why Stanford REJECTED me | a "star" student

Summary

In this YouTube video, Joy reflects on her Stanford rejection despite being a top student. She discusses her application missteps, including poor planning, submitting an unnecessary art supplement, choosing an ill-fitting major, and writing essays that lacked depth. She emphasizes the importance of seeking feedback and not being overly attached to one's own work. Joy concludes by encouraging viewers to learn from her experience and reassuring them that rejection is not the end of the world.

Takeaways

• 🏫 **Stanford Rejection**: Joy, a seemingly star student, was rejected by her dream school, Stanford.
• 📅 **Poor Planning**: Starting the application process late led to unpreparedness for the restrictive early action deadline.
• 🎨 **Art Supplement Timing**: Submitting an art supplement in December instead of focusing on essays until January might have hurt the application's cohesiveness.
• 🤔 **Inappropriate Major Choice**: Choosing electrical engineering as the first choice major might not have aligned well with the rest of the application.
• ✍️ **Essay Writing**: Attempting to inject humor and charisma into essays might have detracted from showcasing deeper, more introspective thoughts.
• 📝 **Lack of Feedback**: Not seeking enough feedback on the application, particularly on essays, could have resulted in missed opportunities for improvement.
• 👨‍🏫 **Valuable Advice**: Wishing for more professional advice, such as from a teacher, to refine essay topics and content.
• 📈 **Growth from Rejection**: Rejection from Stanford helped Joy grow and identify flaws in her application process.
• 🌟 **Finding the Right Fit**: Despite rejection, Joy believes she ended up in the best place for her, emphasizing that rejection is not the end of the world.
• 📚 **Upcoming College Help**: Joy plans to release more videos to help with college applications, including essay and scholarship advice.

Q & A

What was Joy's academic performance like before applying to Stanford?

Joy had a 1580 on the SAT, 35 on the ACT, and a 3.98 weighted GPA. She also had multiple State and National caliber Awards and held leadership positions in numerous clubs and activities.

What does Joy consider as her first mistake in the application process?

Joy's first mistake was poor planning, starting her Common App and supplemental essays late, which left her unprepared for the Restrictive Early Action deadline.

Why does Joy think applying Restrictive Early Action could have improved her chances?

Applying Restrictive Early Action might have improved Joy's chances because it could have given her more time to prepare a stronger application.

What was the impact of submitting an art supplement on Joy's application?

Submitting an art supplement in December, ahead of the January regular decision deadline, might have taken time away from editing and perfecting her essays, which could have been more beneficial.

What major did Joy choose for her application, and why does she think it was a poor fit?

Joy chose Electrical Engineering as her number one major, but in retrospect, she doesn't think it was the best fit for her application, possibly making her application less competitive compared to other applicants who also listed Electrical Engineering as their top choice.

How did Joy's approach to her essays contribute to her rejection?

Joy tried to incorporate humor and charisma into her essays, which led to wasted space and a lack of introspective thoughts. She believes that focusing on jokes and light-hearted content over deeper, more personal insights may have made her application seem less substantial.

What feedback did Joy's mother give her about her application?

Joy's mother suggested that some of her short answers were too vapid and didn't provide enough information about her as a person.

Why does Joy believe seeking more feedback on her application could have been helpful?

Joy wishes she had sought more feedback from professionals like her English teacher or others who could provide perspective on what colleges want and how to improve the overall cohesiveness and strength of her application.

How does Joy feel about being rejected from Stanford now?

Joy believes that being rejected from Stanford helped her grow as a person, allowing her to see the flaws in her application and learn from them for future applications.

What advice does Joy give to students applying to college based on her experience?

Joy advises students to plan early, choose a major that fits well with their application, write introspective and personal essays, seek feedback on their application as a whole, and not be too attached to their initial answers.

What additional resources does Joy offer on her YouTube channel for college applicants?

Joy offers videos on essay writing, supplemental application essays, scholarship essays, and tips on what not to do when applying to college.