High School Freshman Advice: 4 Things You MUST Understand About High School (2019)

In this video, I debunk widespread myths about high school and give high school freshman advice based on my own personal experiences. I give advice on topics such as freshman year grades/GPA, extracurricular activities, making friends, and picking classes.

Whether you are hoping for college admissions advice on how to get into an Ivy League school or just want to know how to make friends, this video contains all the tips and tricks you need to do well in freshman year of high school.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Subscribe & TURN ON post notifications if you like my videos!

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

♫Music By♫

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

My Recording Equipment:

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Video Sparknotes:

- You might think that because I got into Princeton, my high school experience was completely happy and successful, but you’d be… completely wrong.

- If you’re struggling academically, unsure of how to find something you’re passionate about, anxious about making friends, applying to college-- this video is for you.

- The first thing you MUST know as a freshman in high school is that colleges do NOT care that much about your freshman year grades, and you should not stress out too much about them.

- Most selective colleges actually place LESS weight on freshman year grades when they are reviewing your college application. In fact, there are rumors that Princeton and Stanford both ignore your freshman year GPA completely!

- In order to set yourself up to do well for the rest of high school, you should be taking challenging classes and doing your best in them, but it’s not worth losing friends, sleep, or quitting activities that you really enjoy to get an “A” instead of a “B” in a class freshman year.

- Freshman year is a time to experiment with new friends, activities, and interests. Freshman year is the perfect time to start discovering what your interests are, and Ivy League schools and other selective colleges DO care that you’re passionate about something.

- While freshman year is the perfect time to join clubs, it’s also the perfect time to QUIT clubs.

- Quick plug: Crimson provides top-of-the-line college consulting services, including expert advice on extracurricular activities tailored to your unique situation. They also will put together a whole team of admissions specialists to help you revise and polish your application when it comes time to apply. Check out the link above!

- Make friends with kids in the grades above you. Great ways to do this are through sports, school clubs, or even just at recess- having an older sibling who goes to your school works too.

- They will know a bunch of other things-- some examples might be the best places to hang out, best clubs to join, and best and worst cafeteria food.

- When I was in high school working incredibly hard to get into a college like Princeton, I had this vision in my head where I thought that once I got into Princeton, everything was going to be perfect.

- Making it to an Ivy League school will not change your bad habits and turn you into a great person if you aren’t one already. You will not suddenly find out what you’re passionate about in college unless you actively seek out opportunities to explore, just like in high school.

- Don’t sacrifice good friendships or something you love just so that you can go to a super selective university.

[-ratatouille-]

schools: "its okay to make mistakes" also them: *proceeds to destroy my future on 1 test*

[ariyazheng]

high school junior watches this. *cries inside*

[terryalger]

I’m a freshman that missed the first 2 months of school in COVID and failed 3 classes, this video made me cry and the happiest I have ever been. Thank you Greg you fucking legend.

[ohzzimo]

1. dont stress over freshman grade
2. freshman year ideal time to try new clubs/activities (but stick to 2-3) dont be afraid to quit if u dont rlly enjoy
3. make friends with older students (guide you & help advise classes)
4. dont sacrifice what you love & friends for college admission

[dsggalaxyyt]

Currently in 8th grade Freshman next year!!

[lauren]

I’m a 7th grade watching this. I just don’t want to be homeless

[sulfur_americium]

Greg: "find new passions, join clubs, make friends, etc."

Covid: lol no

[hmm]

i’ve been crying for a straight half an hour really hard because i was so fucking stressed for my grades because i’m a freshman and this video helped much

[violetsynn]

I'm failing 3 classes this year and I'm gonna have to retake them next year(at least 2 of them) and I've been stressing out so much over my grades. When you said colleges don't really care about your grades freshman year I felt so relieved even though I know I could be doing much better

[jadendaslayeryt]

Why does it sound like this man is trying to sell me something🤔

[mervynwinn]

I have already gotten a b, and i was seriously stressing over it. Thanks to this video, i am assured that my admission to princeton and stanford is still feasible.

[damnjae]

I feel hella stupid now for stressing over one f in freshman year now. These online classes have been messing with me for a while

[AbinavV]

Damn it... I'm almost done with 9th grade (freshman year) already :(

[helix]

Well, if you don’t understand or remember the things you learned in your Freshman year, you wouldn’t be prepared for your Sophomore year and the years after that. It’ll only put you behind.

[leafrelief]

Bruh taking freshman year during covid and can’t do any clubs or sports smh.

[rasheeda]

watching this because i am stressing so extremely hard because i failed second semester during quarantine.

[meredithmorningstar]

Damn, I'm on my last year of junior highschool and I did sooo well on my first two years, but now I'm just miserable. I'm a straight A student then and I always made sure I get no more than 10 mistakes every test and always rock our graded recitations.

Now, idc about my grades anymore—I just want everything to be over and get out of this fire pit. I hate it here.

[krystenariana_]

I’m not really doing so good in my freshman year, I have 3 D’s, 1 C+, and 2 A’s, practically failing and this is only 1st quarter, I’m very stressed and slowly falling into a depression, grades are closing next Wednesday (October 16th) while report cards come out November 13th, I just want to dropout already, I want to tell my mom but then she’ll blame me and say that she might take away my phone.
Edit: so this is an Update
Grades are currently ok but bad still!
EDIT AGAIN: 04/21 MY GRADES ARE REALLY GOOD NOW, i have 3 A’s, 2 B’s and 1 C+😁
I got another update: 05/14
3 As, 2 B’s 1 C and 1 F 😭😭
update: 07/9
i ended off the school year with 4 A’s, 2 B’s and 1 F in MATH 💀 and i’m doing good now btw !!
i have another update guys!! i’m a sophomore now and it’s 9/13/20!
i have 6 A’s and two B’s i’m doing good guys!!

alright update, it’s 11/23/20! i have 7 A’s and one B !

update, it’s february 1st and i have 5 A’s, one C, and two B’s. i’m slacking off this semester i’m so tired of work i feel like giving up lmao!

heyyy! i’m back again with an update :)
it is 03/12/21. I have 3 B’s and 5 A’s! im back on track :) i hope everyone is doing good!

hiiii!! it’s 4/13/21! i ended off third quater with the same grades :) it’s almost over guys!! i have two more months until summer!!

yooo!! it’s 5/13/21! 23 days left until summer for me!!
my grades are currently; 4 A’s, 2 B’s and 2 C’s!
i hope y’all are doing great as well! i’m excited about becoming a junior, but nervous at the same time! oh yeah, i recently took my reading and writing EOC, and I feel pretty confident about the scores i’ll get since i’m pretty good at English, the geometry one, LMFAO not sure about that one at all 💀

5/29 Hey you guys. i am positive i failed that geometry eoc, but that’s okay (no it’s not). i ended off my school year with 6 A’s and 2 B’s. I’m pretty proud of myself and i’m proud of y’all! i’m gonna be a junior!!

06/23 OH OH, I PASSED THE GEOMETRY EOC and MY READING EOC YOU GUYS!! I ENDED UP WITH 7 A’s AND 1 C ACTUALLY! I JUST CHECKED! I CANT BELIEVE I DID IT!

update! it’s august 13th. i start school in FIVE DAYS! IM A JUNIORRR!!! my classss are; physics, algebra 2, ceramics/pottery, eng honors 3, study hall, US history honors, sculptures 1, and JROTC. i am switching out of jrotc to finish spanish 2

9/3 LMFAO, i’m gonna take spanish 2 online and stay in ROTC, it’s actually fun!
i currently have straight A’s!

it’s been a WHOLE MONTH! ive been super busy with school and i haven’t been on youtube much surprisingly! first quater ended. I have 6 A’s 2 C’s of course lol💀

it’s december 2nd. it’s been a while LMFAO. ending off second quarter with 1 C and 7 A’s (=

OH I FORGOT ALL ABOUT THIS.. currently it is 6/24/22 ITS BEEN TWO YEARS💀 it feels surreal. i ended up passing fourth quarter with 4 A’s, 2 B’s, and 1 C. Junior year was fun. i loved taking US history and i really enjoyed JROTC. I am currently looking into the military and I’m considering joining the NAVY! Time for Senior year guys!!

9/25/22 i forgot about this😭 i csnt believe im a senior already! time flies dudes.

1/18/24: I GRADUATED LIKE 7 MONTHS AGO GUYS SORRY I FORGOT TO UPDATE! C/O 2023’

Hey everyone! Idk if you guys will ever come across this comment again but I am doing well. It’s 20 AUG 24. I joined the armed forces and I am doing well. I hope everyone is doing great.

[Qdude]

Lol looking back, high school was a complete and total joke.

[jicf]

watching this while theres only 2 weeks lift of school