I'm Vivian, a Stanford grad and startup founder on a mission to help students get ready for college and life beyond! I share tips I wish I had when I was in high school and college. Come along with me if you're interested in exploring entrepreneurship, boosting your productivity, acing schoolwork, and most importantly - building a fulfilling life. I'm still learning every day, so join me 😊
About me: 🎓 BS in Computer Science from Stanford 👩💻 ex Google and McKinsey 🚀 Founded Acely, your AI coach to help get ready for college! Focused right now on SAT / ACT prep
Small yet consistent volunteering can also help I volunteered at this summer school for underprivileged kids, it was just a 2 week program but i did it for almost 3 year consecutively. This helped me climb the leader into some management roles and also helped me build some connections with big names there
The fall dates usually have a better curve because of seniors who are taking it last minute before college applications. In December the curve is slightly worse because seniors applying early to colleges will not take it then, but December would be better than March curve.
I took my first SAT last year (summer to Junior year) and I got a 1430 (740 math 690 verbal). Junior year, I did a practice DSAT this spring and I got a 1520 (800 math 720 verbal). When I actually took the DSAT this past June and got a 1400 with 750 math and 650 verbal. I really struggle with the verbal section and I want to get in the 1500s for my next test in October. What's strange is that I do take all honors level classes and some APs (already read at a high level). For example, I scored a 5 on the AP English Language and Composition exam this year, which I took before my SAT. Somehow, I only got a 650 for verbal, despite the AP Lang test questions supposedly being more difficult. I have been doing prep on Khan academy, but I'm not sure that it's going to be enough. Do you recommend any other free materials beyond college-board resources and khan academy?
How am I spending my summer? Sleeping for 4+ hours 🥳🥳. But thank you, I really gained valuable insight from this video. I always made mental goals, but I never actually wrote them down, which made it significantly harder to follow them, so I had a high tendency of getting easily distracted. Your video help me realize the problem I was facing. THANK YOUU AND GOD BLESS YOU!!!
How would you go about writing an essay on something like a dining table though? I’m just unsure on how you would extend your thoughts on something as simple as that into 5 paragraphs.
Maybe you could intertwine meanings in things (like the plate setting, or something), the meals you’ve eaten and tie stories or traits about yourself to them, or share something about yourself that you learned by being around someone who sits in a particular seat, and go around the table like that or something? Given the context in the video it might’ve been something like different parts of their life but snapshots of it revolving around the table? Not really sure. Maybe don’t take this too seriously, just spewing out ideas. I don’t even remember the prompts at this point.
hi vivian love your videos and u look great today been watching your videos since few days i think u need to add few appealing captions and add bit minimalist background music just an observation . ankush here i specialize in video editing and have experience with projects similar to yours I'd love to help enhance your videos. I'd appreciate your feedback
imo reading books isnt worth your time. assuming ur planning on taking the sat soon (like 3 months or less) reading a few books just isnt worth your time. this is a helpful tip if ur beginning to study years before the actual exam. imo ur better off spending that time either reading challenging articles or if u already have a good english foundation then simply learn and practice vocab (there are so many lists out there like the one from prepscholar is great)
As a tutor, I've seen many students struggle with SAT prep, and one resource that has consistently helped is LearnQ. Their platform uses AI to create personalized study plans tailored to each student's needs. This ensures that students focus on their specific weaknesses and improve efficiently. LearnQ provides interactive practice tests, detailed analytics, and customized feedback, which are incredibly useful in guiding students toward their dream SAT scores. Plus, the support and resources available make the journey much more manageable. Start your SAT prep with LearnQ and see how these tools can help you achieve your goals.
when i didnt see "medicine" on her list, I lost respect for the list. The AVERAGE income for Doctor alone is enough to pay off your education in less than a decade, easily (if you dont blow it on a wedding and a G-wagon)
And it’s so ridiculous. I have a masters in engineering and masters in education. I chose to stay in education because I feel there is more value in what I do. And it’s definitely harder than it ever was being engineer. And in some future reality that might actually be monetarily valued as well
Ughh, so typical 🙄 Stop devaluing the arts & humanities. They are as necessary to a functioning society as anything you do with tech. Instead, provide tips for navigting the financial world as an artist or social scientist - now THAT would be both helpful AND original.
I wish that the point was that we should actively work to change a system that significantly devalues the arts and education instead of "pick a degree that will make you money in our capitalist hellscape".
For sure, in the US. But still a systemic issue that will only change if people (like the occupy wallstreeters that started the ball rolling for the first student debt relief we saw last year) commit to using what power they have to change the system instead of trying to figure out how to be the last one to drown on a sinking ship -- because there's no up for our global economic hegemony from here.
I feel you though and I know you're only trying to help people. It just truly hurts my heart to see difficult, vital research being dismissed as a bad investment. Humanities graduates are the canaries in the coal mine for the greatest problems facing humankind. An English literature graduate (Rachel Carson) wrote one of the most famous and motivating environmental treatises of all time (Silent Spring) which actually succeeded in getting horrifying chemicals like DDT banned and inspired generations of environmentalists. She managed to do that, because she had the unique analytical, writing, and storytelling skills honed by an English literature degree. Our planet is only going to become a healthier, happier, more equal place if we work to change the systems that mean people have to choose degrees based on prospective financial gain instead of aptitude (advice which can become ableist) and that devalue knowledge that acts as the ethical compass of society.
Good point - I don't think it made it into the top 3, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was pretty high up there. Also a lot of 4 year colleges don't have nursing / pre-med as an official major
Chances are she's a nurse practitioner or something else higher up and not just your typical RN with a 4 yr degree only. Also 300k generally isn't the average RN income
Having a bit of context of her background gives credibility to what she is speaking about. If you can't even last 40 seconds then you're not gonna so well in life lololol
This is so helpful! I think reading a lot is a great way to spend some extra free time. I plan to send my summer working, studying for the SAT, and doing volunteer work!
Covid was never a good essay topic. The end of my junior and most of senior years of high school were significantly changed by Covid lockdowns, and our admissions officer kept stressing that we should not write about Covid or quarantine in our essays.
