average student applies to ivy league schools, heres how that went (college decision reactions 2023)

[@notoscar1]

I'd like to think of myself as a relatively average student - unfortunately, that's not enough to get myself into an ivy league school. My EC's, SATs, commonapp essays were pretty standard and/or average. Subscribe if you'd like to see me review my own college applications!

[@MayasSmith]

j

[@MayasSmith]

stats?

[@nearwohdestheus2058]

All your stats are well above 90th percentile (especially your ecs), it would be pretty dishonest to refer to that as "average", unless you mean average relative to the ivy league itself.

[@notoscar1]

@@nearwohdestheus2058 (I did... ivy league is quite competitive... it's tough how I couldn't even make the 25th percentile in test scores)

[@khyativishu]

This season was brutal to the applying students, but what matters most is that you gave it a shot and you tried. I did too and I'm happy at least I tried. UoT is awesome, congratulations!

[@notoscar1]

Thank you kindly! Best of luck with your future endeavours :)

[@Symplastmail]

@@notoscar1 I think it’s also a lot more brutal for Asians. We’re put on another criteria pretty much and have to be a 10/10 to even be considered on the waitlist

[@notoscar1]

For sure!! I was honestly just praying for a waitlist from NYU - I think sometimes it is difficult in that Asian Americans are overrepresented minorities in the college application process in contrast to some of the underrepresented minorities.

[@khyativishu]

@@notoscar1 I agree. I got waitlisted at NYU, but being an asian it honestly just feels like a soft rejection.

[@TheDailySlurp]

UofT is a great school, and keep in mind how much money you are saving by staying in Canada. (I did my undergrad at McGill, and I think I spent less money on my education in four years than my friend's at Ivy Leagues in the States spent in just one semester. Even my American friends at McGill spent less money a semester as international students than they would for their local state school.) We still had world class professors and an amazing city to explore. In terms of bang for your buck, I think people vastly underestimate the value of pursuing higher education in Canada.

[@notoscar1]

Yeah! I think college debt and student loans are usually overlooked in the grand scheme of things. I'm definitely committing somewhere in Canada for my undergrad :) Thank you for your support!!

[@teenagestacker6063]

Definitely agreed! A lot of our universities get overlooked even though we some of the best universities worldwide both in real world things like good professors, but also arbitrarily world rankings lists. I'm going to Dalhousie for my undergrad, and even most people in Canada where I'm from don't know much about it, even though up there in the rankings, so it's amazing to me how places like UofT are overlooked on the international stage. Plus, much much cheaper, something I'm thankful for.

[@love-lb4bt]

I think it's crazy how much stress is put on a young person's self-worth and metal health over college, even before the journey begins kids already feel like failures. Everyone's path is different and everyone's place to grow and succeed is not meant to be the same. Where one will succeed and thrive the other might fail and be depressed. We just need to find the right soil for us and grow there. Thanks for bringing light to reality of what the majority of highschoolers go through and best of wishes in college. May you bloom where you're planted.

[@notoscar1]

Life is hard! But we learn and grow as we progress and fail. We're all giving it our all - that much I can promise. It's definitely tough, because rejection quite literally means the world to some of us... and growing up knowing that you "weren't enough" sucks. It really does. But it's okay, experiences shape who we are - and I feel so much more empowered, equipped with my current knowledge about the application process and mindset compared to when I was entering freshman year (gosh if ONLY I had the chance to time travel back... ahh) But it's okay. Eyes are set on the future! Thank you so much for your kind message and support! (seriously, I appreciate these SO SO much). I'd like to wish you nothing but the best on your future endeavours! Take care :D

[@megannuibe]

I am so sorry you didn't get into your top choice😢 But I am so glad to see you found a school!!! I also applied this season as well and didn't get into my top choice either. But got into all of my safety schools! I think any of the UC's or CSU schools would have wanted you though!!!

[@notoscar1]

Thank you so much!! I'm sorry to hear that college szn didn't turn out the way you had hoped, but great things await :) best of luck at your future school!

[@dorothycho2467]

Ivy standards are wayyyyy too high. I didn't apply to any Ivies but my stats aren't enough to get accepted either... :( At least you got accepted into other schools!! I'm an admit to 5 UCs and plan on committing to one of my top 2 admitted UCs :)

[@notoscar1]

Yep! I got accepted into all of the Canadian schools I applied for :) Congratulations on your UC admits! Best of luck with your future endeavours!!

[@dorothycho2467]

@@notoscar1 Same goes for you!! Congratulations again!!

[@christineozlegends2963]

You only applied to very selective schools here in the US! you should have broaden out your goals, applied to some with good acceptance rates. And also, some colleges here are still taking applications, so it's not too late!

[@notoscar1]

Tough luck, but it's okay! Canadian schools await my presence :)

[@m1r__]

im happy you eventually found a school. i actually got accepted into UCLA back when I was 18 but I didn't go mainly due to parent influence. they didn't want me to go for cultural reasons. i studied in my neighboring country instead, in Singapore. a reminder that though yes US schools especially the top ones are presitigous, you can get just as good education almost anywhere! i met some ivy league graduates who took their masters here and they said the same. it's not about the school itself, it's about the person and how hardworking you are, how passionate you are and your drive to succeed. good luck on your future man! i wanted to comment because i know that feeling of not being able to go to your dream school, but trust me, it's about what you do with the opportunities you get in life. my best wishes to you 🙏

[@theboti001]

hey may i ask u how u got accepted to UCLA. It's my dream school and i would really love to get some advice

[@notoscar1]

That's such sweet message!! My goodness... And I think both the general public and myself would agree that most undergrad programs would teach out of the same textbooks, and that education is generally universal... It's nice to have some time to let the rejection sink in! I'm trying to not take it too too much to heart, because fear not, I will work vigorously :D Seriously though, thank you so much for your message! I'm so glad other people also share similar experiences. Best of luck to you and your future endeavors as well!! Wishing you nothing but wellness as I continue to scavenge for opportunities :)

[@m1r__]

@@theboti001 I'm not that good at giving advice lol 😂 but I'll let you know what I did to get accepted. First, my SPM (final HS exam here) results were very good. not great, not bad but good. sometimes tht is enough. it's also about your participation in clubs and sports etc im sure. i was involved in clubs a lot and i even was appointed and elected as the leader of a few back in my time. i was the student representative council for 3 years, and I was also involved heavily in sports. I was in the soccer team and won 2 regional championships. And generally when applying to the top schools you usually have to write an essay, to basically separate yourself from the rest. I wrote about my POV as an introvert having to navigate through the open world and my growing experiences to adapt as i got older and realized networking and participating is important. you can just write something about you, or something that relates to you, but be sure to capture the attention of the readers. because you're definitely writing to impress people. TL;DR, just keep working hard, participate in events and social clubs a LOT, get involved in school activities, out of school activities, volunteer for organizations etc, all of those will really help your chances. remember, i am speaking from an international student perspective. so our experiences will differ massively. and keep my OG comment in mind too, don't be too bummed out if you couldn't make the cut. education is universal, and everyone teaches and learns out of the same textbooks. good luck for your future!

[@theboti001]

@@m1r__ wow very interesting thank u sm❤️❤️ (btw i’m not American either)

[@Peter.C-fu3lh]

You got into a top university, you can be proud of yourself. I'm also Canadian and I didn't get into my top choices here in Canada, sometimes that's just how life is. I figured that at times, I would get lucky and at other times extremely unlucky no matter the effort I put in, the point is to never give up and keep trying. You can always try for Grad School if you want to study in the US, it is an option a lot of students commit to. Again, getting into UofT is amazing, it's a great institution. Best wishes!

[@notoscar1]

Thank you so much for your support - I really appreciate it!! (My condolences to you on your top choices... trust me - I feel ya...) Either way, I hope you will love whichever path you choose to pursue, and best of luck to you!! You got this :D

[@alexandragulko8135]

So I got into NYU but I had taught in Japan, been homeless, taught at seasonal jobs, hotel work, done Americorps volunteered at a food bank and I guess my professor knows someone along with a decent essay and GPA. So you can't just have had a normal life.

[@notoscar1]

Really wanted to get into NYU myself, but CONGRATULATIONS!! It's so amazing that you were an overseas teacher before going to school yourself!! (seriously... that's impressive - good on you!) But that's the reality! (at least it is in my eyes) Having anything along the lines of a normal life is grounds for rejection in this competitive application process. Proud of you, regardless! :)

[@8d_trackz_official480]

Dude its fine ..... i got rejected too from all ivy leauges... actually i had authored a book and sold abt a 1000 units(in like a month) nd stuff like tat...research papers nd much more...but still didnt get in...applied only to ivy cuz no other uni gave full financial aid to international students...

[@notoscar1]

No way... I'm so sorry to hear that! It's crazy how selective these programs are in 2023 - I feel for you, but I'm sure other schools out there await! Be proud of your accomplishments :)

[@camelliabanerjee4729]

Please do let me know how to see your commonapp stats, essays, or my brown video portfolio.

[@notoscar1]

Stats video is here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7daWl_nM57gqc I haven't yet posted a video portfolio or my essays :)

[@itsjiyoungie]

kk first of all NOT ME FINDING MY BOYFRIEND'S COMMENT ON THIS VIDEO 😭 and second of all i hope you don't feel too bummed out! personally i think the pressure older folks and parents put on us to make it in the elite universities and viewing them as the only example of true success is problematic, if you study hard, the education you get in a normal school can be just as good as what you would've gotten in the elite schools! I'll tell my own story, when i finished HS, I was accepted into Cornell and Penn. i could've gone there but i wanted a different experience, I wanted to study abroad. i chose to study in one of the most renowned universities outside America. now 5 years later I'm about to take my masters here. my mom is Yale alum, so i talk about my education with her a lot when i can, asking her for advice and stuff. shes mentioned that a lot of the things i learned here were almost if not completely mirrored what she learned in an elite school at the end of the day, the elite schools are about prestige, and names and connections. there's no denying they help you for sure when wanting to secure the big and important jobs, but in the modern day, with how broad the reach of education is, the gap in terms of what you actually learn? it's actually slowly getting exposed to being almost translucent and nonexistent. someone that went to UC Davis for example can be just as successful and smart as someone that went to Harvard. sorry for the rant dkfjsidsk

[@notoscar1]

Oh boy... first- congrats on Cornell and Penn (ah I wanted to get in so bad...) And yeah, it makes sense! Most people I've talked to generally agree that undergrad programs, for the most part, teach out of the same textbooks - but I think the differentiation to make is the campus life, and the opportunity offered (like you said, big names, landing a job, networking, etc.). Either way, I definitely agree! (and don't worry about the rant, it's well taken and I appreciate your comment lots!! Thank you so much for your support :) I'll work hard!) Wishing you all the best from my end! :D

[@lenanguyen4737]

It’s so cool seeing Canadian applying to the US. There aren’t a lot of these videos

[@notoscar1]

Thank you!

[@isaackim6662]

you're good g, you've got this and keep going!

[@notoscar1]

So kind of you! Thank you :D

[@realmms]

Old person here, I graduated from UW and Western. I am sure you will do fine in the future. I was that average student. You are clearly more engaged than was in learning and extra curricular activities than I ever was.

[@notoscar1]

Thank you kindly! Haven't committed yet but I intend on going to Western! The application process these days are SO competitive :)

[@realmms]

@@notoscar1 just make sure to a tiny bit of fun too :)

[@notoscar1]

@@realmms Of course :D I'll work hard! Thank you for your support

[@vachitulsyan1872]

I personally believe the core these ivy schools look for in a student is that what makes them unique like you know what's that curricular where they are the best of best!!! also pls don't get disappointed

[@notoscar1]

Totally agree! Many appreciate niche students; unfortunately, I spread myself too thin over hs :(

[@estherbradley3218]

Good luck with all your future endeavors 🎉

[@notoscar1]

Thank you kindly!

[@itsybitsy8385]

i havent watched the video , nor do i plan to do that any soon cuz I'm currently in the very middle of my exam season but i just really really wanted to hop in here and tell how W the thumbnail of your video is ..NOTHING BUT THE NET !

[@notoscar1]

Hahahaha then I gotta say how W this comment is!! That's really sweet of you - but I guess nothing beats my lousy MS Paint drawings hahahaha thank you for your support :) and best of luck to you with your exams! Wishing you well.

[@upscaleavenue]

I suppose that in comparison to the Ivy League applicant pool, you are "average," but by and large, you are by no means an "average" student.

[@notoscar1]

It's really a competitive application process out there! (but thank you for your support :))

[@jicalzad]

it's not hard to get into college at all. It's just hard to get into IVY league schools. I think for most professions, where you went to school doesn't even matter. Maybe, maybe law school matters, but that's about it. One of my close friends graduated with only an associate's degree (**i.e. 2-year community college degree). Long story short, he is now a millionaire.

[@SkyIon]

I may or may not have walked by in this video.

[@cageynerd]

Ahhh business. Here's the key to success in business/finance. It doesn't matter what school you go to -- just go to a maybe top 50 business school. Get top grades, apply for internship, any position in finance. Once you get your first job, stay there for at least 5 years, and learn EVERYTHING you can. Get into a field you think is exciting for you life long, whether alt inv. hedge reg compliance IB whatever, apply to business school if you feel like directorship is out of reach. Only attend a top 20 top 10 school. You're golden -- millions for life.

[@notoscar1]

Oh boy!! Thank you so much for your advice :DD I will keep that in mind when I odyssey towards my passion *as one does* I'll work hard~

[@rangerapprenticefan]

This is extremely misleading. If you want to go into finance, a top tier undergrad is mandatory. Recruiters in finance don't even visit lower tier schools. I'd say top 20 undergrad for sure. Also, you can't group compliance with IB are you kidding me? Those jobs are universes apart in both pay and career trajectory. Stop giving people advice on an industry you know nothing about.

[@HarlemSexyBlaqkat]

I'm on the opinion that these big expensive universities should be applied to for grad school or as a untraditional student.

[@notoscar1]

I concur - the international student tuition is crazy high, and yet the education quality is vastly similar throughout the world. Thinking I'm going to commit to a Canadian school :)

[@lizardguy4236]

I have a friend who toured a bunch of schools in New England recently and she said that her favorite out of the ones she visited (BU, BC, UMass Amherst, Harvard, Yale, and Northeastern) was Amherst because the other schools and especially the ivies prioritize grad students over undergrads so at least for undergrad it’s better to attend a college where you can get a more personalized education

[@miau6451]

I love your thumbnail TvT what matters is that you tried, and I'm proud of you for trying! Best of luck wherever you commit (where are you committing actually? XD)!!

[@notoscar1]

Hahaha that's so sweet, thank you so much!!! I actually really like the process of using my mouse to draw a thumbnail on MS Paint - I know it turns out terrible but I think it's a funny style I'm trying to embrace (I am SO THANKFUL and GLAD that people like it :)) And thank you for the well wishes! I'm committing to Western! I got in on a pretty sweet scholarship for ranking pretty high (so that's why) - I'll work hard no matter where I go! Wishing you nothing but the best from my end! Take care and thank you for your support :D

[@Deep_Blue1]

Very Unfortunate, Oscar. U deserve to be accepted.

[@notoscar1]

@@gheller2261 That's how it is with college admission!

[@meowmeow2936]

Hey congrats on UOFTTTT acceptances!!!!

[@gunika-jmja]

What did you do to get into UoT? ECs,grades etc.. Kindly make a video on it or reply to my comment...I'd really like to know! Your help will be very much appreciated.

[@notoscar1]

I think my biggest advantage to UT was that I'm Canadian... (haha?) PS, check out the college video playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLY2QyMe3AHKO-CuJjQH8H4RKnxSawfsbI Hmm... should I make a video on UofT applications?

[@AvengeZealot]

What are your stats(gpa, sat/act)?

[@notoscar1]

Check them out here :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7daWl_nM57gqc (thanks for your support!!)

[@malvi616]

My brother got accepted into Stanford but not NYU, I despise NYU.

[@notoscar1]

Congrats to your brother!! Such an amazing feat :)) Tough luck on the NYU though... (I can relate) - best wishes to you and your brother

[@malvi616]

@@notoscar1 you too brother regardless of anything you serve a purpose and despite those colleges rejecting you which I dealt with as well you still are exceptional💪🏼

[@notoscar1]

@@malvi616 Thank you kindly! Much love :)

[@kofizayn6077]

@@malvi616 Congratulations to your brother. Anyway if you don't mind me asking please tell me. What do you think got your brother accepted to Stanford? Is he an athlete? A legacy? Or perhaps he had a very good essay?

[@malvi616]

@@kofizayn6077 his essay made New York Times, he’s a bright academic achiever, and he’s been in honors and things like that. I’ll find more details out and share them later :D

[@bpxl53yewz29]

Don't worry, bro. Many of those schools aren't even in safe neighborhoods. You always hear about a student getting killed at USC.

[@notoscar1]

Safety comes first!

[@4myg465]

Hi! Did you ever make a video about your stats?

[@notoscar1]

Yeah! Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7daWl_nM57gqc Thank you for your support :D

[@inuryu101]

just being curious but were you in square one by any chance?

[@notoscar1]

Don't think I was! haha

[@ALLinHerMovements]

NYU is not an Ivy League school tho

[@notoscar1]

haha just tossed some other schools in there... nyu, usc, and uoft all arent :D hope that helps!

[@mar27115]

Could you do a stats video pls.?

[@notoscar1]

Yes! I'm working on it right now :)

[@rkallday2393]

stats, and full acceptance vids?

[@notoscar1]

Working on it! Unfortunately I didn't get into any other US schools :( tough international student life - stay tuned!

[@marys7988]

What SAT scores did you get?

[@notoscar1]

Check them out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7daWl_nM57gqc :)

[@cynthiamartinez56]

Best video ever

[@weiyanmoe-ew8jv]

How old are you? Just asking! I wanna find out how early I should start applying to university.

[@notoscar1]

17! I just made a stats video about my application - feel free to check it out if you're interested (I highlight some of the things I did to prepare for college) I'd start as early as freshman year of high school! (not to apply, but to get your resumé ready, explore your passions, and be involved with your community :)) best of luck to you!

[@weiyanmoe-ew8jv]

@@notoscar1 Thanks so much! :D

[@notoscar1]

@@weiyanmoe-ew8jv No worries at all! Stay tuned :) I'll be publishing more content about college applications soon! Feel free to subscribe if you're interested!

[@ericzheng957]

Its because you didnt follow gohar and get him to edit your application smhhhhh

[@notoscar1]

Whoops-

[@oxxn111]

im hoping uoft is easy to get into its my dream school

[@notoscar1]

I think it's competitive, but also reasonable. Best of luck to you! Shoot me a message when it's time to apply!! I'll wish you congrats when you get in too :D happy to help!

[@oxxn111]

@@notoscar1 lol i’ll be applying in 2025 but thank you!!

[@eshaanchaturvedi7344]

Where are you commiting

[@notoscar1]

I stand undecided for now - but it's definitely somewhere in Canada!

[@princeavogadro-eb7ut]

Whats ur SAT score

[@notoscar1]

Check out my stats here! :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7daWl_nM57gqc

[@Spring_of_Smiles]

i know how you feel. earlier this year, i got rejected to every school i applied to in the US. however, i'm not giving up. i'll be reapplying for next year. cheer up notoscar1 and everyone else who got to experience this!

[@notoscar1]

Best of luck!! College apps are tough, but I have plans to apply for transfer next year too!! (let me know how it goes, I'm rooting for you!)

[@Spring_of_Smiles]

@@notoscar1 thank you so much!

[@tvscribe]

You know, there are so many other incredible schools in the USA aside from ivy leagues.

[@notoscar1]

Of course! Any school is a great school if you make the most out of your experiences!

[@chiomaanakua3215]

I'm sorry

[@notoscar1]

It's okay

[@MayasSmith]

stats?

[@notoscar1]

Check them out here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nF7daWl_nM57gqc Thanks for your support!

[@spectacularyoyo1949]

could u do a vid showing ur stats?

[@notoscar1]

Yes!

[@zawadulhoque4511]

You just like me fr fr

[@notoscar1]

Reality of college decisions ;-; best of luck to where you commit though!

[@nilcesoares9708]

Toronto is just as good as any Ivy on an undergraduate level ... I'm a Brown graduate + you're not going to miss out on anything either academically or personally (Toronto is a real city while Providence really isn't) ... I would love to do a joint MBA/MA in Global Affairs at Toronto so maybe it's just human nature to think that the grass is greener elsewhere

[@notoscar1]

so true - we always want what we can't have :((

[@Goodwind88]

Where are you guys from 😮😮😮

[@notoscar1]

Canada!

[@couchwarrior7207]

How to not to get into an Ivy League school. I'm class valdectorian, I was captain of the Lacross Team and baked bread for the homeless and wrote position papers for a congressman. This is my dream school. Well guess what everyone that applies has same stats. How to get into a Ivy League school. I want to attend your school because you have the best program for my area of intrest. You have professor's and clubs that will help me acheive my goal of becoming a public health researcher in the area of air born disceases. There are only x number of slots and they don't want to waste them. They want to know what your contribution to society is going to be in the future. Call adminisions at any school and ask to speak to an addmissions counselor and ask what is it that that they are looking for on your essay and applications. They will tell you and help you. That is their job. Daughter got accepted by Berkley, Columbia and Yale. Chose Yale as with scholarship money which everyone gets because Ivy's have huge endowments. Cost isn't that much more then a state school. Of course she was qualified with the grades and what not. But again you have to stand out. She stood out by knowing what she wanted, articulated that and worked with admissions on her application. They all have workshops. So when the admissions commitees met they already knew her. So who are they going to pick. A random unknown no matter how accomplish they look on paper or someone they worked with. It wouldn't look good to thier boss if one of there recommendations got turned down,. I'm such a poor admissions counselor I couldn't get my person in. In closing let the hater's hate. People that work hard and have a plan are to busy to worry about that. But all schools are good I think. Just what you put into it. Math is math, coding is coding. Ivy's though do get you excellent contacts and small class sizes.

[@notoscar1]

I'm so sorry to hear that! I think I'm going to stick to a top school in Canada as opposed to a regular school in the US, but that's the reality of the competitive nature of the application process. I'd like to wish you all the best in your future pursuits, and that I really stand by you... tough luck, but life goes on! :) best wishes!

[@kofizayn6077]

Please tell me what you do you think got your daughter accepted? What was her essay about?

[@couchwarrior7207]

@@kofizayn6077 I think it was because she shadowed doctors including an internship with a pathologist in a morgue. Volunteered at a hospital, volunteered at the county for Covid vaccinations and did an internship at Rocky Mountain Biological Reasearch Labratory for climate change related research. So assume that demonsrated that she really really wanted to go into Public Health/Enviromental area. Probably other applicants don't have all of those activities. I suppose you could hole up and do nothing but concentrate on grades and do nothing else. But thinking admissions is more impressed with a 3.7 or 3.8 with well rounded extra curriculars. Again with so few slots they want to make sure they are going to admit someone that is going to use that degree and not give a slot out becuase someone had an essay how this was their dream school. On a side note I think if I was going into engineering or IT I would go to a west coast school. But in State schools are great also. One other thing I know a guy that repairs cars from his home for $75/hour and another guy that clears $1000 per each hot water heater installation and does 2 per day. Who knew? LOL!

[@HarlemSexyBlaqkat]

NYU/Columbia are super expensive and good luck finding housing.