Video summary

HOW I GOT INTO T20s (UCLA, BERKELEY, EMORY, WASHU, UMICH, & MORE) | STATS, ECs, ESSAYS, & ADVICE

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas, concepts, and lessons

  • Purpose of the video: Anish explains how he gained admission to multiple competitive T20 colleges by sharing:
    • Admissions stats (coursework, GPAs, rank, test scores)
    • Extracurriculars (ECs) and honors
    • Key themes from his personal statement (essay strategy)
  • Context about the applicant: He describes his background and high school environment to frame why his achievements matter within his available opportunities.
  • College admissions strategy (implicit): His approach emphasizes quality and sustained engagement over “crazy” or unrealistic activities.
  • Personal statement theme: He used a metaphor (an old camera) to express questioning tradition, personal growth, and authenticity/vulnerability.

Methodology / “how to” instructions (detailed)

1) Build your admissions profile with what your school context allows

  • Take as many AP classes as your school offers if you can.
    • Rationale: AP exams can help you skip/cover lower-level college core requirements.
    • Admissions will understand your school’s course offerings via the school profile.
  • Track and optimize measurable academic outcomes:
    • Unweighted GPA and weighted GPA
    • Class rank
    • Standardized test scores (he discusses his PSAT/SAT/ACT results)

2) Choose extracurriculars you can genuinely commit to

  • His advice directly counters the mindset of needing extreme achievements:
    • You do not need to “cure cancer” or do “insanely crazy” projects.
  • Instead:
    • Do activities you’re truly passionate about
    • Choose commitments you can realistically dedicate time and energy to

3) Use Common App honors/activity limits strategically

  • He notes Common App allows five honors.
  • He selects five distinct honors, demonstrating variety in recognition and impact.

4) Personal statement: write with vulnerability and authenticity

  • Use a personal narrative that shows growth rather than trauma:
    • Aim to be vulnerable and show your authentic self
  • Avoid:
    • Writing a forced sob story or trauma-dumped essay
  • Use any meaningful subject as material:
    • He argues a small detail (his camera) can lead to a powerful theme and be effective.
  • Theme development approach:
    • Start with a concrete moment (his camera settings)
    • Move into insight (realizing his photos were “boring/hollow/static”)
    • Expand into broader identity/themes, such as:
      • questioning presets/traditions/cultural norms
      • choosing his own path
      • exploring the “why” behind beliefs and values

Specific content shared (key details)

Background and school context

  • Middle-class household; first-generation American
  • South Asian male
  • Texas high school with ~2,000 students
  • Competitive region; high school described as “extremely competitive”

Coursework / academic performance

  • Took AP and CTE classes**
  • Weighted GPA scale described:
    • On-level: 5.0
    • Advanced: 5.5
    • AP: 6.0
  • Claimed coursework totals:
    • 17 AP classes
    • 2 business classes
    • 2 health science / pre-health / pre-med classes
  • Academic metrics:
    • Unweighted GPA: 4.0 / 4
    • Weighted GPA: 5.24 / 5
    • Class rank: 15 out of 513 (~top 3%)

Standardized testing (scores and submissions)

  • PSAT / NMSQT
    • 10th grade: 1290 (620 reading, 670 math)
    • 11th grade: 1450 (690 reading, 760 math)
  • SAT
    • Took three times; same total each time: 1440
    • Superscore: 1490
  • ACT
    • Took twice:
      • 32 composite (36 reading, 32 English, 30 science, 31 math)
      • 34 composite (34 reading, 34 English, 33 science, 33 math)
    • Submitted ACT only (did not submit SAT)
  • Application submission strategy:
    • Submitted ACT scores to every college he applied to

Honors (five Common App honors) and what they were

  1. Three-time DECA International finalist
  2. HOSA Texas third place + international competitor
  3. New York Times editorial contest finalist
  4. Texas Boys State delegate and party secretary
  5. Rotary Youth Leadership Award

Primary extracurricular activities (10 listed)

  1. Teen Gut Health Collective (Founder, passion project)
    • Developed educational tools/curriculum
    • Presented to youth
    • Accepted to Youth Public Health Innovation Coalition
  2. Aid and Awareness United (Co-founder, 501c3)
    • Raised $30,000+ for cancer patients/research
    • Expanded chapters; news-featured
    • Built partnerships/sponsorships
  3. HOSA
    • Member → historian → president
    • Grew membership; led educational sessions
    • Organized food & blood drives
    • Mentored teams to win at state
  4. Superintendent Student Advisory Council
    • Advisor and campus rep
    • Represented 60,000+ students
    • Advocated mental health support at the capital
    • Advised on district issues
  5. Ignite Steam
    • Facilitated STEM/STEAM events and outreach
    • Led a team of 16; initiated a mentorship program
    • Awarded a 2024 mayoral proclamation
  6. National Breast Cancer Foundation ambassador
    • Raised $2,000+
    • Earned top-performing recognition
    • Ran fundraisers, educational events, and content creation
  7. High school hospital volunteer program
    • ICU step-down student volunteer
    • Patient charts, restocking, visitor guidance
    • Selected among 70 regional students
  8. Cisco high school externship (NYC)
    • Researched Cisco products; AI integration in clinics/hospitals
    • Led a team of six; pitched to Cisco leadership
  9. Local election campaign team
    • Campaign intern + youth ambassador
    • Launched student platform; worked events; created media
    • Candidate won
  10. DECA leadership progression
    • Member → VP/co-president → president (senior year)
    • Led 600+ members
    • Attended ICDC
    • Advocated district policy changes
    • “One of 20 Texas Tech assistant candidates”

Other activities/honors mentioned as impactful (brief)

  • Student council and senior class representative
  • Freelance photography
  • Barista at a bubble shop

Personal statement summary (what he claimed to write about)

  • Opening image: found an old camera in his closet
  • Initial habit: used the camera by keeping the default settings
  • Realization: his photos became “boring,” “hollow,” and “static”
  • Shift: he began experimenting—changing settings and methods
  • Metaphor expansion:
    • From changing camera settings → questioning what’s “already set” in life
    • Applying that mindset to:
      • cultural tradition
      • norms
      • identity and values
    • Learning it’s okay to break precedent and create his own path
  • Effect he attributes:
    • Demonstrated vulnerability, growth, authenticity
    • Helped convey who he is in an inquisitive way
  • Direct advice from this:
    • You don’t need a sob story; you can write about meaningful personal experiences—even small ones.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Anish (main speaker; author of the admissions stats/ECs/personal statement described)
  • Atlas Education (video sponsor; college application/essay strategy support with former admissions officers and experts)
  • Music: background [music] (no specific artist named)

Original video