Revealing My Stats for Harvard, Stanford, MIT...

Summary

In this video, Rishab Jain reflects on his college application journey, sharing insights across three parts: stats, extracurriculars, and essays. He begins by revealing the five prestigious schools he applied to—Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and Boston University—and his acceptance into all of them. Rishab discusses his rigorous academic journey, detailing AP and honors classes, test scores (including a 36 ACT score), and his impressive array of awards, including the Regeneron Young Scientist Award and being named to Time’s 25 Most Influential Teens. He emphasizes the importance of understanding personal uniqueness in the application process and offers tips on navigating the competitive admissions landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 Rishab Jain, a high school senior, shares a three-part video series reflecting on his college journey, starting with his academic stats, followed by extracurriculars, and finally essays.
• 😀 He applied to five highly competitive universities: Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and Boston University, and was accepted into all of them.
• 😀 Rishab highlights the importance of understanding that everyone’s college application journey is unique, and not comparing oneself to others is crucial.
• 😀 He took a rigorous course load in high school, with 28 classes in total, focusing on AP classes, honors courses, and foreign language study.
• 😀 His high school years included multiple AP classes, including AP Psychology, AP US History, AP Biology, AP Calculus, and AP Computer Science.
• 😀 Rishab received top scores in several AP tests, including nine 5s, but mentions that some universities, like Harvard, don’t offer credit for AP tests.
• 😀 For foreign languages, he took Spanish throughout high school, completing four years of Spanish, which met college requirements for language proficiency.
• 😀 In terms of arts, he satisfied the requirement with concert choir, though he didn’t apply to schools where the arts were a major focus.
• 😀 His ACT score was a perfect 36 composite, including 36s in reading, English, and science, but a 35 in math. He also took the optional essay section, scoring an 11.
• 😀 Rishab received several prestigious awards, including the Regeneron Young Scientist Award, Time magazine’s 25 Most Influential Teens, and the Eagle Scout rank, among others.

Q & A

What colleges did Rishab Jain apply to and get accepted into?

Rishab Jain applied to five colleges: Harvard University (Neuroscience), Stanford University (Biomedical Computation), MIT (Brain & Cognitive Sciences), Duke University (Neuroscience), and Boston University (Biomedical Engineering). He was accepted to all five.

What is the importance of taking advanced placement (AP) classes according to Rishab?

Rishab emphasizes the importance of AP classes for building a rigorous academic record. He took several AP classes across various subjects, progressively increasing the difficulty. He chose his AP courses based on his prior academic performance and confidence in handling tougher material.

How did Rishab select his AP classes?

Rishab selected his AP classes based on his performance in previous courses. For example, after doing well in his ninth-grade literature and composition class, he opted for AP English Language. Similarly, his experience in Global Studies led him to choose AP U.S. History.

What test did Rishab take and what were his scores?

Rishab took the ACT and scored a perfect 36 composite score. His section scores were 36 in Reading, 36 in English, 36 in Science, and 35 in Math. He also took the optional essay portion of the ACT, scoring an 11, though he notes that many colleges no longer consider this score.

What was Rishab's strategy for preparing for standardized tests?

Rishab recommends the ACT for STEM students, especially those strong in math, as he found that the ACT might result in a higher score due to the way the test is structured. He also created a detailed video offering tips on how to prepare for the ACT, which he suggests students check out.

How did Rishab approach the topic of college applications being holistic?

Rishab stresses that the college application process is holistic, meaning that colleges look at the overall profile of the applicant, not just their grades or test scores. He advises not to compare oneself to others and highlights the importance of showcasing one's unique experiences.

What extracurricular activity did Rishab focus on most throughout high school?

Rishab’s top extracurricular activity throughout high school was science research. He competed in several science competitions, including ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair), and also participated in the Research Science Institute (RSI) at MIT.

How did Rishab manage his extracurricular activities during the college application process?

Rishab dedicated a significant amount of time to science research, which he considered his primary extracurricular activity. He suggests that students craft their extracurricular activities around their passions and interests and not just to meet application requirements.

What advice does Rishab give about selecting which awards to list on the Common App?

Rishab advises that when choosing which awards to list on the Common App, students should focus on what truly reflects their passions and personal growth. He included awards like his Eagle Scout rank and science fair achievements, which showcased both his academic abilities and personal character.

What is the significance of Rishab’s Eagle Scout award?

Rishab values his Eagle Scout award because it reflects a core part of his personality and upbringing. He believes that the experiences gained through Scouting, such as leadership and resilience, influenced how he presented himself during the college application process.