this video is incredible!♡
Would you mind doin' some research on internships available for teenagers because most of online internships are for college students and not for high schoolers.♡♡♡
Hi Sneha! Thanks for the comment. I’d recommend checking out the internship and cold calling videos I’ve made! Most internships (that I’ve gotten) were not through an application. Hope the videos helps and lmk if you have more questions about internships!
I think I'm going to write a book. If it does really well, that can be my spike. Writing was never the problem, it was just that I didn't know WHAT to wite about, but now I do :)
Hot damn that’s a lot of work. I’m reevaluating how much I want to go to a good college now
I'm sad that I found this video late. I don't think my extracurricular activities from freshmen and sophomore were that impressive. I'm going into junior year and this year I have to do remote, so there aren't many extracurricular activities. I noticed you said to start an online community. I do have a fan account on Instagram for a kpop band I love (this sounds so cringey and embarrassing XD) that I'm currently growing. I don't think colleges would find it impressive but what do you think? Would it be considered an online community that seems good to mention?
I think anything that you genuinely love and can write compellingly on will be interesting and impressive. I honestly didn't start unique activities (mostly bc I didn't know I could) until junior year. I think anything you do is worthwhile of mentioning, if they're close to your heart
Hello I am Tenzing Dheden currently doing an internship with International Model United Nations. If you are interested in building up your CV please check out my Instagram @dheden01 there are online conferences where by the end of the seminar you can get certificate recognised by United Nations and an incredible experience. Do dm me it will help you and me too😊
@@zings_life which mun is it?
@@irisfu6929 what do you suggest for those interested in multiple things. i’m stuck between stem and business. i also don’t have many awards, arts or sports and i really want to a good school but i don’t think it will happen
hey are you a bts army?
ur vids are very helpful, thanks ilysmm🥰🥰
Glad they’re helpful!! ❤️
this video showed up on my discovery page and it was super helpful! so you achieved your goal! thank you! also you’re the cutest and i’m in love with you
Hahaha yes as I guessed, this video is doing SUPER well. We grew > 100 subs in one day 😩🙌
iris i just love ur personality lmao U GIVE ME SUCH HAPPY VIBES
aw that's funny but also so sweet 💕 thanks hannah
What a pity I discovered u so late. Gorgeous girl! I’m curious whether u can do a vlog in Chinese hahaha
Aw haha I actually did lol - it was like two years ago but it’s still on this channel, called “a video in Chinese”
@@irisfu6929 Yeh cool I'll go and check that out. btw ur pretty~~~
@@dianaliang4604 haha thanks girl :)
Hi Iris! Quick question: What are some things we should avoid writing about when colleges ask how we were impacted by COVID?
Hi Katherine, avoid writing in a whiny tone. Try not to complain about anything without explicit saying what you did to make the situation better. Frame every challenge as an opportunity that you took to push yourself and make a contribution to your community.
what a wholesome video!!! it’s a good thing I found your channel! just by watching this I can already tell that your content is something else. Everything you just said is really very helpful and beneficial 😊❤️
Aw thank you! Still working on making better quality content but this is very encouraging!
I have NEVER tapped the like,subscribe and 'all notifications' Icons SO HARD!!!!
Omg be my life coach!!🙆♀️👏👏
I'm an incoming senior in high school. If most of my activities started during my junior or senior year, would the admission panel thinks I did it for the sake of the application?
Don’t worry about what they think. If you do it bc you’re interested in doing it (even without the goal of college apps), then it’d come off as genuine and you’d be able to write authentic essays that convey the motives behind your projects.
I personally didn’t start my book until summer before senior year but it just happened to be the right time/the time when I learned of how to you can self publish.
I have the same problem too. Idk why but I wasted a lot of time in my freshman and sophomore year. And now im just trying to pick up the pace :/
@@kimh.8176 it's okay! Don't think of it as a race -- do everything for your own growth
Kim Huynh same! I did a sport freshman year that i decided to drop and i only did one other club :/ im still in that club but im nervous colleges wont like how poor my ecs were freshman yr, cuz i dont think im gonna put the sport on my app since i didnt follow through with it.
Make a video on how you revised well for school exams
I did! Check out “how to ace any test” on this channel 🤗
out of all the extracurricular videos i've seen, this is by far the most helpful! the ideas on here are unique and I think I'll try some of them :)
thank you for all the great information! yes plz more college videos🙈❤️
Ahh the college content is coming!!
Hi, where can we find these internships? Because I tried on LinkedIn, and other websites but I didn’t find any because I am still a junior in high school
Usually you have to do some cold outreach. Check out my internship video (linked in description) for more info. But a lot of the times, there would be no job posting or application per se - you almost create the position for yourself by doing outreach
Try KNIT marketing! Its a good internship program
Here's a place where I post virtual programs/internships: www.successbasemass.com/post/virtual-summer-programs-for-high-school-students
You can also join these youth led organizations as interns/volunteers: www.successbasemass.com/post/50-youth-led-organizations-accepting-youth-volunteers
@@daysiacharles8159 is there something i can join rn
what are some more specific examples of covid related initiatives? also congrats on this video being a huge success i thought it was super informational!
I've seen ventilators, tracing apps, and all types of stuff, but I think the most unique idea will come from you!
in my country extracurricular activities don't exist and aren't appreciated. so this is unfortunately the best i can do. and with my school offering no honors classes and no ap classes, i'm not going to get in. i know it. but it's worth a shot.
i love the topic of this! this is my first video of yours that I’ve seen. my personal thought is that getting faster to the point would be good
Good point! Thanks for sharing!!
Legend says that she is still liking our comments...
Not this being the one comment she hasn't liked 😭
I agree totally that writing a book sounds very cool and unique, but will it still look impressive to colleges if no one actually bought the book or if it was written in a very poor manner? I would love to pursue it but I'm just worried about whether I could end up in a sticky situation and wasting my time.
The effort is what counts! Write you book to the best of your ability and try to sell as many copies as you can. Don’t ever ever worry about “failing” or “not being good enough”. Just try your best and the best will happen!
I guess you could show how many views you had, or if your book is top 5 for a specific genre I guess.
I just discovered your channel and I love ur videos! You’re very well-spoken ❤️
Aw thank you!!
Love the ideas you proposed and your filming style!
Ahh hi Makenna!! I adore you lol can’t wait to meet you 💕🤩
i wrote a novel on wattpad, its a fictional storyline book, would that count or is that stupid to put in my application? (its a romantic teen fiction thingy)
ive done the same but idk if its worth putting unless you publish it which you can do yourself with amazon bc that shows more initiative but honestly its entirely up to you like if you think it makes your application better then go for it!! theres no limitations to what you can and cant include :)
@@1purplepancakes i want to but i just dont want it to backfire yk, like its- idek but im scared. i feel like i have one shot at this and i do NOT wanna mess it up ://
@@noorulain3180 i get that sm!! talk to your careers counsellor and see if they think its a good idea, if youre proud and think its good and shows more of who you are and your careers counsellor person agrees then go for it! putting your all and your whole self in can never be a bad thing, if they dont like you for you then screw them!!!
hi! i have a question- how do you find the internships to get into? I’ve tried searching online but I have no idea where to look 🤔
All the companies, hospitals, unis, ngos etc have internship programs.
@@rafayop9610 but what can we do as an high schooler intern?
@@beyz1241 well personally me as a high schooler, me I've done an internship for a big HR company, aswell as a renowned NGO in my locality. I'm also a part of a student led NGO. That's all for my internships. I'm sure alot of companies do keep high scholers as interns
Girl, I live in Mexico and I was searching for this video since like, two months ago, I knew that I was moving to US and haven't done anything interesting since I started high school here. Sooooo thanks!!
The quality on these videos are top tier! I'm glad I'm here before you start getting super famous :)
Hahah thank you!! And yes you’re in for a ride :)
I am writing a paper titled "Corona Virus and its impact on US Economy", and I am planning to pursue Economics at University. How do you think this is going to work? Thank you!!!
It's going to work well! It fits your goals
You give me positivity ❤️keep it up
Thanks Tani ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing these amazing ideas! I have thought about publishing a book for a long and am finally working on it😌
Glad you found them helpful! Good luck!
Your videos are literally soo helpful!!!!🖤
Yayyy so glad :))
Hey i know you probably don't know much about international applicants but my school doesn't have that big of an emphasis on extracurriculars and no one really does anything outside of school other than a couple of sports. What do i do to make my ecs stronger if i don't have any opportunities in school?
Same here, my hs doesn't even have clubs, third world country gang
Saame
All of the ideas I suggested in this video can be done outside of school. That's why they are so great. You can initiate them on your own and find other people to join outside your school's network. Or, for something like publishing a book, you don't need anyone else but yourself. For something like doing research, it would HAVE to be outside of high school. Therefore, you don't need clubs from your school for any of these, and tbh I think joining clubs at schools is simply too basic and doesn't show any initiative or character. Hope this helps but lmk if you have more questions!
@@houdamiftah8996 Hi Houda! See response above!
@@bigcesar7106 hey, see my response above! 👍
Do you have any ideas for the COVID related initiatives in relation to business/economics?
I think maybe something that helps educate people about financial recessions/how to prepare for them, or you could create something that provides financial support for low income families, or you can create a business that donates proceeds to a cause that helps those affected by COVID, etc. the possibilities are endless - I’m sure you can brainstorm some more, but be creative and have fun with it!
iris! i remember watching your college reactions video. Your channel grew so much in so little time! keep it up :)
HAHAHA you're an og fan
You said it so frankly that actually impress me. Indeed it was a helpful and understandable one.
hey! I've got a question - on Wattpad, I'm writing an researching all about highschool and college, its basically an in-depth guide about everything you need to know from what to do in freshman year to how to save up money and so much more. is that something that will look good as a personal project? ill be writing it over the course of 4 years as well
That is a pretty cool personal project! But I think as a third-person I'm still not sure on what exactly your "passion" or "interest" is. Are you into education? Personal finance? Or something else? That's something you could consider and think about. After all, I think your "passion project" should really clearly convey your personal values and such
@@irisfu6929 I'm really into education and informative writing! currently, I'm in 9th still kind of figuring it out but I'm really passionate about helping people
I'm more of a writing minor and an art major as in digital art, teaching art as well as starting my own homemade jewelry business on the side
Then this makes sense!! Go for it
Is making a podcast the same as writing/publishing a book.
Okay but seriously you’re so helpful and so informative!!
Iris, you're the BEST! (and most humble)
Can I get an internship in a automobile company while studying in high school so as to gain experience?
Of course!!
@@irisfu6929 Can you please guide me how to apply for it and the procedure?
If you want to talk to me personally my whatsapp: 9566358453
Email: swastiksinha0309@gmail.com
Please contact me as fast as you could because I rarely use TH-cam.
I was going to ask how to get an internship and then you linked it in the video, You’re amazing thank you .
Thanks for this amazing video! This is like the most informative college related video I've ever seen! Loved all the points that u made! Extremely Helpful!
Love uu🥰
💕💕
Congrats on Stanford, how would you go about reaching out for an internships such as like an email format or questions we should ask.
I made a video on landing research opportunities and another on landing internships. I go more in depth about doing cold outreach there, def recommend watching those. But of course, lmk if you have more questions afterward!
I like the content, the speaking speed, the creative video making. Excellent👍
just the fact that you got into Stanford, blows me
and that too for comp sci
Hi! I have a question.
Alot of people say doing clubs (obviously before corona) and getting high positions within clubs is a really impressive thing to put on your college applications. Did you do clubs in high school? And as someone with terrible social anxiety, do you have any suggestions regarding finding a club with ... how do you say "limited interaction" LOL.
Thanks so much!
Haha I didn’t really do clubs. I just kind of did my own thing - independent projects and stuff - and that sounds like a good path for you as well!
hi, i saw your video on my recommended and i really like your channel! i have a question about writing a book. if i do write a book what kind of topics should i write about. should it be a topic that i’m really interested in or just a regular fiction novel?
100% a topic you're really interested in. it seems like most ppl on this channel are writing a nonfiction book on their area of interest, and ppl's interests vary widely!
I really enjoy this type of videos , thank you !
Ofc! Glad u enjoyed
Thank you so much! This helped a lot!!!
I'm so glad! best of luck!
@@irisfu6929 thank youuuu 💕
Ooohh none of them seems to be possible for me.
For context I'm from Bihar(India), the poorest state in India, and no I'm not one of the few rich. The situation is so bad that we have had no income in last 4 months.
Still these are some of my ECs:-
1. Spread awareness about covid and the dos and don'ts. My native place is not that attached with the main stream society, so they really didn't know what the covid really is.
2. Have done a software development course from Duke.
3. Am pursuing a computational neuroscience course from U of Washington.
4. I teach some local children.
5. An NTSE(National talent search examination) qualified. This is conducted by the union govt and so is a pan India competition.
6. Founder and president of my school's coders club and president of maths club.
7. Was selected for Harvard ssp but couldn't attend due to this covid situation.
8. Helped make a local study center it's website.
Does that sound good? I am targeting Harvard. I know it's a lot less than you said.
And am also my school's highest scorer in10th and 11th grade. Haven't attempted SAT yet but expect a 1550 around.
Nice that’s great! As long as you’re making the most out of you’re situation and excelling in your context, you will stand out. Also, I’d suggest focusing more on what you love and less on doing things you think will impress colleges. At the end, what you love will come off as most genuine, unique, and impressive
@@irisfu6929 Thanks for the reply. I actually decided to apply to US in the March itself. So most of it is about what I like. And to be honest I had the applications in my mind when applying for the different courses but that was not the primary reason. My school was not conducting online classes, so I had some free time. I used it to hone my computer skills and also read some books on ancient civilizations.
@Pratikshya Kafle I`m in my senior year! Yeah I`m doing these research works late, but I decided to apply to US only this year.
Bhai, can u provide me ur email. I am also applying for usa next year. I really want to stay in touch for tips. I am from Hyderabad
Could creating a club when school starts in the fall be something? I've out forth a lot of though and research into what I want to do, I'm planning on relating it to mental health and overall healthy living, a safe space where people can come after school to talk and decompress. This summer I've mainly been researching colleges and starting applications, but would starting this club be beneficial?
Of course it can be! But I’d say only do it if you’re actually interested in doing it (and would do it regardless of college apps)
@@irisfu6929 No yeah of course! I've had this idea and I feel like itd really be a good thing especially during the school year with dealing with covid. Thank you for the feedback and the video altogether!! Really helpful!
I was taking notes the whole video!
Also Iris you are the most underrated TH-camr, you deserve the hype, you work so hard!!!
Working on the hype! We'll get there ;)
hi! i have a question concerning one of the activities you listed. i created a discord server about last week dedicated to productivity, studying, and helping others with their schoolwork. we currently have members from different parts of the world, and it's growing slowly but surely. would that count as starting an online community?
Yes definitely!
what’s the server called??
oml first!!!
ayyy!!!!
This summer, I’ve just started looking into colleges and being prudent of my future..
I feel as if I’m behind other students.
I’m going into junior year of high school. I regretted not taking any APs or Honors class during my sophomore year as I didn’t look much into them and I didn’t want to overburden myself with the extra work.
However, now I’m trying to attain as much informations as I can about colleges and about what I should be doing during my remaining time in high school.
I’ve just found out about your channel and I’m definitely going to check out the rest of your videos to see what I can do, as well as things that I should be keeping in mind this summer.
loved this video!!! and i’d definitely like to see a video on how much you make, i think it would be really informative!!
Coming soon!
Hi Iris, love your videos! I have a question though, what would make me stand out more on my college apps, my grades, passion projects, or both? Because my grades are a little bit above average and I just wanted to stand out more but people say all I need to do is get better grades. Anyhoo, I just want to get into a great out-of-state university and just wanted some advice on how to achieve that goal! 😁
I think grades help you become qualified to apply, and passion projects set u apart
I don’t think you’d ever stand out with good grades bc everyone has good grades, but u need good enough grades to show that you’re ready for the academics at these schools
I actually want to see how to make money as a high school graduate
ahhh yeahh i think i'm going to make it soon!
This video was so inspiring! Thank you for your ideas! It was awesome!
Of course! Glad u found it helpful :)
Wow. Thank you for making this video. U have no idea how u clear my confusion.❤