2024 Online Seminar Q & A - part 2

Today, I am sharing Part 2 of the Q&A from the 2024 seminar, where we address some of the unanswered questions from the previous post. If you had any lingering doubts from the last post, I hope today’s answers will help clarify them for you.

We are doing our best to answer all the questions raised during the seminar, so today’s post will cover the remaining ones.

Answer

The question is whether it’s possible to get into a top 20 university without remarkable extracurricular activities. While it is possible to gain admission focusing solely on academics, for highly ranked universities like those in the top 20, you typically need national-level achievements, such as being selected to represent your country in a specific academic field. If you can demonstrate national-level proficiency in a particular area, admission without extracurriculars may be possible. However, for students who don’t have that level of skill, it is difficult to get into a top 20 university based purely on academics, such as GPA. Universities want to admit smart students, but academic excellence alone isn’t enough to prove intelligence; they also look for success in other areas of life. It’s ideal to show that you maintained good grades while using about 50% of your energy for intellectual curiosity and diverse experiences. Extracurriculars are not just about showing intelligence. Universities value students who have diverse experiences because they know that such students are more likely to adapt and make an impact on campus. Unless you are at a national level in a specific academic field, balancing extracurricular activities along with academics is important.

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You’re asking whether it’s necessary to take the AP exams in May for the AP courses you’re taking in 12th grade. By May, you will already have received your college acceptance results, so not taking the exams won’t affect your admission. However, if you consider college credit, it’s better to take the exams. Many universities recognize AP exam scores, offering benefits such as scheduling flexibility and financial savings. I recommend preparing thoroughly and doing well in the exams, not just from an admissions perspective, but also for the additional advantages that come with them.

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You’re wondering whether it’s better to be an average student at a prestigious high school or to be at the top of a regular high school. Many people believe that attending a prestigious school means focusing solely on maintaining a GPA and having no time for extracurriculars. However, data shows that students at highly ranked schools tend to engage in more extracurricular activities. To get into top universities, you need both strong academic performance and extracurriculars. If you are in the top 50% academically at a prestigious school, you are at a disadvantage compared to students who are top-ranked at regular schools. Being in the middle (50%) at a prestigious school might not be as advantageous as you think for college admissions. That said, if you are deciding at the high school entrance stage, I recommend aiming to be in the top 25% at a highly ranked school. Such schools often provide a strong academic atmosphere and foster competition, increasing the likelihood of excellent performance.

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The key to writing a good application is ensuring that admissions officers don’t draw negative assumptions about your experiences. If you transferred schools frequently or have AP courses without corresponding tests, or participated briefly in a sport, admissions officers might wonder if you had trouble adapting or lacked persistence. However, if your transfers were due to valid reasons, such as a parent’s job change, it won’t negatively impact your application.

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This is a question about course rigor. If your child is currently taking Pre-Calculus and is wondering whether they can skip AP Calculus AB and go straight to AP Calculus BC, the answer is yes. This is actually the track I recommend.AP Calculus BC includes all the content from AP Calculus AB, so skipping AB and going directly to BC is perfectly fine.

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You’re asking if you can take AP Physics without taking regular Physics first, and the answer is yes. While many schools require prerequisite courses before taking AP classes, this is not always necessary, especially for subjects like Chemistry, Biology, and Physics (except for Physics C). AP science courses are based on algebra, and the College Board designs the AP curriculum so that students can follow along even without prior knowledge. Students who take regular courses before AP often have the advantage of a solid foundation, but it’s possible to succeed in AP science courses without prerequisites.

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Research involves setting concepts and conducting experiments, but the most important part is how well you use references. The ability to read and utilize research papers is crucial. Since accessing scientific journals often requires permission, it’s difficult to conduct research entirely independently. Here are three ways to engage in effective research:

1. Conducting research within your high school

   Some schools offer research programs or classes, allowing you to participate in research with peers and possibly submit projects to science fairs or write papers.

2. Researching in a university lab

   Joining a university lab, especially if you have a connection through a family member or friend, allows you to be part of ongoing research and access academic resources.

3. Collaborating with a graduate student

   If you need help accessing journals, you could find a mentor who is a graduate student or higher. This is a method that could be facilitated through an academy like ours.

   
   

   It’s difficult to do research completely independently as a high school student, so consider one of these options.

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This is a question about leadership roles in school. I often mention the importance of group size, which might be why you’re asking this question. Universities value leadership because it shows the student’s potential to influence the campus community and society. The size of the group matters in terms of impact. For example, a small group of fewer than 10 students can have a significant impact if they produce something like a school newspaper read by the entire student body. On the other hand, leading a club of 30 members that doesn’t engage in impactful activities may not be as meaningful. Ultimately, the number of people isn’t the only factor—what matters is the influence and results of your leadership role.

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While Taekwondo is great for personal development, it doesn’t have a significant impact on college admissions. What’s important is how much time and commitment you’ve dedicated to it, and whether you’ve expanded on your experience through related activities. Simply practicing a sport doesn’t carry much weight in college applications.

Answer

Colleges evaluate both academic achievements and extracurricular activities. Extracurriculars demonstrate how you’ve used your energy outside academics to pursue intellectual curiosity or interact with others. Music, like sports, is an extracurricular that easily shows passion and persistence over time. However, you don’t need to engage in music specifically to get into college. If you have other

activities that show your passion and dedication, you don’t need to pursue music.

When evaluating extracurriculars like music or athletics, Harvard’s rating descriptions are a useful reference. Harvard categorizes athletics separately from other extracurriculars because they recognize the unique role sports play in showing grit and teamwork.

Today, I answered 10 of the questions you had. I hope these tips helped resolve some of your queries, even if they might not be the definitive answers!