“Be confident and try to ignore all the endless online gossip and information because maybe about 10% of students admitted have truly unique in a million stories but 90% are just regular students who are working quite hard. The admissions officers wanna hear from teenagers about their lives, their interest and authenticity comes through in an application and it’s a lot more compelling than a manufactured story.”
Those were the heartfelt words shared by speaker Daniel Chung – former Deputy Director of Admissions at Stanford University – to TDSers during a career orientation workshop themed “From Dewey to Top Universities”, held on the morning of April 26th.
Speaker Daniel Chung – former Deputy Director of Admissions at Stanford University shared strategies for building an impressive application to get into top universities in the US
With experience assisting and advising hundreds of students admitted to Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale, etc., speaker Daniel Chung, together with TDSers, “unveiled” the secrets of admissions into prestigious American universities. In the context of fierce competition, how can one make a strong impression on American admissions officers? How can one build an ‘unbeatable’ application profile for renowned universities? These questions were answered during the nearly 2-hour workshop.
Mr. Daniel Chung stated that candidates are evaluated by five criteria in their application profiles for top universities in the United States, including: demographic information, academic performance, extracurricular activities, essays and recommendation. Among these, essays showcasing individuality and diverse life experiences are significant ‘plus points.’
In addition to outlining specific requirements for each criterion, Mr. Daniel Chung also pointed out common mistakes students make during the application process: “Despite participating in numerous activities, competitions at school and research attempts, many students still don’t know how to build their personal brand and lack practical knowledge about society. Some students blindly pursue brand name universities without articulating a specific vision about their future.”
During the workshop, TDSers had the opportunity to interact with the speaker, having their doubts and questions about the application process addressed. Student Phan Nguyen Chau Anh (Grade 11 Berlin) expressed: “I feel very happy to participate in today’s informative workshop. Through the speaker’s insights, I understand more about the structure and admissions process of American universities. I realize that balance is very essential when building a profile. It’s not just about having high GPA or SAT scores, candidates must have a harmonious combination of criteria to impress admissions officers.”
During the workshop, TDSers had the opportunity to interact with the speaker, raising questions about the application process
The workshop “From Dewey Top Universities” was organized by the University & Career Counseling Office (UCCO) – a department consistently accompanying TDSers on their journey to acquire knowledge, gain practical experience, and cultivate a comprehensive understanding of all fields in society to be ready to “venture into the vast ocean”.
Speaking about the importance of organizing early career-oriented activities for students during the application process, Mr. Daniel Chung emphasized that this helps students explore and understand their desires, thus knowing how to stand out when applying to universities. This process might take time. Hence, starting early will be an advantage for students.
