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In June of this year, the Supreme Court ruled by a 6-3 vote that universities in the U.S. can no longer use race as a factor during the admissions process. In other words, Affirmative Action admissions policies have now been rendered unconstitutional. However, the Biden administration has made it clear that universities can still consider ethnicities during admissions decisions within limits. This new development has colleges struggling to accurately interpret and incorporate the Supreme Court decision in time for the new admissions cycle. According to the court, schools cannot use race, per se, as a factor in making admissions decisions, but can consider how race affects applicants' lives. Many institutions added new instruments and issued statements reaffirming their commitment to diversity on campus. However, the questions remain, what does it entail when “ethnicity affects an applicant's life?” In a joint press release, the Departments of Education and Justice gave examples such as when a student becomes the first black violinist in their city’s youth orchestra, or how cooking has been a way for an applicant to reconnect with their roots. These subjective reflections that showcase an applicant's background and personality are still factors that admissions officers consider. Despite the ruling, some students are still jumping at the chance to write essays about their ethnicity. A 17-year-old student at Bard High School in Baltimore named Janyra Allen is an African-American teen who wants to become a nurse one day. As she applies to the University of Maryland and Notre Dame, she wrote extensively about the lack of African American medical professionals in her local hospital. As she reflects on her experiences and boasts of her accomplishments, she wants colleges to know that “black students can do amazing things, too.” Image source: NYT In a lawsuit against Harvard University, the school has been accused of racial stereotyping Asian American applicants, arguing that they are highly accomplished but highly homogenized. Allison Zhang, a senior at a public high school in Maryland, said that on her application, she "has been talking about ethnic identity and gender because as an Asian American woman, it's a big part of how I see the world and the way to face difficulties.” Image source: NYT “In short, institutions of higher education remain free to take into account various student qualities or characteristics that affect university admissions decisions, such as grit, drive or determination, even if students compare these characteristics with their ethnic lived experiences are linked." Biden administration officials have emphasized that schools can still pursue their goal of enrolling a diverse student body and can undertake targeted outreach and admissions initiatives. Universities can consider ethnicity, as well as other factors such as geographic location, financial resources and parental education, when developing such plans. For example, colleges could conduct admissions efforts directly at schools or districts populated by a majority of students of color or low-income students. The main limitation is prohibiting schools from preferring certain ethnic groups in the admissions process. In a recent statement, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona stated that “We know what happens in colleges and universities when individual states ban affirmative action.” He supports this with collated studies that show such moves lead to lower enrollments of students of color. Thus, emphasizing that "We cannot afford this kind of rollback across the country." Miguel Cardona Source: NBC News Furthermore, Cardona said that the government will publish a comprehensive report on "the most effective and promising strategies universities are using to legally produce diverse applicants and a diverse student body." However, he clarified as well that the government's advice is not a requirement and does not have the force of law. In accordance with the new mandate, UNC has now formally banned race from being considered in admissions and hiring decisions. Board Chairman David Boliek Jr. said that admissions officers will review essays in a “color-blind” way, and college essay questions will still allow students to highlight their skills and attributes without explicitly mentioning ethnicity. Image source: WSJ What role will ethnicity play for this year's college applicants? According to a study by Harvard, more than a dozen competitive colleges use phrases like “identity” and “life experience” in their essay titles to explore how aspects of a student's upbringing and background can "shape who you are." To ameliorate the situation amidst their current lawsuit, Harvard has replaced their optional essay with five short essay questions designed to allow admissions committees to see each applicant as a "whole person." They emphasized that these 200-word essays are required so that the admissions officer can make an equal judgment on each applicant. Johns Hopkins, on the other hand, says on its website: "Any part of your background, including but not limited to your ethnicity, can be discussed in an essay if you wish." However, it is with the following addendum: "Colleges only refer to how your ethnicity affects your life and personal experience." Despite the sudden changes in the admissions process, one fact stil remains and that is it still a holistic review of a students abilities and potential. As such, there are other factors that a student could explore and focus on. Balancing each factor is necessary to illustrate a holistically strong candidate for admission. Doing so may require the guidance of a seasoned professional. At Enlighteens, our consultants are committed to helping students accentuate their strengths and land them a spot in the university that is best suited for them.

It is widely believed that the better your grades are in high school, the wider your options are during college applications. As such, many students prioritize maintaining a high Grade Point Average or GPA to maintain their edge among tough competition. However, with each high school having slightly different GPA algorithms, the classification of students may vary as well. First, let’s take a look at the performance level of high school students with the national average grade of B. This means that they received a GPA of around 3.0 in a 4.0 scale . If the student reaches a GPA of 3.5 or B+ , then they are considered above average which surpasses most high school students in the U.S. If we contextualize this in certain high schools, we can see a student’s chances of getting into a prestigious university. Let’s consider the case of Choate Rosemarry Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut. They are the third most famous high school in the U.S, and almamater of President Kennedy. For the past five years, 49 of their students have entered Yale University, 46 went to Columbia University, and 47 to the University of Chicago. Despite their prestige and reputation, not all of their students are high performing. As can be seen from the figure above, the weighted GPA distribution of their 2023 class shows that only 24.26% of the students exceeded 4.0. The vast majority of students scored 3.5-4.0, wile 15% were below 3.5. In Phillips Academy, a well-known boarding school in Andover, Massachusetts, they adopted a 0-6 scoring system. Students who receive a 6 are very outstanding and are considered with high honors. Image source: Phillips Academy in Andover As shown in the table above, there are very few students who are able to achieve such a grade despite being one of the top private schools in the country. Only half of their students receive a grade of 5 or excellent. About 25% of the students’ scores are below 4.75 which is considered “good” according to their scale. High school GPA conversion table Image Source: Network The above two high schools are already the best among high schools in the United States. According to the data of the National Center for Education Statistics, the average GPA of students in the United States is only 3.0 which can be broken down accordingly: Average GPA for Core Courses (e.g. Mathematics, Science, English, Social Studies): 2.79 Average GPA of Other Academic Courses (e.g. foreign languages): 3.14 Average GPA in Non-Academic Courses (e.g. PE, Cooking, etc.): 3.39 The average GPA for certain core courses are as follows: Mathematics is 2.65 Science is 2.70 English is 2.85 Social Science is 2.89 STEM courses have a lower average because these are more challenging for students. In the US, female students have a higher GPA than male students. Source: The Nation's Report Card According to a study reported by Inside Higher Ed, an internal reference for higher education in the United States, it showed that GPA scores also have "inflation." When they gathered the data of graduates from 1998 to 2016, it showed that the average GPA of students gradually rose to 3.38. Using data from North Carolina, researchers at Fordham University, along with Seth Gershenson of American University, found that schools across the state saw a higher GPA average. However, in wealthier schools, they have a 0.27 increase in the median GPA while their average increased by 0.17 points compared with lesser funded schools. In other words, it is easier to get good grades at wealthier schools, thus widening the GPA gap. In recent years, many schools no longer calculate or publish their class ranks, especially those with well-off students. This makes it moree difficult to use grades as a gauge of a student’s overall performance. As such, it is not surprising that admissions officers look further than a student’s GPA. Other factors, including extracurricular activities, essays, test scores and letters of recommendation, also play a role in the admissions process. If your goal is to get into a competitive college, it is still important to improve your GPA but you must also work on other aspects of your application to balance everything out. You may take extracurricular activities that match your interests and goals. To demonstrate your academic abilities, you can take challenging classes and prepare well for your standardized tests. Both of which are important for a the holistic assessment of a student’s performance. At Enlighteens, we look at every strength of our students and work on their weaknesses to help make them more competitive candidates for their college applications. We have services to boost our students’ grades and consultants that will guide them in choosing the right activities to supplement their academics, thus molding them into a well-rounded individual.

The University of California application results for the fall of 2023 have been released. Since it is a public university system, the admissions process for UC schools can be quite political. Not only do they cater to in-state applicants, but they also make sure that the number of minorities they admit is proportional to the population. As such, admissions policies with regard to the benefit of minorities may be another hurdle an applicant will face. If we are to look at the latest official admissions data released by the University of California, we would see which demographic is more likely to be admitted. In the Undergraduate Admission Data, the University of California divides students into three categories according to the last school they graduated from: ▼ California Resident applicant ▼ Domestic Non-Resident Applicants ▼ Non-Resident International Applicant #20 UC Berkeley According to the admissions data for the past three years at UC Berkeley, the admissions rate has consistently dropped. As such, it is progressively more difficult for applicants to be accepted, especially for out-of-state students. #20 UCLA Likewise, the battle at UCLA was brutal, with neither side having more than a 10% acceptance rate. The admission rate of out-of-state applicants has even declined in three years, but it is still on par with in-state applicants. However, international applicants are more unfortunate. The difficulty of applying to UCLA and UCB is almost the same as that of applying to Ivy League schools. #32 UC Santa Barbara At UC Santa Barbara, they are more open to out-of-state applicants. In the past three years, the out-of-state admission rate at UCSB has always been the highest. However, there is not much difference between in-state and out-of-state admissions in the fall of 2022. #34 UC San Diego UCSD, which ranks 34th on the US News list of top National Universities, is considered by many Californians as the 3rd best university in the UC System. However, it is not as attractive as UCB and UCLA for out-of-state students. This is also reflected in the yield rates of out-of-state admissions from other branch schools since they are all in the single digits. However, overall, UCSD’s acceptance rate has also declined very rapidly while applications increase annually since it is known for being a good university for Engineering, Computer, and other similar programs. #34 UC Irvine Irvine has also seen a similar spike in applicants who are interested in Computer and Game related programs. In the last year alone, they received more than 100,000 applications. And even though their acceptance rate for in-state applicants in the UC System is not the least, they accept more out-of-state applicants. #38 UC Davis Many students regard UC Davis as the best UC campus among the Top 50 Universities. Indeed, historically speaking, its admission rate is higher compared with the other campuses. In the fall of 2021, they had an 80% admission rate. However, in the fall of 2022, their admission rate declined and has continued to do so for this year’s results. #83 UC Santa Cruz In terms of last year’s data, UC Santa Cruz is kinder to applicants, wherein more than half were given an offer. #89 UC Riverside Compared with the other campuses whose acceptance rates have decreased, UC Riverside has accepted more applicants in the past three years. #97 UC Merced Established in 2005, it is the youngest branch school in the UC System. And although it currently doesn’t rank high in the list of Top National Universities, many people are optimistic about its future. At present, it is still the most friendly branch school for in-state students, with an admission rate of 92.5% during the fall 2022 application season. However, their out-of-state and international student acceptance rate is quite low, partly because, these groups of students rarely choose to enroll in this branch. The schools in the UC System vary in difficulty and prestige. However, their unique one-for-all application system makes it a popular choice for many students, making the competition more intense for in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants alike. To secure a spot at an ideal UC campus, longer-term academic and activities planning becomes crucial. As the application season comes to an end, Enligh teens will strive to offer more insight for future applicants with all kinds of backgrounds. Stay tuned!

Choosing a major is one of the biggest decisions rising high school seniors and college students make, yet, many wish they could have a second chance. A survey showed that 61% of college graduates would change their major if they could go back in time. So how do you decide which major is best for you? If you, too, are trying to find the right college and the right major, here are some suggestions: 1. Choosing Your Major Evaluate your skillset First, list your strengths and interests. When you're done, ask your close friends and family what they think of you. Sometimes, we need a third party to remind us of overlooked talents and skills. Include any subjects that you've always been interested in but never pursued fully, as well as things you used to be good at but haven't done in a while. Research Potential Career Paths After listing your interests and hobbies, see which jobs match those interests. For example, if you're interested in music, you could work as a music teacher, a club founder, or find a job at a music-related nonprofit. After listing potential occupations, consider reaching out to people who have already held them so you can get a sense of what the job is really like. Observing how things actually work can better help you determine if you're genuinely interested. Estimate Future Earnings The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks career growth for most occupations. Visit the site and select the career group you are interested in, and from there, you can see what job opportunities are available in each field. The fastest-growing occupations for 2021-31, source: BLS Once you have a list of jobs that interest you, you can use this site to see which jobs have positive growth rates and income that fit your desired lifestyle. While future income should not be the only motivation for choosing a career, it is an important factor to consider. Knowing this information can help you decide how much money to invest in your education. Also, think about the lifestyle you want to live after college. For example, if you wish to live in a big city, travel around, or start a family, you will need a job that will cover these expenses. Determine the Length of Education Not all majors are of equal length. Some programs, such as law, require more time than others, so consider how much time you can devote to studying. Also, research what degree you need to earn to work in your field of interest. If you need to pursue a professional degree or a master's degree to achieve your career goals, consider the additional time and money required before finalizing your bachelor's degree major. 2. Find the Right College for Your Major Now that you've chosen a major, it's time to find the best colleges for that major. Here are some ways to help you narrow down your list of schools: Check out Program Rankings You can easily find comprehensive university rankings online, and you can also filter schools by location, setting, school size, and more. Beyond that, you can find specific rankings for majors like business, engineering, and computer science. Source: The Chronicle These publications' rankings usually only include certain undergraduate programs, so you may have to do your own research to find the best schools. For example, if you are interested in becoming a teacher, do a Google search for "best education programs" or "best education colleges," cross-reference the gold stars of the search results, note the colleges that come up most often, and add them to Your College List. Talk to a Counselor Your counselor or advisor can make school selection recommendations based on your interests and will match you with the colleges with the best chance of admission. Stanford University, for example, has one of the top business programs in the country, but the application process is highly competitive—the school has an acceptance rate of about 4%, and advisors can help you decide how to choose the best school for your grades and experience. Find a College that Meets a Variety of Interests If you are interested in several different subjects, choose a university that offers good teaching in all of them. This way, if you want to change your major to another option, you can receive a quality education without having to transfer schools. For example, if you're interested in learning Spanish and marketing, look for a school with a good language and business program. Consider Your Budget Some careers require a degree beyond a bachelor's degree. If you need an advanced degree, consider prioritizing an affordable school at the undergraduate level, minimize the amount of student loan borrowing, and be sure to apply for as many scholarships and grants as possible. Source: Network In-state public universities are often the best bang for your buck, and many of them are highly ranked. But you should also consider private colleges, especially if your family income is low, and many private schools offer substantial scholarships or grants to students with financial needs. Be Flexible According to the U.S. Department of Education, 33 percent of undergraduates change their major at least once. About 9 percent changed majors two or more times. Other data showed that more than half of students changed majors at least once. After going to college, it is normal to find that you are not as interested in this major as you thought. Keep an open mind and don't push yourself to stick with the degree path you chose out of high school. You'll probably spend about a third of your life at work, so don't force yourself to stay in a major you don't like.

The AP exams are now in full swing! Some regard it as the culmination of their high school studies and a reflection of their academic achievements, while others consider it as a stepping stone toward admission to prestigious universities. But, how truly important are AP test scores in college applications? The pie chart below shows the various factors considered during the admissions process. Taking into consideration certain test-optional or test-blind policies, ¾ of the factors are still controlled by the applicant. This means that AP test scores are not the be-all and end-all of college applications. Since there are limited slots available for undergraduate freshmen, an applicant must truly stand out in order to have a fighting chance of getting accepted. As such, focusing on other “little” factors are more important than ever. In the case of MIT , for example, they consider standardized test scores including AP scores to be an “important” factor but not more so than a student’s personal characteristics. In fact, among all the factors they evaluate during the admissions process, personal traits are the only factor considered “very important.” MIT’s review criteria are quite different. [The importance of MIT application review elements] New York University , on the other hand, attaches great importance to an applicant’s standardized test scores. A student’s grades must be at par with the prominence of the school, which is undeniably competitive. This year, they broke their own record for the number of freshman applications. However, the admission rate fell below 10%. [The importance of NYU application review elements] Despite the varying degrees of importance attached to a student’s AP test scores, it still remains a prime reflection of a student’s academic prowess. Good grades illustrate their ability to thrive in multi and interdisciplinary learning environments. It could also showcase their preparedness for their chosen field, especially if it is related to their major. However, one must still remember that submitting test scores should be strategically done. Submitting unremarkable AP grades can very likely backfire. For example, if two similar applicants vie for a spot in the university, the admissions officers are more likely to offer a spot to the student with no AP scores at all than to admit one who submitted poor scores. Remember that AP courses are designed according to college difficulty. So, students’ performance and grades in their AP classes are strong predictors of their college performance. What is a good score on the AP exam? Each subject test is scored from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. Generally, universities will accept the minimum passing score of 3 for credit exchange. Source: College Board There are two parts in the AP exam: multiple choice and short answer questions. Scores for each section are combined and converted into the 5-point system to ensure that the academic level of the student remains the same over the years. Even though it may seem that there is little difference between a score of 5 and a minimum of 3 that is not actually the case. It is much easier to get a 3 than it is to get a 5. The table below shows the 2022 AP exam score distribution. It can be seen that there is a huge gap between the rate of 5 points and the rate of 3 points in many subjects. For example, among those who took Calculus BC, which is a popular subject among STEM students, only 41.2% were able to gain a score of 5. Another way to think about it is like the difference between a test score of 100 and a score of 99. Although both are high scores, a score of 99 means that there are gaps in the student’s mastery of the subject. In order to build a truly outstanding application, one must also be mindful about choosing which AP classes to take. It should be tailored to their chosen program, and it must be competitive enough to truly showcase their academic talents. For you to make the right decision, our consultants here at Enligh teens are highly knowledgeable in helping you pave your academic path.

The London-based consulting firm, Henley & Partners, recently released a wealth report that identifies the cities and regions most millionaires are situated in the United States. This list includes New York, California Bay Area, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. This research also showed that between the years of 2012 to 2022, the number of millionaires in the Bay Area and Houston increased by more than 65%. Source: cdn.henleyglobal.com As of December 2022, there are 9,630 people in the United States with assets amounting to $100M and more. 35% of these billionaires hail from the following eight universities. 8. Princeton University Blair Hall at Princeton University Loop Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images According to The Wealth Report, the university accounts for 3% of all billionaires in the country. One of its most famous alumni is Amazon's chairman and founder, Jeff Bezos . This 1986 graduate is worth $122 billion as of February 17, making him the third-richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Other notable alumni include former First Lady, Michelle Obama , and former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt . 7. Cornell University Barnes Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images The university accounts for 3% of all billionaires in the country. Their distinguished alumni include Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ratan Tata, chairman of India's Tata Group, and Bill Nye, the host of "Bill Nye the Science Guy." 6. Yale University Yale University's Cross Campus looking towards Stirling Library Kathryn Donohew Photography/Getty Images The university accounts for 4% of all billionaires in the country. One of them is Ben Silbermann, the co-founder of Pinterest , who graduated from Yale in 2003. As of February 16, he is worth $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Other notable alumni include former President Bill Clinton and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton , who met while studying at Yale Law School and graduated together in 1973. 5. Columbia University Columbia University Libraries Stock Photo/Getty Images The school's alumni base includes 4% of the wealthiest people in the United States. Among them is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett , an investment legend who attended Columbia Business School. With a net worth of $108 billion as of February 2017, he is the fifth-richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Other notable alumni include, former Citigroup Global Wealth Management CEO, Sallie Krawcheck, and New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft. 4. University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia skyline Pablo Garcia/Getty Images The university accounts for 4% of the country's billionaires. According to an expert interview by Insider of Andrew Amoils, the proportion of billionaires from the University of Pennsylvania has increased compared to a decade ago. One of its most notable alumni include Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk . As of February 17, Musk is recognized as the second-richest person in the world, with a net worth of $183 billion, according to Bloomberg. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the 1990s with a degree in Economics. Other famous figures include former President Donald Trump , who is an alumnus of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. 3. Stanford University The Hoover Tower at Stanford University David Madison/Getty Images 5% of the wealthiest people in America are from Stanford. While the proportion of billionaires produced by other universities on the list has remained relatively stable, Stanford's proportion has consistently increased compared with a decade ago. Some notable alumni include Google founder, Sergei Brin, and Netflix founder, Reed Hastings. 2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT campus Joe Raedle/Getty Images The university has produced 5% of America's billionaires, which include former Merrill Lynch CEO, John Thain. Other notable MIT alumni include former Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Hewlett-Packard co-founder, Bill Hewlett. 1. Harvard University Harvard Business School campus Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images Topping the list is Harvard University, whose alumni account for 7% of the country's billionaires. The founders of many tech giants are Harvard alumni, such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates , whose net worth was $117 billion as of February 17, according to Bloomberg. As well as Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg , who attended Harvard University in 2002 but dropped out after founding Facebook. His net worth is currently approximately $64.2 billion. Harvard University, being the oldest university in the United States, has produced the most American presidents. Eight of its alumni went on to lead the country: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, John F. Kennedy, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, George Bush, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Barack Obama. These top universities are highly competitive. As such, you would need hands-on guidance to navigate their meticulous admissions process. Our experienced consultants at Enlighteens are more than capable to set in you on the right track towards achieving your goal!

Summer School is like an introductory university experience. For one, the application process is quite similar, wherein an applicant must submit their GPA, recommendation letters, essays, etc. But most importantly, students get a taste of university life by living on campus and taking college-level courses to earn credits. For research-oriented programs, they can develop their academic skills further by participating in research teams, giving oral presentations, drafting laboratory reports, and more! However, does summer school really help with college applications? On the surface, the answer is NO. Your chances of being admitted to a university is not influenced by your participation in their summer programs. Some schools even deliberately state this in the FAQs of their programs. If this is the case, you may wonder: Why do high school students still spend thousands of dollars to undergo a grueling application process to join a competitive summer program? There are three main reasons: 1. It strengthens your connection to the university. It may not guarantee your admission, but this is a rare opportunity to familiarize yourself with the campus and experience the traditions and characteristics of the school. You may even get the chance to acquaint yourself with several professors, and if you are lucky, get one of them to write a recommendation letter for you! How well you know the university will definitely help you in writing your application essays and succeeding in your interviews. It will reflect your strong interest in the school which will help convince admissions officers of your commitment to the school. 2. It will help you explore your professional direction. This is an opportunity for you to figure out what you truly want to pursue in college! We always encourage our students, especially our high school juniors, to maximize their summer vacation by exploring various college-level courses which are rarely offered in their schools. This trial and error perios will also be a good way to determine your own learning direction so you can be better prepared for college. 3. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your academic abilities. Getting a good grade is a definite reflection of your academic and learning abilities. Not only that but accomplishing college-level courses may earn you credits that may shorten your stay in college. Here are Five High-Quality Summer Programs to get you started: 1. Research Science Institute Source: Web Research Science Institute (RSI) is an academic scientific research project co-founded by the Center for Elite Education (CEE) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1984. It is the first summer science and engineering research project open to high school students that is free of charge. It is reported that most of the candidates selected by RSI are top science students, and their acceptance rate is similar to that of Ivy League schools thus making it one of the top summer camps in the United States. All RSI participants have been admitted into the Top 10 Universities in the United States such as MIT and Harvard. Recommended for: Rising 12th-graders Application requirements: Essays Transcripts 2 Letters of Recommendation (another letter of recommendation if there is university-level research) Standardized Test Scores (recommended PSAT scores: Reading - 700+ and Math - 740+; ACT scores: Math - 33+ and Verbal - 34+) Application channel: www.cee.org/programs/apply-rsi 2. SSP - Summer Science Project Source: Web The Summer Science Program (SSP) project began in 1959. It is a summer project jointly established by the New Mexico Institute of Technology, University of Colorado Boulder, CalTech, and MIT. It is held at the New Mexico Institute of Technology and Boulder, Colorado, and its branch school in Germany. There are 36 participants on each campus every year. The admission rate is low, and they accept a select few international students. The project is divided into three pathways: Astrophysics: Students will have access to the most advanced astronomical instruments in the world. The results obtained from their research and observations will be sent to the American Asteroid Research Center, which will be used as a basis for other scientists to predict the position of asteroids in the future. This pathway is held in three campuses: New Mexico State University, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Biochemistry: Students will study fungal pathogens in crops at Purdue or Indiana University. Genomics: Students will study the evolution of antibiotic resistance at Indiana University. Recommended for: Rising 12th Grade (a few Rising 11th Grade) Application requirements: Documents Transcripts Recommendation Letters A very good science foundation Application channel: www.summerscience.org 3. University of California COSMOS Source: Web This is a summer school jointly organized by the California State Government and the University of California school system to help students tap their potential in science, engineering, and mathematics. The project is held on four campuses: Davis, Santa Cruz, San Diego, and Irvine. Each campus offers different subjects centered around STEM. Under the supervision of UC faculty and researchers, students attend lectures, discuss projects, and conduct experiments. Each campus accommodates about 160-250 total participants with each class having 20-25 students. Needless to say, applications are fierce. Recommended for: Rising 9th-12th Graders Application requirements: Personal Statement 2 Letters of Recommendation (one of which is from a STEM subject teacher) Transcripts (GPA3.5 and above are recommended) Application channel: https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/app/main 4. Yale Global Young Scholars Program Source: Web The YYGS project is hosted by Yale University and is a two-week highly competitive leadership development project for high school students around the world. Since 2001, it has gathered globally outstanding high school students every year. It has nurtured an interdisciplinary academic environment for students to cultivate their leadership skills. It comprises of four interdisciplinary areas of study: Literature, Philosophy, & Culture (LPC) Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) Solving Global Challenges (SGC) Innovations in Science & Technology (IST) Recommended for: Rising 11th-12th Graders (Note: Applicant must be 16 years old and above when the project starts.) Application Requirements: List of Activities 2 Essays 1 Letter of Recommendation Transcripts Application channel: https://globalscholars.yale.edu/ 5. Penn Wharton Leadership Program Source: Web LBW (Leadership in the Business World) is a summer camp for future business leaders funded by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Applications are highly competitive with only 120 or so students selected every year. The program is designed to provide opportunities for promising business-oriented individuals to develop their leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Since 1999, LBW has hosted students from all over the world. Students get the privilege of hearing lectures by renowned Wharton professors and guest speakers. Aside from classroom discussions, they get to visit companies, independently design business strategies under the guidance of Wharton undergraduates, and attend various cultural events. Recommended for: Rising 12th Graders Application requirements: Documents Transcripts (GPA3.5 or above) 1 Letter of Recommendation Application channel: www.wharton.upenn.edu/leadership-business-world/ Aside from these Top 5 summer programs, other elite universities also offer a variety of summer pre-college programs. It is just a matter of finding the right fit for you. To help you in choosing a program that will suit your preferences and elevate your skills, our consultants are vastly knowledgeable in helping you make this decision. A suitable summer program may just be what you need to spice up your college applications!

This record was previously held by Normadie Cormier from Lafayette High School in Louisiana. In 2019, she received $8.7 million worth of scholarships from more than 130 universities. Taking the crown is Dennis Barnes, a 12th grader from New Orleans International High School. So far, he has received a total of $9 million worth of scholarships from 125 universities and is still working towards his goal of reaching $10 million. Having applied to around 200 universities and awaiting more responses, this goal is not too far ahead! Barnes and a box of college acceptance letters Source: nypost This young man aims to pursue a double major in Computer Science and Criminal Justice in college, a lofty goal for some but one that he is preparing for throughout the years. Barnes has been a straight-A student since elementary school. His high school GPA is 4.98, which he was able to maintain while pursuing various extracurricular activities, including a leadership position in the National Honors Society. He is also fluent in Spanish and was awarded a diploma by the Cervantes Institute and the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports. He also received the Jose Luis Baños Award for Excellence in Spanish from the Honorary Consul of Spain in New Orleans. In order to get ahead and prepare for his collegiate journey, he has been taking classes at the Southern University in New Orleans and has accumulated a considerable amount of college credit for the past 2 years. Since he can transfer these college credits to the university of his choice, this will save him a huge chunk of tuition and allow him to graduate early! What he has accomplished is no easy feat. Imagine the level of discipline and resilience needed to submit 200 college applications in a matter of months! Not to mention the level of time management skills needed to balance extracurricular activities and maintain a high GPA, all the while pursuing college-level courses. This is something that many people cannot do or even imagine. However, it is not totally impossible. A good first step is to formulate a strategic plan early on. When asked his advice for completing college applications, Barnes stated, "The path to a successful future is planning ahead and making connections with colleges. If you can see your vision, then you can achieve your goals." Every high school senior planning to go to college should heed his advice. One should start by coming up with clearly defined application goals. This may entail identifying which universities provide scholarships, as Barnes did. Then through in-depth university research, match schools according to whether they meet your learning needs instead of choosing blindly. From there, you can formulate a reasonable application strategy to improve your chances of admission. As model minorities, Asian applicants in the United States are usually admitted to elite universities, and their admission standards have always been much higher than other ethnic groups. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for Asians in popular majors such as Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Business, and Biology to enroll. Even with a perfect GPA, an almost perfect SAT, coupled with various "hot" scientific research projects on the market and several well-known college summer programs, the chances of getting into a CS program at a top 20 US university are infinitesimal. This is true even with historically Asian-friendly universities like the UC school system. Students with similar pedigrees will likely still get rejected. So, how should future Asian-American and Chinese native applicants set themselves apart? One needs an expert in the college application process and trends in the US to guide them through choosing which academic and extracurricular activities to highlight their personality and skills. At Enlighteens, we have a vast roster of experienced consultants to advise you on what you need to do to achieve your goals! Who knows? Maybe you can snag the world record from Barnes!

A liberal arts education is often described as an intellectual pursuit rather than a career-oriented discipline like engineering and business. Degrees in the liberal arts pay less attention to determining a specific career path. Rather, it fosters transferable skills and macro-knowledge like creativity, collaboration, effective communication, and critical thinking. The education system of the United States defines the liberal arts broadly to include the Humanities (Philosophy, History, Languages), Social Sciences (Anthropology, Economics, Psychology, Sociology), Arts (Theatre, Music, Film, Media), Natural Sciences (Astronomy, Geology, Physics, Chemistry) and so on. Source: Web Due to the high employment pressures of our society, students of the humanities are often asked, “What is your degree for?” or “What is the purpose of the humanities?” However, from Silicon Valley to the Pentagon, people are beginning to realize that to tackle today’s greatest social and technological challenges, we need to think critically and holistically for solutions. A task that humanities graduates are well-trained to do so. As such, to understand the true value of a liberal arts education, check out these three books! In The Fuzzy and The Techie , Silicon Valley venture capitalist, Scott Hartley, takes aim at the false dichotomy between the humanities and computer science. Some tech industry leaders assert that studying anything outside a STEM field is a mistake if you want to find a job in today's digital economy. According to a well-known Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Vinod Khosla, “little of the material taught in Liberal Arts programs today is relevant to the future.” Source: Web According to Hartley, this STEM-only mentality is all wrong. The main problem is that it encourages students to be educated toward a singular career path. However, barriers guarding the tech industry are falling, and many jobs once required specialized training can now be done with simple tools found on the Internet. For example, a novice programmer can use code blocks from GitHub and help from Stack Overflow to start a project. ChatGPT and similar technologies may bring students back to the foundation of a liberal arts education—critical thinking. With ChatGPT, students can submit a satisfactory assignment without reading, writing, or thinking. But these are essential to learning, and ChatGPT cannot replace thinking. Students who use software like ChatGPT are not well-versed in the complex cognitive process and, therefore, unable to formulate their own original ideas. The complex algorithm of AI may make seemingly meaningful sentences, but thorough analysis reveals that it lacks authenticity and is quite nonsensical. If we want to prepare students to solve large-scale human problems, we must push them to broaden, not narrow, their education and interests. Hartley collated a long list of successful tech leaders with degrees in the humanities, which include the following CEOs: Stewart Butterfield, the founder of Slack and Flickr, is a Philosophy major ; Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, is an English major ; Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, is a History and Literature major ; Brian Chesky, the founder of Airbnb, is an Industrial Design major . Of course, we need technologists, but we also need people who understand why and how humans behave, Hartley said. What matters now is not the skills you have, but your ideas. Can you ask the right questions? Do you know what the first problem to solve is? He advocated for a true liberal arts education—both the hard and soft sciences. According to him, comprehensive learning can open new opportunities for people and help them develop products that address real human needs. A background in the humanities is also the focus of discussions in Cents and Sensibility , co-authored by Gary Saul Morson and Morton Schapiro, professors of humanities and economics at Northwestern University. According to their book, economics tends to ignore three things: the influence of culture on decision-making, the role of stories in explaining people's behavior, and ethical considerations. Source: Web Morson and Schapiro suggest that economists can gain wisdom from reading great novels because they provide deeper insights into people than social scientists. Economists tend to think of people as abstractions, while novelists delve into details. When will a model of a scientist, or a case study, be able to paint a character as vividly as Tolstoy painted Anna Karenina? Fiction can also help us develop empathy. Stories immerse us in the lives of the characters and allow us to see the world through someone else's eyes. Morson and Schapiro add that while many fields of research have emphasized the importance of empathy, only literature offers the practice of doing so. Christian Madsbjerg, the founder of the Danish strategy consulting firm ReD Associates, borrows ideas from Morson and Schapiro in his book Sensemaking . Madsbjerg believes that unless companies work hard to understand the people represented in their data, they risk losing touch with consumers. These three books’ approaches to the same subject may differ, but the bottom line is that for these authors, choosing a field of study is not as important as finding ways to expand your mind. The liberal arts and the sciences need not be at odds with each other. Science and engineering students can be human advocates, just like English majors can be scientifically critical. We need not be nestled in the comforts of our own fields. Rather, by pursuing an interdisciplinary education, we can expand our minds and holistically develop ourselves and our society. As you decide which major to pursue in college, do not discount the liberal arts from your choices. A liberal-arts-infused approach to a STEM education may provide you with an unexpected edge in your future career. As you make this important decision, our consultants at Enligh teens will guide you through choosing an institution that will allow you to design your own education so that it fits your own goals.

UCLA is the second oldest campus in the University of California system. It includes a liberal arts college and twelve professional colleges. They offer a variety of undergraduate degree programs, including but not limited to Art and Architecture, Engineering and Applied Science, Music, Nursing, Public Affairs, and Drama, Film, and Television. UCLA's comprehensive professional setting makes it one of the most popular universities in the United States. In the fall of 2022, they received 174,914 undergraduate applications (including undergraduate transfers), which makes it the most applied university in the United States that year. Source: UCLA official website As a public university, does UCLA have a preferred high school? The University of California system has the most transparent and complete enrollment data among all universities in the United States. Every year, they announce the number of applicants, admissions, and enrollees of all UC branches from each high school. According to their data, most of their applicants and admissions are from public high schools. Below is a compiled list of 60 California public high schools with more than 20 admissions for undergraduate freshmen in the Fall of 2022. The data includes the number of official applications, admissions, and the admission rate. It is then sorted from high to low according to the number of enrolled students. UCLA 2022 Fall 2022 Fall California Public High School Admission Rankings The Top 4 favored high schools admitted by UCLA are all in Northern California. Two of which are also selected by UC Berkeley, namely Lowell High School and Dougherty High School. In the Fall 2022 application season, UCLA distributed 6,477 offers to 769 public high schools in California, which accounts for 50.4% of all offers issued that year. This is nearly 2,000 less than that of UC Berkeley, wherein 56.7% of their offers were given to California public high school applicants. The above high schools received a total of 1,624 UCLA offers. Here are the public high schools with more than 20 UCLA admissions, divided by county: ▼ Los Angeles County: 415 offers among sixteen schools ▼ Santa Clara County: 322 offers among twelve schools ▼ Alameda County: 229 offers among eight schools ▼ Orange County: 199 offers among seven schools ▼ Contra Costa County: 139 offers among five schools ▼ San Diego County: 126 offers among five schools ▼ San Bernardino County: 72 offers among three schools ▼ Marin County: 45 offers among two schools ▼ San Francisco County: 58 offers from one school ▼ Yolo County: 24 offers from one school Coming from a California public high school may seem like an advantage if you are thinking about applying to UCLA. However, being an internationally recognized institution they also consider applicants from different parts of the world. As such, if you are interested in applying to UCLA, you would need a guide in navigating the unique admissions process of the UC System. At Enlighteens, we are equipped with skilled consultants who are more than qualified to help you achieve your goals.

Common App, one of the most popular college applications platform in the US, released the 2022-23 application season report last month. The data revealed interesting results that truly reflect the difficulty of college applications. Here are some notable findings: A sharp increase in the number and volume of freshman applicants; A rise in applicants from underrepresented minority groups; More than half of the local applicants came from economically affluent areas; The number of international students are growing three times faster than domestic applicants; The proportion of students submitting their SAT/ACT standardized scores have decreased slightly compared with last year; The number of applications accepted by public universities has grown faster compared to private universities. Number of applicants and number of applications As of March, compared to the 2019-20 application season, the number of applicants increased by 21%, the number of applications increased by 30%, and the average number of applications submitted by each student increased by 8%. Changes in the Number of Freshman Applicants in the Last 4 Years Source: Common App Changes in the Number of Applications in the Last 4 Years Source: Common App If we are to compare the number of applicants and applications in the past four years, it shows that there is a slow but steady growth in the overall data. Family Economic Income and Application The information gathered by Common App regarding the socioeconomic status of the applicant is quite similar to the American Community Survey's Household Income Data based on the US zip code. This categorizes students under 5 groups based on their household income. 4-year comparison of the number of applicants with different family incomes Source: Common App Based on Common App’s data, students who apply during the EA/ED period typically live in more affluent neighborhoods. The chart above reflects this trend as well with 54% of applicants coming from high-income areas while only 7% come from low-income areas. Since the 2019-20 cycle, the number of applicants from the two lowest-income groups has grown by 22% while the highest-income group only grew by 16%. However, despite these recent increases in representation, there is still much to be done in providing support for students from low-income communities. Domestic Students vs International Students The number of domestic applicants varies from state to state. In four years, South Carolina saw a 74% increase in applicants, followed by a 69% increase in Texas. On the other hand, South Dakota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine all saw declines in varying degrees. On average, U.S. based applicants grew by 18% over the four-year period. California and New York are Still the States with the Most Applicants Source: Common App As for international applicants, the number grew quite rapidly. Compared with 18% of domestic applicants, the growth rate of international students is three times higher at 55%! During the 2019-20 cycle, there were 88,443 international applicants. This 2022-23 cycle, the number grew to 136,925 with students hailing mostly from China, India, Ghana, Nigeria, and Canada. The growth trend of the number of domestic vs international student applicants Source: Common App In another Common App report, compared to domestic students, international students are more likely to apply to well-known universities with lower acceptance rates. At the same time, 65% of international applicants choose to apply early, especially among Chinese students. ED Application Ratio of International Students Source: Common App Even with the binding agreement between applicants and universities, historically, the admission rate among ED applicants is higher than that of RD applicants. As such, international students aspiring to join a prestigious university consider this as the best choice. However, according to various data from many domestic education platforms, the acceptance rate among domestic Chinese students has shrunk significantly compared to last year. In the words of David, our own Senior Consultant here at Enlighteens, the ED round for Chinese students applying to US colleges is like “hunger marketing by luxury brands,” which attracts everyone to fight for it. In a highly globalized world, the competition for college admissions has never been more fierce. With applicants hailing from different parts of the world, students have to learn how to set themselves apart. This entails a holistic approach to designing their application, one that does not focus solely on academics. Navigating this battlefield can be quite challenging. However, with the help of the skilled consultants at Enligh teens , this becomes an achievable task!

The 2022-23 application season is finally coming to an end! Waitlisted applicants are just awaiting their final status before making a decision. However, if you find yourself without an offer in hand or you’re not satisfied with the offers you got, there is still hope. There are still various universities that have adopted a Rolling Admissions process and are still open to applicants. Rolling Admissions means that the school does not set a clear deadline and continues to accept applications until all slots are filled. Typically, it is on a first-come, first-served basis. University of Maryland-Park US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #55 2023 Fall Deadline: June 1 Located in Prince George County Maryland and only 13 km from the center of Washington DC, the nation’s capital, it is surrounded by various opportunities and resources available for students who are interested in politics and business. It is within proximity to federal, state, and local governments, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and other multinational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and industry associations. University of Pittsburgh US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #62 2023 Fall Deadline: Rolling The most popular majors at the University of Pittsburgh include Finance, Psychology, and the Humanities, especially in Philosophy through its own Pittsburgh School of Philosophy. Indiana University-Bloomington US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #72 2023 Fall Deadline: Rolling starts after February 1 Indiana University has 8 campuses, including the main campus in Bloomington. In addition to being known for its varsity athletic programs, it is also highly acclaimed for its business program. Penn State University US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #77 2023 Fall Deadline: Rolling Because of its high admission rate and good ranking, Pennsylvania State University is regarded as a safety school by many students. However, according to recent data, it has become more and more difficult to apply for the main campus at University Park. Its popular majors include Biology, Economics, and Information Science. Michigan State University US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #77 2023 Fall Deadline: Rolling starts after February 1 The Michigan State University campus is located on the north and south sides of the Red Shirt River in East Lansing which is the capital of Michigan. Academically, it is also a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is highly regarded as a top professional research institution. Their resources include the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory, Bill Arboretum, Abrams Planetarium, Wharton Performing Arts Center, Broad Museum of Art, and various rare isotope beam devices. Clemson University US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #77 2023 Fall Deadline: May 1 Clemson University is made up of seven colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Architecture, Arts and Humanities, Business, Health, Education and Human Development, Education, Engineering, Computer and Applied Sciences and the College of Science. The school's Mechanical Engineering, Labor, Economics, Education, Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and many other fields are ranked among the Top 100 programs in the United States. University of Iowa US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #83 2023 Fall Deadline: May 1 Founded in 1847, the school is Iowa's first public institution for higher education. It has since gained a global reputation for its outstanding achievements in the fields of Art, Science, and the Humanities. It is also the first American university to grant advanced degrees in Drama, Writing, Music, Art, and the like. Included in their roster are the prestigious schools of Medicine, Engineering, Business, and their Writing Department. University of Arizona US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #105 2023 Fall Deadline: May 1 It is the core public university in Arizona which includes the University of Arizona School of Law, the Eller School of Business, and the School of Medicine. Its affiliated hospital is also the largest medical institution in the state. They are quite a dedicated research university. They spend $622 million in annual research expenditure which is considered extremely high according to the Cameron Research University Scoring Method. This has resulted in dividends by contributing to Arizona’s economic status which amounts to as high as $8.3 billion per year. University of La Verne US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #151 2023 Fall Deadline: Rolling starts after February 1 LaVine University is a private university located in La Vine, California, which is not far from Los Angeles. University of the Pacific US News Comprehensive University Ranking: #151 2023 Fall deadline: June 21 (international students) It is a non-profit private university located in Stockton, California. It is one of the earliest institutions of higher education in the United States, offering more than 100 professional courses. They are quite known for various programs with the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health included in the Top 50 institutions in the US. They also provide good programs in other disciplines including Chemistry, Computer Science, Art, Music, Pharmacy, Business, Education, and Engineering. The end of the application season does not mean the end . Aside from the schools listed above, there are still many options waiting to be explored. Didn't apply to the university you want? There is still a way to get into a prestigious school. All you need to do is find the right fit for you and Enligh teens is prepared to help!