HOW I GOT INTO YALE, STANFORD, PRINCETON & UCLA/BERKELEY | your one-stop guide to everything college

Summary

Millie shares her comprehensive guide to college applications, detailing her personal experience and strategies that led to her acceptance into top schools like Stanford, Yale, and UCLA. She emphasizes the importance of starting early, staying organized with tools like Google Sheets, crafting a compelling personal narrative, and effectively showcasing extracurriculars. Millie also discusses the application process, essay writing tips, and her decision to attend Yale, highlighting the value of self-acceptance and the art of storytelling in college applications.

Takeaways

• 📚 Start Early: Begin preparing for college applications as soon as possible to avoid last-minute stress and ensure a well-thought-out application.
• 📝 Write Essays First: Millie suggests starting with the Common App essay as it forms the core of the application, followed by other parts like extracurriculars and supplemental essays.
• 📅 Stay Organized: Use a college application spreadsheet to keep track of deadlines, essays, and other requirements for each school.
• 💼 Ask for Letters of Rec Early: Request letters of recommendation well in advance to give teachers and mentors ample time to write thoughtful letters.
• 🏆 Highlight Achievements: Include awards and honors in the application to showcase accomplishments and dedication to certain fields.
• 🎭 Emphasize Extracurriculars: Strong extracurricular involvement demonstrates passion and impact, which can strengthen an application.
• 📝 Tailor Your Story: Create a cohesive narrative for your application that highlights your unique qualities and experiences.
• 🔍 Use Additional Information Wisely: The additional information section can provide context or elaborate on aspects not fully covered elsewhere in the application.
• 📉 Color Code for Efficiency: Color coding essays and prompts can save time by identifying similar themes and allowing for reuse of content with slight modifications.
• 🎯 Align Application with Interests: Ensure that all aspects of the application, including intended major and extracurricular activities, align with a central theme or message about the applicant.
• 🏡 Personalize Your Space: Preparing for college life involves creating a dorm space that reflects your personality and provides comfort during the transition to college.

Q & A

What are the three top-choice schools Millie applied to and got accepted into?

Millie applied to and got accepted into Stanford, Yale, and UCLA.

When should one start preparing for college applications according to Millie?

Millie recommends starting to prepare for college applications as soon as possible, ideally by setting aside time daily, depending on how close one is to the deadline.

What is the prescribed order of tasks Millie suggests for college application preparation?

Millie suggests starting with writing the Common App essay, followed by filling out the rest of the Common App, and then writing supplemental essays. She also advises asking for letters of recommendation at the start of the school year.

How did Millie stay organized during the college application process?

Millie stayed organized by using a college spreadsheet with tabs for colleges, essays, scholarships, and letters of recommendation. She also used Google Sheets and Docs for everything rather than typing directly on the Common App.

What is the significance of the 'Why Us' essay in college applications according to Millie?

The 'Why Us' essay is significant because it's not reusable like other supplemental essays. It needs to be tailored specifically to each school and should reflect the applicant's genuine interest and fit with the college.

What is Millie's advice for students who are not yet seniors and want to prepare for college applications?

For students who are not yet seniors, Millie advises figuring out their story, identifying their 'spikes' as an applicant, and boosting their extracurriculars while applying for awards and honors.

What was Millie's approach to writing her Common App essay?

Millie's approach to writing her Common App essay involved using a method called 'College sub outlines' which separates the essay into a story and an observation, ensuring a smooth transition between the two.

How did Millie's extracurricular activities reflect her application's central message?

Millie's extracurricular activities reflected her application's central message by showcasing her passion for theater, community engagement, and cultural identity, aligning with her intended majors and interests.

What is the additional information section in college applications and how did Millie use it?

The additional information section in college applications is a space to provide extra context or details not covered elsewhere. Millie used it to include remaining extracurriculars and explain specific situations.

Why did Millie choose Yale over her other top-choice schools?

Millie chose Yale over her other top-choice schools because she loved Yale's art community and the TAPS program, which aligns with her interests in theater and performance studies, and also allows her to explore other academic interests.