Isabella Nga Lai, Harvard College Graduation 2009

If you’re Asian, more often than not, you’ve probably heard the phrases, “Don’t end up working in a nail salon!, “Get into college!” “Be a doctor!” or something to that effect. College is on the minds of many students and worried parents. From the time a child speaks his first words to the age of 18, this topic probably arises thousands of times. To address these issues, I want to dedicate a series of my blog posts to the topic of colleges: the path to top universities in the nation, the personal challenges, the rewards, and how to succeed in an academic environment.

Today’s blog post will summarize some of the topics. Stay tuned for other articles which will focus more in depth on the college application process and the college experience!

Everyone’s experience and path to college is different, but I hope that my “Ivy Walls” series can clear up some ambiguities and questions about America’s Elite Universities.

My Story in a Nutshell

Getting into my top choice college undoubtedly took a lot of hard work and dedication to my studies. I do not claim to be an expert at anything because life is long, success is perseverance, and luck plays a major factor in all areas of life. I merely hope that the stories and advice I share through my series of posts will help you as you apply to your top choice college.

The Path to the Top Universities

Palm Drive, the path leading into Stanford University, Source: http://www.stanford.edu

Getting into these top universities is not impossible, but it does require dedication.

So is it all about the stats and scores? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because you should have the bar level stats. No, because stats will not be the only thing that will get you that big envelope in April.

So what does it take? PASSION! I was driven by passion: passion for what I’m doing, passion to help others, passion to better my life and help my family, passion to give back to my community, and passion to learn.

If you do things just for the sake of getting into colleges, then admission committees can see through your lackluster efforts right away. However, if you do things because you like to and give your all to what you’re doing, everything will work out in the end.

So study hard, work hard, do what you’re passionate about, be dedicated, and everything will fall into place.

The Top Universities

Be it Harvard or other Ivy Leagues, Stanford, MIT, Caltech, Berkeley, etc., many students set their sights on these

Columbia University Library, Source: Picture taken by me

schools.

These schools are amazing because they open many doors for you and teach you things beyond your imagination.  However, you have to understand that education is what you make of it.  Anyone can screw up if they don’t know how to capitalize on the opportunities presented to them.

The experiences and opportunities available at these institutions introduce you to many other venues.  They allow you to travel abroad, to do funded research, to spend holiday breaks in internships, and much more!  These colleges give you exposure to different fields that you never knew existed. They allow you to see your potential. They push you to your limits. However, they can only do these things if you make the most of them.

Less well-known universities also have these opportunities, but sometimes they’re harder to come by and you have to actively search for them. Top private institutions and highly ranked public universities have a better developed network of alumni and more resources that can help students in their endeavors into whatever field interests them most.

The Challenges and Rewards

Annenberg Dining Hall at Harvard, Source: www.fas.harvard.edu/~memhall/annenberg.html

If you want to attend a top institution, you have to be prepared to compete with top students. Adapting to mediocrity may be challenging for students who are used to being at the top of their class. Furthermore, you may be lost in the myriads of opportunities.  It is hard to know what you want to do when all the opportunities are new and exciting.  However, again, diligence and dedication will make it possible to succeed.

The rewards are plentiful.  You get to learn from people who have changed the world.  You get to be part of history.  Your family will be happy that you are doing well. You will be happy that all your hard-work during high school paid off. There is nothing better than the gratification you get from a job well done.

Isabella’s Comments:

So to sum up this summary article, college is something that many young students strive for, and attending these universities can really change your life.   Check back in two weeks for my next article entitled, “Ivy Walls: How to get into Harvard and America’s Best Colleges.”

Until then, browse our blog to see if there are any topics or opportunities that interest you.  Taking part in any of these activities can broaden your horizons and make you a more diverse candidate for colleges.

Comment below if you have any questions for me, and tell me if there are any topics on which you want me to particularly focus.