5 traits of top students

Summary

This video script explores the key traits of top 1% students observed at MIT, including being mission-driven, seeking mentors, thinking outside the box, seeing the bigger picture, and being effective communicators. It emphasizes the importance of having a clear focus, leveraging natural advantages, and crafting a compelling narrative to stand out in academics and beyond. The speaker shares insights on how to embrace uniqueness, pursue passions meaningfully, and communicate one's story to achieve success.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The most successful students are mission-driven, often focusing on a specific academic area, social cause, or sport that they are passionate about.
• 🏆 Successful students often have a natural advantage in their area of interest, which they capitalize on to excel and stand out.
• 📬 Top students actively seek mentorship and are not afraid to reach out to professionals through cold emails to gain guidance and opportunities.
• 💡 Embracing uniqueness and thinking outside the box is a trait of successful students; they pursue unconventional projects that showcase their intellectual curiosity.
• 🔍 They carefully select their activities to align with their mission and personality, ensuring a balanced and appealing profile.
• 📚 Effective communication is crucial for top students; they are able to articulate their experiences and achievements in a compelling manner.
• 🤔 Successful students are strategic in their approach, considering their audience and goals when communicating their story.
• 📈 They understand the importance of showcasing a variety of interests and not just focusing solely on their primary mission.
• 📝 Students can transform their interests into larger projects, such as turning a love for K-pop into a research study or building PCs into a small business.
• 🎯 Successful students are not deterred by the perceived difficulty of their goals; they question the status quo and push boundaries to achieve their objectives.
• 🗣️ Storytelling is a skill that top students master, as it allows them to convey their experiences and attributes in a way that resonates with their audience.

Q & A

What are some common traits of top 1% students according to the script?

The script mentions five traits: being mission-driven, finding mentors, thinking outside the box, seeing the bigger picture, and being effective communicators.

Why is it important for students to have a mission during their high school years?

Having a mission helps students focus their efforts and passions on a particular area, which can lead to significant accomplishments and a strong academic record.

What is the advice for students who have too many options and don't know what their mission should be?

The advice is to lean into the activity or pursuit where they have a natural advantage, as this positions them to dive into their mission more effectively.

How can students capitalize on their natural advantages mentioned in the script?

Students can capitalize on their natural advantages by choosing activities that align with their strengths and the resources available to them, such as school clubs or AP courses.

What is the role of mentors in the success of top students?

Mentors provide guidance, opportunities, and support, helping students to navigate their pursuits and achieve their goals more effectively.

Why is cold emailing an effective strategy for students to find mentors?

Cold emailing is effective because many successful adults are willing to help young people succeed, and a single positive response can unlock a range of opportunities.

What does the script suggest about the importance of thinking outside the box for students?

Thinking outside the box allows students to pursue their mission in unique and meaningful ways, which can lead to recognition and success.

How can students transform their interests into larger pursuits as suggested in the script?

Students can explore how their interests could be expanded into research studies, small businesses, or platforms like YouTube channels for sharing their passion.

What does the script mean by 'seeing the bigger picture' in terms of a student's activities and accomplishments?

Seeing the bigger picture involves aligning a student's activities with their core mission and personality, creating a balanced and appealing profile for college admissions, scholarships, or employment.

Why is effective communication important for students when showcasing their achievements?

Effective communication is crucial for convincing others of a student's abilities and attributes, whether it's in a leadership position, a job interview, or the college admissions process.

How can students practice effective communication according to the script?

Students can practice effective communication by focusing on storytelling and tailoring their messages to their audience and the specific attributes they want to convey.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Embracing Excellence: Traits of Top 1% Students

This paragraph introduces the author's experience at MIT, where they encountered exceptionally talented students with remarkable achievements. The author outlines their intention to share five key traits that contributed to these students' success. The first trait discussed is being 'mission-driven,' emphasizing the importance of having a clear goal or passion, whether academic, social, or athletic. The author suggests leveraging natural advantages and resources to pursue this mission, while also encouraging creativity in transforming interests into larger projects.

05:01

💡 Seeking Guidance: The Power of Mentorship

The second paragraph delves into the significance of finding mentors for top students. It highlights how successful individuals often seek guidance from mentors to advance in their fields. The author shares personal anecdotes about students who reached out to industry professionals through cold emails to gain experience or advice. The paragraph also introduces a productivity tool, Magical,赞助商, to help automate tasks and streamline the process of cold emailing, providing a step-by-step guide on how to use it effectively.

10:02

🤔 Thinking Outside the Box: Pursuing Unique Passions

The third paragraph discusses the importance of thinking unconventionally and pursuing unique interests. It emphasizes that successful students often engage in activities that may seem unusual but allow them to stand out. The author encourages students to question what is possible and to consider how they can pursue their passions in ways that are distinct from their peers. The paragraph also touches on the trend of high school students conducting research and publishing papers, which showcases their intellectual curiosity and can be advantageous for college applications.

🌐 Seeing the Bigger Picture: Aligning Activities with Core Mission

In this paragraph, the author discusses the importance of aligning one's activities with their core mission and personality. By presenting hypothetical examples of different students' activities, the author illustrates how some students, like Emily, create a balanced and appealing profile that showcases both passion and personality. The author advises students to pursue a mix of activities related to their mission and those they genuinely enjoy, to create a well-rounded and interesting profile.

🗣️ Mastering Communication: Articulating Achievements

The final paragraph focuses on the importance of effective communication in articulating one's achievements and experiences. The author emphasizes that even with impressive activities, the ability to convey them compellingly is crucial for standing out in college applications, job interviews, and leadership positions. The author suggests that storytelling is a key skill to master, as it allows students to share their experiences and attributes in a way that resonates with their audience.

Keywords

💡Mission Driven

The term 'mission driven' refers to having a clear purpose or goal that guides one's actions and decisions. In the context of the video, it is one of the key traits of successful students. These students have a strong sense of direction which could be an academic area, a social cause, or a sport they excel in. The video emphasizes that even if students don't know their exact mission in high school, they should choose something they are passionate about and commit to it fully, as it often relates to their college endeavors and beyond.

💡Natural Advantage

A 'natural advantage' is an inherent skill or predisposition that gives an individual an edge in a particular area. The video script mentions that top 1% students often have a natural advantage in the area they excel in, which could be due to family background, environment, or personal talent. This advantage positions them to dive deeper into their mission and achieve greater success. The video advises students to capitalize on activities where they have a natural advantage, such as a student with a passion for environmental justice participating in related school clubs and courses.

💡Mentors

In the video, 'mentors' are individuals who provide guidance, support, and advice to help others grow and succeed in their endeavors. The script highlights that even the most brilliant students seek mentorship to gain knowledge and opportunities. The video gives examples of students cold emailing professionals in their field of interest, such as directors for film industry experience or successful entrepreneurs for business advice. This trait underscores the importance of seeking external support and learning from the experiences of others.

💡Cold Emailing

'Cold emailing' is the act of sending unsolicited emails to people one does not have a prior relationship with, typically to seek advice, opportunities, or establish a connection. The video explains that successful students use cold emailing as a strategy to reach out to potential mentors or industry professionals. It is presented as an effective method because many successful individuals are willing to help young people, and a single positive response can unlock numerous opportunities.

💡Thinking Outside the Box

To 'think outside the box' means to think creatively and unconventionally, rather than adhering to traditional ways of thinking or doing things. The video encourages students to pursue their passions in unique and innovative ways, which can set them apart from others. Examples given include conducting a research study on an unusual topic, starting a business, or creating a YouTube channel. This concept is central to the video's message that success often comes to those who are not afraid to be different and take unconventional paths.

💡Intellectual Vitality

Intellectual vitality refers to the quality of being intellectually curious, engaged, and energetic. In the video, it is mentioned as a characteristic that colleges look for in students. Students who demonstrate intellectual vitality, such as by conducting college-level research in high school, show a deep interest and commitment to learning, which can make them stand out in the college admissions process.

💡Bigger Picture

The 'bigger picture' concept in the video refers to the ability to see how individual activities and accomplishments fit into a broader narrative or goal. Top students understand the importance of aligning their activities with their core mission and personal brand. The video uses hypothetical student profiles to illustrate how a balanced and coherent list of activities can make a student more appealing to colleges, scholarships, or employers.

💡Personality

In the context of the video, 'personality' refers to the unique characteristics, interests, and qualities that define an individual. The script suggests that while having a clear mission is important, showcasing one's personality through a variety of activities can make a student more interesting and appealing. It is about balancing passion with a display of who one is as a person, beyond their academic or professional pursuits.

💡Effective Communication

Effective communication is the ability to convey information or ideas in a way that is clear, compelling, and easily understood by the audience. The video emphasizes that successful students are skilled at moving people with their words, whether it's through speeches, interviews, or college applications. It is a skill that can be practiced and mastered, and it is crucial for standing out and being persuasive in various settings.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling is the art of telling stories to engage an audience and convey a message or experience. In the video, it is presented as a vital skill for students to master, especially when it comes to showcasing their experiences and attributes in academic and professional settings. The script mentions that students will likely need to tell stories about their personal growth, leadership, or teamwork, and that effective storytelling can help them stand out in college applications or job interviews.

Highlights

The speaker encountered brilliant students at MIT, including science fair winners, Olympians, and startup founders.

A student with three IMO gold medals was mentioned, showcasing exceptional talent among peers.

A freshman built a car-sharing app that raised $40 million and sold for an impressive sum.

Successful students are often mission-driven, pursuing academic areas, social causes, or sports with dedication.

Students with too many interests can focus on activities where they have a natural advantage.

Students without clear interests can explore passions and transform them into larger projects or businesses.

Mentorship is crucial for top students, who often seek guidance through cold emails to professionals.

Cold emailing can be effective as many successful adults are willing to help young people succeed.

Top students think outside the box, pursuing unusual projects that showcase their intellectual curiosity.

Research papers published by high school students can demonstrate deep interest and stand out in college applications.

Students should align their activities to showcase both their mission and personality to a broader audience.

A balanced list of activities can make a student seem more interesting to college admissions or potential employers.

Effective communication is essential for standing out, regardless of being introverted or extroverted.

Storytelling is a key skill for students to master, especially when conveying personal experiences and attributes.

The video discusses life philosophies and principles rather than traditional study tips, offering a unique perspective.

Transcripts

during my time at MIT I encountered some

of the most brilliant students I had

ever met science fair winners Olympiad

medalists and even startup Founders I

knew this one kid who had not one not

two but three IMO gold medals I also

remember meeting someone my freshman

fall who built a car sharing app that

raised $40 million he ended up selling

it to a car manufacturer for an absurd

amount of money kids like these were

intimidating yet inspiring because they

had the wildest accomplishment on top of

a stellar academic record during my time

in college I spent a lot of time with

these students because we were in the

same classes in the same clubs and even

the same dorms and slowly I began to

piece together why these students were

so successful today I've written down

and we'll cover five of these traits so

hopefully you can learn what it takes to

become a top 1% student all right

starting off with trait number one their

mission driven now if you're in high

school I don't expect you to know your

life's calling or to know what career

you want to to after college but I think

the most successful students are on some

sort of mission whether it's an academic

area they want to dive into a social

cause they want to advocate for or a

sport they want to get really good at

more often than not this Mission relates

to what these students end up doing in

college but it doesn't always have to

early on in high school they simply

choose something and give it everything

they have the problem that most students

face however is that they don't know

what their mission should be either they

have too many options for example they

might might be into debate clarinet

environmental justice and basketball or

they might have the opposite problem and

have nothing to choose from if you have

too many options my advice is to lean

into the activity or Pursuit where you

have a natural Advantage because if you

look closely at the top 1% of students

chances are they had a natural Advantage

at whatever they succeeded at on the one

end I'll be honest some of these

advantages are really unfair for example

some of these students who in science

fairs have parents who are literal phds

on the other end you also have students

who had no advantages they had nothing

handed to them and had to do everything

themselves however most students fall in

the middle for example if you're into

environmental justice and your school

has a community garden a bird watching

club and offers AP environmental science

you should capitalize on these natural

advantages they might not be the

craziest advantages but they position

you to dive into your mission but then

let's say you're also into basketball

you enjoy it but maybe you're not super

athletic and on top of that maybe but

your basketball coach isn't the best

this is where you might lack that

natural advantage that doesn't mean you

shouldn't play basketball however all

I'm saying is Dev vote most of your time

to a the things you enjoy and B the

things you're naturally positioned to go

far in okay but what if you don't have

any options simple write down a list of

things that you like and they don't have

to be academic subjects and they don't

have to be extracurricular activities

just think about that one thing you

could talk about hours for it doesn't

matter if it's K-pop it doesn't matter

if it's building PCS it doesn't matter

if it's the Hunger Games now take that

topic and see how you can transform it

into something bigger for example could

that love of K-pop turn into a research

study could that love of building PCS

turn into a small business could that

love of movies turn into a YouTube

channel where you post video essays all

right moving on to trait number two they

find mentors most top students no matter

how smart realize they don't know

everything so they seek guidance when it

comes to doing a research project

starting a business training for an

Olympiad and many of them do so by

sending cold emails which is where the

sponsor of this video comes in magical

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for sponsoring today's video okay but

why is cold emailing effective because

from what I've experienced firsthand

many successful adults want to help

young people succeed many of the most

successful artists entrepreneurs and

even scientists that you can think of

probably had a mentor at some point in

their life the best students in my

opinion understand this fact and will

reach out to people to seek help or

opportunities for example if these

students want experience in the film

industry they're going to throw together

a small portfolio and cold email

directors and producers if they want to

start a business they might reach out to

successful entrepr ignes or if they want

to become writers they might even email

professional authors for guidance this

seems crazy but they don't care and they

know they probably won't get any

responses but again they don't care they

know that all they need is that one

response to unlock a whole array of

opportunities trait number three they

think outside the box okay so the three

examples I went over earlier a research

study about K-pop a PC Building business

and a YouTube channel about movies these

all sound kind of weird weird right but

the most successful students in my

opinion are doing the things that seem a

little unusual and look as I went over

in my seven lessons video you have to

embrace your weird side because your

weirdness or your quirks in other words

what makes you unique is what will make

you successful top students don't care

about what's normal they don't care

about what's appropriate for their age

they simply want to pursue their mission

in the deepest and most meaningful way

possible and these are the kids who end

up winning awards for their work or

stand out to admission officers let me

give you a popular example that's sort

of been the trend lately doing research

now quick context for those who don't

know there are some students who will

pick an academic area choose a topic to

investigate and end up publishing a

research paper and this is usually in

collaboration with a college professor

when I was in high school research was

an emerging Trend and it sounded kind of

weird but the students who were doing it

and were doing it well were getting into

top colleges these students thought

outside the box because think about it

what high school student in their right

mind does college level research at 15

16 or 17 years old but it was a way for

them to dive deep into an area they love

and more importantly showcase

intellectual vitality and curiosity

which are characteristics colleges love

okay so here's how you can think outside

the box take your mission and ask

yourself how can I pursue this in a way

that other students aren't I want you to

question what you think is possible

think beyond the clubs at your school

think beyond what people deem

appropriate for your age for example if

you're into movies could you help direct

a short film if you're into AI or

technology could you build a web

application or here's a crazy one if

you're into geography could you help a

professional cartographer draw Maps now

you might be saying goart these ideas

sound super unrealistic and to that I

say you're right as you think outside

the box you will come up with impossible

ideas and if some of these ideas seem

genuinely impossible just let them go

but then also question if some of these

things are really as hard as you think

they are for example finding a startup

yeah that's kind of nuts it's possible

but it's nuts helping direct a short

film well it depends on the film but in

theory it's possible but what about

helping a professional cartographer draw

Maps now this one might seem super

random but the reason I mention it is

because I talked to a student recently

who actually did it and getting the

opportunity wasn't as hard as you might

think it started with a simple cold

email all right moving on to trait

number four top students see the bigger

picture Okay so the top students aren't

cold emailing every successful person

from every industry they're carefully

picking and choosing who they reach out

to and for what they're shaping their

resume and accomplishments to align both

with their personality and their core

Mission and to illustrate this point I

want to introduce you to three

hypothetical students first we have John

here are his five activities then we

have Emily here are her five activities

and then we have Bob here are his five

activities I want you to pause and

compare these three different lists I

think students like Emily are able to

see the bigger picture and realize that

while yes it's important to have a

mission it's also important to Showcase

personality her list has a nice balance

and although we can tell she's super

passionate about the environment we can

also tell there's more to her and this

slight variety might make her seem more

interesting to a college admissions

officer to a scholarship committee or

even to a potential employer John's list

is a bit more one-dimensional and Bob's

list is kind of all over the place look

there's nothing inherently wrong with

John's list or Bob's list students like

John and Bob also get into top colleges

when scholarships and land jobs but yes

I do think EMILY's List is the most

appealing which should actually be

reassuring her list proves that in order

to Showcase your passion and stand out

every single one of your activities

doesn't have to be about your mission I

suggest that you pursue a handful of

things that center around your mission

but then also do a few things that you

genuinely love trait number five top

students are effective communicators now

you could have the most impressive

activities list in the world but if you

can't talk about them in a way that's

clear and compelling you might struggle

to stand out to a college or a potential

employer I find that the most successful

students are able to move people with

their words for example think about

running for a leadership position that

speech needs to convince your peers that

you are the best one for the job think

about a job interview you need to show a

potential employer that you have the

skills and attributes necessary for that

position and think about the college

admissions process you need to show

colleges that you you are a great fit

for their school I'm here to tell you

that effective communication is a skill

that you can practice and it's something

that each and every one of you watching

this has the ability to master even if

you're introverted effective

communication ultimately boils down to

two questions who's your audience and

what are you trying to accomplish and I

think as a student most of the time

you're trying to convince someone older

than you that you possess certain

attributes the skill that you really

have to master at the end of the day is

storytelling at some point in your

academic career you'll probably have to

tell story about a time you showcase

maturity leadership initiative

compassion teamwork unfortunately this

won't be the video where I break that

down because that's a whole another

discussion but I might write about it in

my newsletter so be sure to sign up for

it the link is in the description all

right guys and with that we have wrapped

up today's video please let me know what

you think about these videos where I

talk more about life philosophies and

principles rather than study tips these

sorts of videos are pretty fun to make

and with that I will see you again next

week