The Truth about College Admission | Alex Chang | TEDxSMICSchool

1,080,446

28,302 0

Published 2018-06-13

As an expert in the field of college application, Alex Chang discusses the secret behind successful college applications. He explains colleges’ mindset when looking through the applications, and how grades are not as important as what most people believe. He also talks about how it is important for the applicants to “be awesome” and be unique in order to get into “dream colleges.” Alex Chang is the founder and CEO of Ivy-Way Academy. He received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Harvard University and continued his studies at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. He started his own company in his senior year of college, and left his role as the Head Teaching Fellow at Harvard University in order to focus on education. Now, with 12 years of teaching experience, Alex looks forward to share his knowledge on college application processes.

TEDxSMICSchool 2018 was organized by a team of 19 students at the SMIC School in Shanghai, China led by executive team members Wesley Ding (Lead Organizer), Kai Yi Mok (Communications), Jay Jung (Finance), and Victoria Liu (Design). Learn more about our mission to spread ideas at www.TEDxSMICSchool.com. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@jackrhea4175 4 years ago

"Focus on what you're good at" Bold of you to assume I'm good at anything
@TheCinderellaPrincess 5 years ago

He's not saying not to work hard but to be authentic.
@hadhamalnam 5 years ago

My view: Top tier universities are businesses that are trying to build their brand as much as possible. You build your brand by having famous and game-changing alumni. So admissions are based on how much potential the university thinks you have to become one of those accomplished alumni.
@anthonymarquez6493 5 years ago

Or you could donate a small loan of a million dollars and get in that way
@madisonandretta8022 5 years ago

The Truth About College Admissions: A lot of qualified people get screwed, but we try anyway because that's the people we are.
@thisguyagain7255 5 years ago

I want this video to be a secret.
@cristianaquinn631 5 years ago

As an independent college advisor for 15 years, there is a MUCH bigger reality at play here that is not discussed. Top colleges want diversity among students--and that means students from every state, every country, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American. They usually want a percentage of first generation college students, recruited athletes, musical prodigies, faculty/staff children, legacy/VIP Donor children---just to name a few categories.....Its not as simple as demonstrating a passion. It certainly won't hurt, but it needs to be set against the context of the bigger picture of why getting into the top colleges is so competitive......
@mjl7810 5 years ago

"just be damn talented in anything"
@bobsaget7315 5 years ago

Screw getting into Ivy League schools or any top 15 school for that matter. I want to retain my sanity and enjoy my young life thank you.
@abcdef-zs1zq 4 years ago

i almost died of stress just watching this
@michaelkempany4859 5 years ago

Thats why I play fortnite instead of volunteering, it's my passion
@wellohkaiden 5 years ago

Lots of truth to what he’s saying about being absurdly talented in a single area of life. The hard part is that most people don’t know who they want to be or what they want to do until after high school because they are still exploring their options. Furthermore, for people who are passionate about lots of different things, it can feel impossible to choose a single path and stick to it so that you become “awesome” at it.
@marissaann1290 5 years ago

strategy #2 isn’t that easy. people who don’t have a lot of money or natural talent or know their exact passion that don’t live in extraordinary circumstances are put at a huge disadvantage and they both become stressful af strategies
@MithoThoup 5 years ago

Man, wish this video showed up in my recommendations in 7th grade
@t4n410 5 years ago

Point being, I am a high school student How in the world am I supposed to know what i want to do for the rest of my life?
@Pizzatoes556 4 years ago

Being a sophomore and already halfway through my high school career, I would give anything just to go back into time and focus on things I’m passionate about.
@Kabutoes 5 years ago

Who is Ted and why does he talk?
@CptTierOps12 5 years ago

Lol I found Waldo in one glance... still not getting into MIT
@serenah6214 3 years ago

But finding an interest is rly hard. I feel like my interests change weekly.
@arifs9739 5 years ago

This misses one important point. Most kids don't know what they want or are passionate about