The Truth about College Admission | Alex Chang | TEDxSMICSchool

As an expert in the field of college application, Alex Chang discusses the secret behind successful college applications. He explains colleges’ mindset when looking through the applications, and how grades are not as important as what most people believe. He also talks about how it is important for the applicants to “be awesome” and be unique in order to get into “dream colleges.” Alex Chang is the founder and CEO of Ivy-Way Academy. He received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Harvard University and continued his studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He started his own company in his senior year of college, and left his role as the Head Teaching Fellow at Harvard University in order to focus on education. Now, with 12 years of teaching experience, Alex looks forward to share his knowledge on college application processes.

[jackrhea]

"Focus on what you're good at"
*Bold of you to assume I'm good at anything*

[TheCinderellaPrincess]

He's not saying not to work hard but to be authentic.

[hadhamalnam]

My view: Top tier universities are businesses that are trying to build their brand as much as possible. You build your brand by having famous and game-changing alumni. So admissions are based on how much potential the university thinks you have to become one of those accomplished alumni.

[madisonandretta]

The Truth About College Admissions: A lot of qualified people get screwed, but we try anyway because that's the people we are.

[anthonymarquez]

Or you could donate a small loan of a million dollars and get in that way

[bobsaget]

Screw getting into Ivy League schools or any top 15 school for that matter. I want to retain my sanity and enjoy my young life thank you.

[cristianaquinn]

As an independent college advisor for 15 years, there is a MUCH bigger reality at play here that is not discussed. Top colleges want diversity among students--and that means students from every state, every country, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American. They usually want a percentage of first generation college students, recruited athletes, musical prodigies, faculty/staff children, legacy/VIP Donor children---just to name a few not as simple as demonstrating a passion. It certainly won't hurt, but it needs to be set against the context of the bigger picture of why getting into the top colleges is so

[mjl]

"just be damn talented in anything"

[abcdef-zszq]

i almost died of stress just watching this

[wellohkaiden]

Lots of truth to what he’s saying about being absurdly talented in a single area of life. The hard part is that most people don’t know who they want to be or what they want to do until after high school because they are still exploring their options. Furthermore, for people who are passionate about lots of different things, it can feel impossible to choose a single path and stick to it so that you become “awesome” at it.

[michaelkempany]

Thats why I play fortnite instead of volunteering, it's my passion

[marissaann]

strategy #2 isn’t that easy. people who don’t have a lot of money or natural talent or know their exact passion that don’t live in extraordinary circumstances are put at a huge disadvantage and they both become stressful af strategies

[MithoThoup]

Man, wish this video showed up in my recommendations in 7th grade

[Pizzatoes]

Being a sophomore and already halfway through my high school career, I would give anything just to go back into time and focus on things I’m passionate about.

[CptTierOps]

Lol I found Waldo in one glance... still not getting into MIT

[tn]

Point being, I am a high school student
How in the world am I supposed to know what i want to do for the rest of my life?

[serenah]

But finding an interest is rly hard. I feel like my interests change weekly.

[arifs]

This misses one important point. Most kids don't know what they want or are passionate about

[SoAS]

people actually followed this in my country, children will be so much happier. Study all subjects and get great marks in ALL and do this and do that. We become robots who forget who we actually are. It ruined me for two years. The best thing to happen to me was that my freaking highschool got over.

[pugzmcstewson]

God forbid that the hard working smart kids get into college.