how to get into top colleges with bad grades or low gpa or low SAT I my true story + mistakes

[@emilytan7067]

Hi there! This video is first in a series of applying to colleges in the US (I wish someone told me all of these things when I was applying) I have SO much advice to share with you on college applications so do subscribe if would like to see more on that. If you are currently applying this year...all the best you are almost there! :) DISCLAIMER: How "good" or "bad" grades & test scores are differs for every student + depends on where you are applying! The reason my grades, gpa, and SAT score are "low" is because stats are always evaluated IN CONTEXT and I was trying to get into the ULTRA competitive schools like Yale & Yale-NUS (which don't accept many students with my stats) My contextual factors: I am an (1) international applicant (2) Asian (enough said lol). Many applicants from my demographic apply to places like Yale with near perfect stats, and even they get rejected. Beyond the already low acceptance rates, it's even lower for international applicants like me because they have an unwritten quota for internationals. I did make it in the end, but I definitely am an atypical case for a place like Yale-NUS because ultimately college is an academic endeavor, and the more competitive the school, the higher the bar for entry with your academic ability and achievement. I remember watching a sea of "how i got into the Ivy League" videos, with virtually everyone having 3.9+gpa/1550+ SAT and feeling super discouraged about my own scores then talked myself out of applying to Yale (my dream school). I really wanted to make this video to help anyone currently in the same same situation and having doubts about applying to your dream school just because of not having perfect stats. Colleges with very low acceptance rates have thousands of applicants with virtually indistinguishable levels of achievement, and at the end of the day it comes to down to a bit of luck...You should DEFINITELY just try!

[@DetTNG]

Hey Emily! Thank you very much for your video firstly! Secondly I wanna ask did you do your A Levels or GCSE's or both and then applied? Coz I'm doing final year of Cambridge International A Levels so I would like to know what your grades were and which grades you applied with

[@DhakatownDhakatown]

my ssc result is 4.94 and hsc result is 4.17. Can I get any scholarship in USA for my graduation. Please help me. If the answer is no. Then please tell me what should i do?

[@byronvillagran1546]

For those who clicked expecting something “bad” it’s a 3.4 gpa which is decent and a 1450 sat which is incredible

[@jaminescudero1204]

LMAO I LOVE THIS

[@JuicyLoop]

pain

[@Yotubez]

nah cuz I had a 3.1 gpa last year and my grades are all a's now, hopefully I can get like a 3.8-9 in one more year

[@data5ian]

i mean it’s low relative to high achieving standards; i got a 1500 and it’s ok but i definitely would’ve preferred higher, could’ve done better if i took it more than once

[@cioneyl]

love that..

[@jackthemlits]

“I only had a 1460” *me crying with my 1080*

[@MaryM-hx7yg]

me crying with 840

[@juliancamiloromeropenagos2814]

@@MaryM-hx7yg no way 😭

[@emilytan7067]

aaaaaaaa it do be like that :'( I feel like the bar of what is a "good" SAT score for top schools keeps getting higher every year...

[@MusicHaven_490]

Lol…..if this is her bad grades then makes no sense for me to watch with my grade….she can’t relate to real struggles

[@Amira-tn2vg]

so real

[@osujijane-francis6772]

The part where you said you "self-selected" yourself out of your dream school made me tear up just a bit because I'm doing the same now. And really, I did suck at math in high school; I think my C on the final exams were a miracle. It's not easy for me now yet, but I've managed a decent score on the SAT math. Thing is I want to major in Computer Science and I keep telling myself no one would accept me. I'll try to stop being so self-defeatist, so thanks so much for this.

[@jackthemlits]

I lowkey feel you bro :') like my SAT score is not higher and my math score is definitely not high either (hint hint, I also got a C) but hey, I just trying to get the best and try to become an architect because it is my dream job. If not, I will try to do something else. Hope you are doing alright with not being self-defeatist! Have a nice day ❤️

[@grumpymonk2573]

You can always give yourself another chance too later in college with transferring! I've always wanted to go to Cornell, and didn't get in on my first time applying but got in when I transferred after 2 1/2 years at a state school. Don't give up yet if you really want to go :)

[@osujijane-francis6772]

@@grumpymonk2573 Whoa.. I didn't know this before now. thanks so much for this

[@emilytan7067]

Your comment made me tear up a bit too :'( I completely understand where you're coming from with struggling with math all throughout high school. I remember feeling so hopeless about everything especially since I was only applying to schools that were need-blind for internationals because I needed a lot of aid to be able to afford going to college in the US. I would never say never on the CS major part, demonstrating commitment to improvement + huge potential to improve further college will definitely help your application. However, you could also apply as another major that you would be a stronger candidate for, then transfer into the CS program/go to a college that allows you to declare your major later on. I know a lot of people who do this, but definitely make sure it's possible for the schools you're looking at! All the best for college apps. You have made it so far already, I am so proud of you! ❤️❤️❤️

[@emilytan7067]

@Grumpymonk 25 Love this advice! I too am making my Yale dreams happen 2.5 years later by going there as a visiting student next Spring. Graduate school is an option too, and the admissions rates are typically much higher!

[@vestapeiravani9189]

I can not say how grateful i am for this video i recently moved to the usa and am in a very competitive school with kids taking 4-5 ap classes with 4.0 gpa’s and it has really been taking a toll on my mental health. But after this video i feel much more confident about my goals and the colleges i want to apply too. So thank you for taking your time to make this video. You have no idea how helpful this was 🙏🏽

[@raven2342]

this exactly my situation rn too !! all my classmates here in the usa are crazy smart and competitive. hope u get into ur top schools :)

[@emilytan7067]

So happy I could help! I remember feeling so alone in struggling with school when watching all those "How I got in" videos with everyone having near perfect stats. So happy that I could make you feel less alone in your struggles through the extremely confusing and complicated process that is college applications. It is SO hard to thrive in a completely new school system, you are doing great! All the best with everything, I am so proud of you already!

[@iris3865]

Sameee and im just not sure how to match the level of ecs to that of my classmates here

[@NekoMeow735]

“If studying isn’t your thing, then make it up with your extracurriculars.” YESSS!!!!

[@YousufHossain-e5c]

what if I am not good at my extracurriculars too?

[@vitamind5710]

@@YousufHossain-e5cyou need something to fall back on man. Your grades aren’t the best, you fall back on your SAT/ACT, if those aren’t the best then you fall back on extracurriculars.

[@meltfire6]

@@YousufHossain-e5c the cool thing about extracurriculars is you can do anything as long as it has some value. like academics but not the structured nature of school? go into some summer camp or competitions. don't like doing sports? do freelance video editing. don't have a computer? get a part time job somewhere. don't have any skills? do community service.

[@Daniel-zl2qq]

Thank you, you really really really gave me the courage to apply to MIT. Academically I’ve done the best I can but I got a 2 on my AP Calc and Chem tests so I’ve been filled with self doubt about if I’m even a good fit. We’ll see what happens next. I wish you the best

[@FireGamingPro]

@Daniel

[@sprl211]

Did u get in?

[@dragonninja9908]

Thx Emi, now I have a lot of courage to do better in school and not give up. I felt kinda hopeless when I usually averaged in C's and failed while my friends were getting 90s (even people in my class in a lower grade), but you've shown me that if I try harder and at least try to get into my dream university, it's very possible so thank u, ur truly a God-send! :)

[@shunkandenini]

i’m really grateful that i clicked and watched this video :,), i’ve never been the smartest student but i have the drive to thrive. thank you for motivating me!!! ❤️

[@simonesharmaa]

emily hi! I'm watching this today (5/22) and I started my college application for sept 2023 and am in the 12th grade now. when I sat down to calculate my GPA I am on a scale of 3.4 tentative and I was so so devasted, my story is similar to yours I went from 60% to 88% to 91% in 11th grade. my extracurriculars are good and I'm rlly working my ass to score well on my SAT and I still thought none of this would make up because of my GPA but after seeing this today I want you to know that you have built a confidence in me and that I shouldn't hold back from applying to my dream unis just because of my GPA. I want to apply to Stanford and after I realized they need a min of 3.7 I lost it and went all crying but now I believe i can do it and get thru! you're one of the few people i look up to and appreciate sm thank you emily!

[@ShauryaSharma]

hii i am from india felt happy to hear your story im having exact same academic history from 66% to 80 to 94% and my xtra-curr. are to great plz lemme know when you r appyling and what was the result cuz wanna know students like us could get in or not.....any social media ? so i can stay in contact?

[@melancholiajones2097]

how'd it go?

[@nabi6196]

Hey It's been a year how it went ? you can relax if it didn't don't worry you will have a great future ahead pease share your story with us more

[@lattesongs]

I LOVE YOU! YOU GAVE ME HOPE instead of seeing other people's stats that are like crazy geniuses I'm so happy that I've seen this video, thank you!

[@emilytan7067]

i love you too! I think back to when I was applying and the sea of stats videos with 1500+ SAT / 34+ ACT / 3.9 GPAs was super discouraging. So happy I could help show that it is possible to get into your dream school w less than perfect stats. All the best for your college apps, you are so close! ❤

[@aureliarose12]

I usually don’t post but felt like telling you guys this! About the people saying Emily’s grades are high and thus the vid is not applicable them, this may be a valid point, but something to think about is that for Asians it is extremely competitive, perhaps even more difficult than usual, to get into top colleges since they are competing directly against other Asians, who almost all have crazy high grades as well. As an Asian myself who prefers artistic subjects over academics and have “lower” grades, I could relate to this video and found it very helpful :) Not to say getting into college as a non Asian isn’t difficult of course, but because of the diversity factor, colleges definitely have to narrow down the amount of accepted students, even if they have high grades and stuff, and it is just something to consider. It’s a pretty interesting topic, you can read more about it online. Also please keep an open mind, and this isn’t meant to be like condescending or anything, just to possibly inform about why she calls her grades “low” and to spread some awareness about yet some more societal problems… Thank you for reading ❤️ And thanks for the informative video!

[@emilytan7067]

Hi Rose, thank you so much for your comment I really appreciate this! ❤️You explained really well just how many contextual factors are at play when colleges evaluate how "good" or "bad" grades are. Due to my being an international student + Asian my grades really were low. It really is unfortunately that for certain demographics the bar is just SO different, college admissions is just a sometimes unfair and confusing game that we all have to play *sigh* Happy I could help you with my experience and advice. All the best with everything!

[@aureliarose12]

@@emilytan7067 thank you! You too!

[@a.r.7885]

Colleges don't really "narrow down" the number of accepted applicants because of diversity. They do this because there are simply too many qualified applicants (of all backgrounds) and a comparatively insufficient number of places to offer them. If a school routinely admits under 5% of its applicants, it is necessarily selective. While the grades in the video are not necessarily "low" by most standards, the standards of these universities are not most. Their standards are exceptional. Even perfect grades and test scores (which these are not) do not qualify any applicant as exceptional - that is why these stats alone are largely inadequate. As a non-Asian who was raised by such standards, I don't really understand why the desire for excellence should ever be considered a societal problem.

[@justj8771]

Bad grades- 3.4gpa and 1450 sat 😭😭

[@MrClapUup69]

For top colleges, it is bad.

[@zen_end2]

Hey Emily! This video gave me so much inspiration and hope to getting into my dream school. I'm currently a junior at my neighborhood high school and currently have 5 B's, my worst year... Planning on majoring in Architecture :3

[@emilytan7067]

Yayyyy you still have so much time :) Keep working on building that upward trend, you can do this!

[@cioneyl]

omg me to

[@lemonlime455]

very happy i got this reccomended, currently going through mental health problems and have terrible grades but before my grades were almost straight as, and i know if i get help for my last 2 years of highschool i can get almost back to where i was before

[@emilytan7067]

I am so sorry to hear what you have been going through! 🙁 I speak with personal experience when I say it can be really tough to keep up with school when struggling with your mental health...I hear you, I see you, and I am so proud of you for making it this far! ❤

[@RieDinBeck]

thanks you motivated me to not let my past define my future, last year my grades were horrible but this year i’ve gotten 7A*s and 1A in igcse and i’ll soon be doing the international baccalaureate

[@8-bitoctane101]

I need this video especially after Covid and the depression placed on me for the better part of my high school experience

[@liuyulian98]

So cool to see how far you've come!!!

[@emilytan7067]

this is so sweet 😍 honestly really just made a video talking to past me when I was applying

[@foodie2525]

"only had a 1460" I got into a school with a 10% acceptance rate with that score lol 1460 is an amazing score for top schools.

[@emilytan7067]

Happy to hear you got into a good school! Yes 1460 is definitely an okay score, or else I wouldn't have gotten into Yale-NUS which had a ~4.5% admissions rate the year I applied. However, it is definitively on the low side considering my circumstances (1) International student, which the bar is always higher for at any competitive school (2) Other applicants within my demographic (Chinese, Southeast Asian, etc) typically have scores on the 1500/1550+ side, and many 800s for math, so in comparison my 1460 is unfortunately quite low 3) Because of my exceptionally low score for Math in school, it was especially important for me to have a very high SAT score to balance it out, so with that in mind 1460 is not that strong too. A 1460 is not objectively bad at all, but when you consider it in context with everything else it's not the greatest.

[@holtcompass3934]

@@emilytan7067 1460 out of 1600? I'm a sophomore with a 1250 and I might give up on my dream of becoming a doctor if I don't get to the 1500s..

[@Victor-wu4mw]

@@holtcompass3934 Honestly just take as much time as you can to study for the SAT if you really want to get to the 1500s. You're still a sophomore so you have time, but don't procrastinate on it. It doesn't even have to be that much studying, just like 30 mins a day or every other day is good. Doing SAT practices and reading/writing more is really the only way to get better. Best of luck.

[@imdva]

@@holtcompass3934 please do no think this!!!!! 1250 is an average score and many colleges will accept you!! for competitive colleges like ivies though, yes 1460 is where you want possibly higher, but not everyone can score a 1550+! its totally ok! dont stress yourself over scores bc i definitely did that and it did not help me. I got a superscore of 1320 senior year which i submitted to colleges and I got into almost of the ones I wanted! Your score will improve, but dont over work yourself for a 1500

[@holtcompass3934]

​@@imdva I'm a foreign-born Asian American so regrettably, the standard is higher for us.. According to a research conducted in Princeton, Asian applicants had to score, on average, 140 points more than their white counterparts.. I am not content with being average, at the very least I want to be in the 1300s. I know it seems very petty, but I really want to get as high as I can in life because I'm in a very bad family situation that I have to escape. It's all or nothing for me

[@YOWASSUPHIIIII]

You’re so pretty AND so talented! You’re my new role model

[@jascurry2711]

Not me clicking on this video because I got a 1420 on my SAT when I was really hoping for something over 1500 and struggling with finishing my applications because "what's the point my grades aren't good enough" and then almost being in tears at the end of the video because I really needed to hear this. So thank you x

[@brack5214]

SAT 1460 out of 1600 is great score not an “okay” score, depending on what year the test was taken that’s in the 98th percentile

[@amber-qo4ju]

thank you so much for this video. i've been terrified lately waiting for my final grades and wondering if it'll be good enough for me to get into my dream school

[@juliancamiloromeropenagos2814]

If bad grades is 1450 then I should I be dropping out rn 😭

[@emilytan7067]

How "high" or "low" a score is really depends on your individual circumstances and demographic. For my own situation (failed math in school, ethnically Chinese, International Applicant, etc) my score is low but a 1450 might mean something totally different in your situation. Please don't stop your SAT score from shooting your shot to your dream school!!!

[@juliancamiloromeropenagos2814]

@@emilytan7067 ofc it’s not, I’m applying to brown university without scores ✌️

[@emilytan7067]

aaaaaaa manifesting brown for you 😍😍😍

[@juliancamiloromeropenagos2814]

@@emilytan7067 my 4.4 gpa and 200+ hours of volunteering will push through 😤

[@MasterEduca123]

Emily, you are a great student. Let me tell you that your video has been the most useful among all the videos of the same type that can be found on youtube. Your content will help many international students from different countries. Greetings from Peru. I wish you all the best. =D

[@sageyork]

I have a 4.1 weighted gpa and I have barely above average act and sat scores currently so this gives me hope.

[@kayleer1731]

Thank you so much for this video. This has helped me tremendously with my confidence and my application, and I will definitely be watching more! :)

[@hizkiapermata5206]

This video is so inspiring. I am applying to MIT and Ivy leagues next year for regular round. Hope to get admitted with not perfect GPA (but close).

[@emilytan7067]

So happy I could help you! You still have a lot of time to work on your GPA and work towards building a solid application. MIT and Ivy Leagues won't know what hit em ;) You got this!

[@hizkiapermata5206]

@@emilytan7067 Thanks Emily!

[@alexkripfgans9868]

what’s ur gpa

[@hizkiapermata5206]

@@alexkripfgans9868 3.9

[@alexkripfgans9868]

@@hizkiapermata5206 do u know if colleges care how much of a 3.9 it is? Like I have a 3.95 but will colleges see that worse than a 3.98?

[@reitumetsetlhakung6327]

Just wanted to say you are a star for making this video and deserve the biggest hug ever❤️❤️

[@Hduemsmsislqksm73433]

girl i love you i was worried sick about my grades i did terrible terrible result on my exam man i was like my future is crashed

[@ivydprep]

The TRIANGLE! Leveraging yourself with other strengths is big

[@A.Yadav-V]

Such a click-bait! Her grades aren't bad at all. On A Levels, there's no cumulative GPA; instead, it is done per individual subject, and you're supposed to take three subjects on average. So, it's more like a 4.5 out of 5.0 weighted scale for every A she has and 3.0 out of 5.0 for just the one C. Plus, CAIE A Levels are world class high school course and more recognized than AP courses. For context, CAIE grades range from A*, A, B, C, D, and E, where an E is equivalent to a C grade and an A* is equivalent to a perfect 5.0 on the US weighted 5.0 scale. She is only one grade below a perfect GPA. Don't be fooled, guys. And since so many schools have gone test-optional, her 1460 SAT score didn't really hurt her chances all that much either.

[@Netra_Yadav]

Thank you so much! You have truly encouraged me!

[@emilytan7067]

I'm so happy to hear that! All the best with your college applications, go get it 😍

[@JuliaSoeWin]

This is a life-saver! Thank you so much!!!

[@ラミレス天使]

Thank you, it helped me a lot with the information.

[@King_TeaS]

I have a weighted 3.7 GPA and just finished junior year. I’m really bad at math and got a D in it, and a C in ApBio. I’m pretty sure a lot of colleges mainly look at junior year and now I’m scared that I may have worsened my chances exponentially.

[@dragonninja9908]

Don't give up!

[@red-yl3lb]

if u can improve it in ur senior year it’ll look good on ur transcript! u can also explain why u got a bad score on ur application so don’t feel too bad!

[@porkbunsxx]

@@sallytwotrees5250oo sadly they prioritize sophomore and your junior year especially the most. yes they’ll see ur 1st semester for senior so they still have time. I also flopped pretty hard and got a C in math. I’ll probably include in my college letter that math is definitely not my forte

[@ffz9586]

Thank you for this! This was very inspirational and now I’m not dreading my apps.

[@naomis2308]

You’re giving me hope for too LACs (like Williams and Swarthmore) and University of Chicago ! Thank you

[@emilytan7067]

All the best, you are almost there!!! Manifesting Williams, Swarthmore, and UChicago for you 😍

[@Lexxishome]

iv heard a lot of stories of ppl who get high gpa, grades, and high test scores but they barely get in because they have no Passion and diversity to them.

[@JosephStalin-bk4wc]

Hey Emily ! This video just made my day…I was considering not even applying at this point, but I’ve changed my mind thanks to you…what safety schools do you think I should apply to as an international student?

[@marioaiello9426]

Where did u get in

[@maddiz_lr8459]

I need to download this! I now know what I need to do!

[@mediahackz90]

How did you address your weakness(bad grades) aside in your essays. Did your letter of recommendation shed light on it. Did you utilize the additional information section? Also, thanks a lot for this video. It really helped a lot

[@laughoutloud3016]

Wow this was a great video I see great growth for your channel in the future subscribed for sure!!

[@emilytan7067]

This is so sweet, thank you 😍. Definitely will make more college admissions related videos...I have SO much to share on this with everyone!

[@soyaya444]

Thanks for your support ❤

[@Trendytende]

I needed this, thank you

[@bbchanel12]

Im getting my Yale admission decision in less than a week! I’m so scared 😇

[@emilytan7067]

omg that's really soon!!! Wishing you all the best, but no matter what happens you're going to end up at the college that's meant for you. I am so proud of you already! ❤❤❤

[@bbchanel12]

@@emilytan7067 Thank you! It means a lot 💓💓

[@L.A.M]

Same happening to me!! Good luck!! 💚

[@Kai-en5qb]

@@bbchanel12Heyy did u get in

[@hongj1n]

i have less than a month to write my essay im so scared

[@emilytan7067]

I actually wrote my essay + supps + short answers quite last minute since I only decided to apply 2 weeks before the deadline. I think what really helped was being super strict with myself (I set aside a time everyday to work on my essay for 2 weeks straight) + reminding myself to do my best within the circumstances I was faced with helped to overcome procrastination and anxiety. So that meant being honest with myself that an essay I will write in 2 weeks probably won't be as good as an essay that I write in 2 months...but that's okay because as long as I write the best essay I can in 2 weeks that's all that matters. Deep breaths and take things one step at a time to make it more manageable, you got this!

[@hongj1n]

@@emilytan7067 thank u so much 😭😭

[@husseinabade9259]

This video has inspired me a lot.

[@epic_playz4283]

Lol, I got a 2.6 in HS and a 920 on the SAT, also no course rigor! Now THESE stats are mediocre compared to other schools, but average for my high school haha. I now attend Tennessee Tech and ended the semester with a 3.4 GPA! Great advice for people with goals of going to T20 schools though! Was put in Interdisciplinary Studies, because I am not "calculus ready" yet. College: English Composition I - A Precalculus and Algebra - A Art History - A Environmental Studies - B+ Microeconomics - C 😒 Major: Electrical Engineering/Mechatronics concentration

[@temle7489]

The F, D, and C will not work if you are applying to the college of engineering, CS, Math, and Physics at these Ivies, MIT, Caltech, and UC Berkeley, and LA. No way!

[@emilytan7067]

I agree that it is HIGHLY unlikely for certain majors/schools, especially if I were to apply as a STEM major. However, considering how unpredictable US college admissions can be due to the holistic approach, I honestly would never say never! Sometimes people just develop their passions and interests very late into high school. I think having an upward trend that really demonstrates commitment to improvement + huge potential to improve further college would be key.

[@digzonsega917]

im cooked 2.0 gpa 1400 sat in junior year how are those bad grades 😭

[@User40919]

Same bro 😂

[@aelly25]

Thanks Emily for this amazing video .This really helps me a lot in building up my confidence... Also can you make a video on your college essays ??

[@angelcatquotes4u]

dude i've been a straight a student but i'm scared my ap precalc grade's going to be a C. call me dumb for blaming my teacher, but literally 3/4 of our entire class hates our teacher and doesn't like her bc of the way she grades. can anyone else relate?

[@MaazHamidPK]

Thanks for this! I'm expecting an ABB grade in main subjects and an A or B in further maths. Plan to give SAT again, as my previous was terrible with 1240. This gives me hope!

[@nikotopuridze8719]

I have a 3.3 GPA, but I also have MUN award and tons of participation in prestigious MUNs (the country didn't work out). I was a co-chair for UNEP in Grade 10, a reporter for my school newspaper, and later became the head of departments for the same newspaper, i won a trading market simulation, was named best student of the month in chemistry, and won games about Europe, which European universities will like that. I was in the debate club, and i also organized a bake sale for charity at my school. Having these achievements, my CV feels as if it is still too weak to get into good universities with a 3.3 GPA 😭

[@mehzabeen637]

Thank you for this video. Especially the part where you tell us to apply to that one place we want to apply to but don't think we're good enough for 😭 really boosted my morale. If it's okay with you, I had some questions and would love it if you answered. So confused rn 🤧 1. I have a steady and really good growth from grade 9 to 12 (literally upwards). Does that strengthen my application? 2. 1400 sat 😭😭😭 they said it was 97th percentile so I'm trying to be positive (I genuinely expected better hence the disappointment lol). Should I send or not? 😢

[@elijahallen2006]

For the first HALF of highschool. I failed more than half of my classes. Severe depression. I think with my like 1 point something gpa im a bit screwed even if im trying my absolute best rn

[@The0neand0nly..134]

How are you doing right now

[@elijahallen2006]

@@The0neand0nly..134 senior year now. Pretty average student so my gpa isn't saved. But I got a good act score and I'm on track to graduate 😎

[@atharvakadam407]

Guess what you are a god!… U cleared all of my doubts in few matter of minutes Love u bae( definitely as fan or an audience 😅)

[@AriaNovaX]

I graduated in bsc maths this year with only 66%. Had 99% & 81.83% at 10th & 12th. No extracurriculars after school. Currently self learning AI engineering and writing research papers. I want to do MS in CS/Astronomy. Is there any chance to get into a good uni in US with fully funded scholarship with low gpa? I don't care about placements, I just need good faculties, and resources.

[@Lydia-h2j]

Hi Emily! I’m an international student now, and i got a B+ at math on Grade 10😢😢. I got 3.92/4.0 at the first semester but 3.87 at the second semester. What can I do…….It’s really difficult to apply for top20 colleges nowadays.

[@haziquniverse]

If someone has unweighted 85% in high school, what would be the lowest possible equivalent GPA w.r.t U.S. educational system?

[@tanyingying7471]

So inspiring!!!

[@emilytan7067]

thank you!!!

[@rayyanarshad4744]

Thankfully ❤

[@sabrinalam6489]

Hi Emily!! Thank you so much for this video, I feel so much better about my chances now, especially considering top schools tend to place higher standards on Asian students (i sucked at math too and ended up getting a C+ on AP Calc AB and a C on AP Calc BC). I was wondering what are some of the other schools that you got into?

[@sabrinalam6489]

We also have the exact same SAT score LOL

[@chloe.8011]

Hi Sabrina! How did your college application and decision process go? I'm in a similar situation where I got a C in AP Calc BC, and I'm feeling worried about my chances.

[@lilithzeppeli3373]

U ARE THE BEST!!!

[@EveInTheMachine]

lol I have zero expectations of ever landing myself into a top college, I'm not even sure if I can even expect to get into a standard one. I was "gifted" with absolutely terrible health when I was growing up and it made it so the strengths I have were null and void in my grades as I had too much lethargy and missed too much time in class. Seeing my GPA after I finished absolutely destroyed my hopes of getting to any kind of art college, let alone Cal Arts (which was my dream). It's been many years since I finished High School now. I never did my SATs after high school, again because of my health and I have no way of doing them now because as I understand it adults my age don't have that option. I WISH I could take them so I could actually show the difference in my performance now that my health issues are past, but again I don't think I have that option or anything similar. Would love to be proven wrong! I'm lost on what to do about this area of my life. I really want to get a secondary education but with a gpa that's under 3.0 (2.83 to be exact) I just don't think that it's possible.

[@moriahsurgas1544]

This was really helpful, thanks!

[@emilytan7067]

Happy to help Moriah! :)

[@mkglez1033]

Thank you for your video, is very helpful! :) I have a question, when you say 3.4 gpa, you mean weighted or unweighted gpa?

[@mkglez1033]

No me writing this 3 years later..

[@realsajia]

this was lk motivating

[@ruthkudadji6795]

Thank you Tan.

[@BryanTran-i6q]

Hi Emily, I appreciate you calming me down because I burned out during my ACT test today and I think I scored very low, although my GPA is 3.95 weighted and 3.78 unweighted. Would these colleges consider one's limits because each brain and individual could handle a certain amount and has intelligence at a max at different levels, according to my mother?

[@BryanTran-i6q]

BTW my last ACT score was 24 and SAT was 1260. I don't hold clubs but I join them with some leadership positions, also I do cross country and track.

[@madmafia8242]

You're good content creator I"ll give you a sub.

[@emilytan7067]

Appreciate this, thank you!

[@thebestfr829]

bro gave me hope to get into Stanford

[@rojakhondokar2848]

Hey gurl! First off, awesome video! One of the few relatable college vids I watched! And hey, I was a CIE student as well! Shoutout to us for having survived the nightmare that is Cambridge(as a CIE student nothing scares me anymore lmaooo. I'm sure u can relate). Ps. Did u take pure maths, mechanics or statistics? Or a combination? Also as an international student applying to US colleges this year, I will defintely be coming back to your channel. Keep up the amazing work❤

[@emilytan7067]

Yay for surviving A-levels!!! Honestly I can't quite remember what I did for math...it was 3 years ago...BUT I believe it was pure maths and statistics??? I definitely agree with you that going through CIE helps you build a lot of mental and academic resilience. However, I would also add that if you do end up going to college in the US (which you definitely will ;) there's also having to adjust to a very different grading system with constant evaluation and other things like class participation/presentations. Just something to consider down the road! So happy I could help a fellow international applicant, all the best for your apps!

[@gabriellamorali2600]

wait thats like rlly inspirational

[@emilytan7067]

I'm happy to hear that ❤! Applying to college is sometimes super demotivating and confusing...just wanted to share my personal story to help people going through this incredibly challenging process!

[@thejoe7936]

I got a 990 sat score and a low gpa. I hope i get into my dream college

[@faithbeyra]

How long did you study sat math for? Do you mind making a video sharing your schedule etc. Thanks so much for this video it’s amazing because I genuinely haven’t heard a lot of this advice before. Thanks again !!! :)

[@emilytan7067]

Happy to help! I can't recall exactly, but I spent around 1.5 months preparing for the SAT, and most of that time was devoted towards practicing for the math section, perhaps a little too much because my R&W score...oop. What really helped me improve quickly in Math (I think I started around 600+) was (1) really really understanding my mistakes in practice tests to drill down on improving my weaknesses (2) keeping a catalog of my past mistakes, and going back a few days later to try the problem again and make sure I understand why I got it wrong + don't repeat my mistake (3) further strengthening areas of math that I was good at so I could do those questions quickly and have more time to focus on areas that I'm weaker at because SAT math is an ability + speed game I have a "how to improve on the SAT math section" video in the works that will go into more detail on everything I just mentioned!

[@Lyndchwng]

I got bad igcse results. does this mean I won't get into good unis? what if I do good in ib? could I still get into good colleges? I'm too scared

[@aimeeyu6814]

why didn't youtube recommend this to me earlier!!! I have 1570 in the sats but I got a b in physics and I'm applying to engineering. I was so freaked out I didn't apply to some of my dream schools. Now its jan 3 and I can't make up for it.

[@davidbringham12]

my situation is also like that. my grades in 9-11th grade is really bad but my final year grades in 12th is pretty good which is 3.7

[@HarrySouthard-t8m]

Do you think I have a shot at NYU with a 3.2 uw gpa but a 1600 sat

[@bruh_bie]

i didnt realise 1450 was a bad sat score lmao, if i actually get that id faint out of joy

[@carolinenavarropereira2497]

I loved the video!! As an international student sometimes insecurities occur, but that is the part of the process right? I am a bit worried because I applied test optional for SAT

[@hannahrock4220]

Hey! So I have a 4.5 gpa but my SAT score was less than a 1309 so I don’t know what to do ☹️

[@AriaNovaX]

How can I get into ivy league in 2025 when I have 2.62 GPA (out of 4) in my bachelor's (only because I didn't study well 🤧)? How can I improve myself in 1 drop year? Which type of internships, exams, extra courses, other stuffs should I take?plss help😢

[@muyaletv.1716]

Hello Emily... Your video is super inspiring ❤️❤️.I'm planning to apply to Yale next year for my undergraduate program. But I'm currently studying a diploma . Does Yale take in Diploma grades too or it's only limited to Highschool transcripts 🙏??

[@ankasilowolo]

what if i have a 3.0 gpa and a 1470 SAT? im a domestic student with an international education

[@PhucNguyen-yi1xg]

I don’t even have any activity programs, AP classses cuz my counselor choose those things for me. I have no chance to choose my prefers courses but I already have in next year. Haizz my SAT score bad too, I don’t even know what is ACT :(

[@EdwardM05]

My grades and stats are so bad but i'll apply to some ivy leagues for fun.

[@lari3331]

thank you so so so so much

[@omarbasem6112]

Hello, I also do the British syllabus and I got similar grades, I wanted to know how did you do in your IGCSEs?

[@yidima9891]

ok maybe I will apply to Columbia... even though my likelihood of getting in as an international applicant with really so so grades are so low

[@emmanuelmwangaila1]

Thanks for the video,

[@emilytan7067]

Hello fellow Malaysian :) I'll definitely try to get an essay video up soon, I know it's something that definitely takes a lot of time and effort to get right and I want to help you as much as I can with that. All the best for your apps, go get into your dream school and make Malaysia proud (no pressure HAHA)

[@maypearl7059]

hey Emily, I want to major in Business studies and I've done my IGCSEs. Should I do A levels or foundation program. Do you think ivy league schools would accept foundation?

[@Mrrityun_ArtAvenue]

May I know which universities you got accepted by?

[@TitaniumTronic]

Here cause I fucked up 9th grade and got multiple D's because I refused to do a lot of my performance tasks in quarantine Worried asf if im gonna even get into college now lmao

[@ZakariaDastom-ey9th]

What about my chance 4.9 weighted gpa 1 published scientific article and 3 articles that are about to be published a newspaper about me that has been published by the greatest press in my country 1 out of 20 in my class founder of 4 associations and member of nanotech association in a research center plus being a member of student concil and also lots of certificates in programming and finally I am going to take SAT but I am not sure if I get enough score. (I am applying for fall of 2024)

[@emeliana4572]

Hi Emily, quick question, due to COVID-19 and my declining mental health. My gpa is relatively low (like really low) is there any way I can bring it up in senior year of High school

[@jungkookwillbethedeathofme]

your sat score was AMAZING trust me. i have an 1140

[@arshita5758]

hey my score is along the same lines. Please tell me about the things you're doing to balance it out on your application or to just make it look not bad. Thank you and Congratulations!

[@emilytan7067]

Thank you for this! I definitely feel like my SAT was my personal best, it's just low in the context of where I was aiming to get into (dream school was Yale) unfortunately. In the grand scheme of things it's quite crazy to say that a 98 percentile score is low HAHA, but unfortunately the bar for admissions at places at Yale is just so high...I know things may seem hopeless due to the SAT score, but college applications truly are holistic so definitely put more effort into emphasizing the other qualities of your application. The essay is SO helpful to create a strong impression! All the best with everything!!! Also your username made me laugh hahaha xxx

[@jungkookwillbethedeathofme]

@@arshita5758 personally i’m milking all my extracurricular activities as MUCH as possible because colleges also look at those. if you were unable to participate due to home reasons, explain that you’d have to care for your sibling(s) (if that’s the case) and explain some hardships you may have experienced because of that. best of luck!!

[@arshita5758]

@@jungkookwillbethedeathofme thank you! Can you give me some tips on how to emphasize my activities and other aspects of my application in an impressive way? Also, I love Jungkook too haha!

[@naanlelo4785]

Emily, I'm from pakistan and im also doing gcses and a levels, could you pls tell me whether your internal school assessents matter? like tests, mocks, midterms etc and it would be amazing if you could share your gcses or equvilant results too, much love!