How to get into Princeton University - My GPA, Test Scores, Extracurriculars 

To buy my Crash Course College Coaching e-book: www.nicolaschae.com/products/

"I got a 34, which is alright..." brooooo that's 99th percentile, it more than alright!!!

“Highschoolers who are super petty and hate on people who are successful”😂😂😂🙌🏼

Oh.. there goes my dream of getting into Princeton

I swear you are so underrated. I hope that your channel blows up and you get the attention your videos deserve. Keep up the good work.

Princeton is my dream school! I’m not that smart and I’m starting a bit late, but I’m hoping to study hard and somehow get accepted. I know it’s a long short, and I realize a lot of other people share the same goal as me, but nevertheless I’m going to try my best! To those who are also here for advice to get into Princeton, I wish all of you the best of luck! Maybe we’ll see each other there one day. :D

I like this young man. He is very informative.

This should be titiled "15 minutes of feeling like crap about yourself"

This man is playing in orchestra and going to Ecuador to shoot with National Geographic😂😂 He has to understand that not everyone is talented.🤣

He’s so right about the extracurriculars. College life is not a continuation of high school academics as much as it is about a continuation of life and what we can give back. We have to use what we learn and contribute to society to push the limits of what we can do together as teams. Great video!

You’re literally the first RU-vidr that does a stats video that doesn’t have a freaking 4.0/5.0, 36/1600 and 800s in every single subject test - you give me hope :))

Hey! I got into Yale and also am the clarinet section leader of my school!! Everything you said in this video is pure facts. Thank you for stressing that numbers aren’t the end-all-be-all. ECs and the subjective stuff are far more important!

Every time I see you in my recommended I always lowkey think you’re ricegum for a second😭

*Princeton is my dream college!! I want to major in Astrophysical Sciences and become an astronomer for NASA. I’ll be a highschool freshman this fall but it’s never too early to start planning ahead!!*

Have you thought of a rap battle with Eminem?

34 : nope 35 : WOOOO LETS GOO

I feel so dumb after watching this...Like this guy is a BEAST! And I’m a potato...

The acceptances seem pretty random...I had a friend who got perfect scores on the SAT and ACT, had a 4.0 GPA, and was a section leader for the entire trumpet section. He got rejected and waitlisted for his top choices. His friend (who got a still pretty decent but definitely not perfect score on his SAT and ACT and had a 3.5 GPA) got into Darthmouth and UPenn. I'm really worried for when I apply since it really seems to be a crapshoot.

If you put it on 0.75x speed he actually sounds normal and it doesn't even sound like he's being slowed down

I always think that I put 1.25 speed

I hope you realize you are ahead of all the other students at Princeton. Entrepreneurship is the number one career option.

Hello! Im a Hungarian 14 years old girl and since 7th grade i wanted to study abroad, and i really want to go to Princeton, but I'm kinda nervous about the applications and my language test also I'm really scared I'm too dumb to make it, but I'll try! Your videos make me not to give up! Thank you so much!

Wow, I'm struggling to get a 3.0 average for my junior year. You guys are awesome to be top on your class

Well, I messed up. Still, pretty cool to hear the story of an Ivy League student.

Thanks for posting these helpful videos. It really shows how passion and the drive to achieve your goal triumphs everything else. This video made me motivated to try my best throughout the second half of my junior year. From the videos I have seen, you seem very unpretentious. Best of luck at Princeton!

Love your videos in this stressful time, I actually did a NatGeo trip to Yosemite and I got a scholarship for it as well!! Wish me luck in the process and keep up the good work!!

God this lighting is awful

congrats dude!! you really deserve it! :)

Me an international student who is completely applying to Princeton without ACT/ AP or SAT classes *interesting* 😹😹😹😹😭😭😭😭 Can't wait to get that rejection letter 😩😩😩

Ivy also look at what type of school you go to. It is MUCH MUCH MUCH harder to get into ivy if you are in a mediocre public school... no matter how exceptional you are. If you go to a well ranked public school in your state or a private school, you have a good chance if your GPA at the top 10% of your class!

Hey, I’m not sure if you are still reading the comments on this video but I want to say thank you for telling about the National Geographic expedition you did because I would have not known it existed if I didn’t watch this and after the video I did further research on it and applied and got in! I’m going to do the Italy and Greece trip studying anthropology

“34, which is alright” 😂😂

I took the ACT in 11th grade and made a 33 without studying. I took it again in 12th grade. That time I studied. I made a 31. xD

I wish I found this video last year when I was applying, this has the best advice, n if I were to make a reflection video I would basically say the same thing. Please take his advice so you dont take the L in the college admission process.

I have many of the same stats as you (6th in my class, 34 on ACT, national merit semi finalist, president of debate and English honor society, pianist, percussionist, writer, swimmer, chinese and Spanish) but was waitlisted at most of my choices. I think my essays could’ve been better, but i wonder what other reason were behind those decisions. I’m at U Mich now which isn’t where I wanted to be, but it’s funny how life works, because I’m actually incredibly happy here too. Gotta remind myself that graduate school is honestly more important than undergrad so good luck to you if you’re planning on continuing your education after Princeton!

I would have loved to meet you in highschool man. You’re blessed and I hope you keep being blessed. Stay inspiring these kids

Yay for community college!!!! Wait...just me? Ok :/

I lost all hope when he started listing all his awards and positions 😂

Being intellectually intelligent is a gift

I'm watching this in freshmen year so i can be ready....when are you guys watching this? You're acting like your life's purpose has been stripped away.

Class of '22 let's get itttttt

Ricegum’s long lost brother, who is actually smart.

I’m not trying to get into an Ivy League (because they’re all in like the New England area and I don’t wanna study up there) but I’m trying to get into UCLA which is really hard to get into, not as hard as like Princeton but still and this was still really helpful thank you❤️

I got in with an ACT score of 29 LOL it's only cuz they dropped the test score requirements idk if I really belong xd

Wow, very honest, helpful, and detailed. Thanks a lot!

You inspire me to never give up, thanks for everything

I'm extremely intimidated. Holy shit! How would I compareeee

Its videos like these that make me realize how much I've fucked up in not trying to become academically well just because I wanted to hang out with "the cool kids"

"I got a 34, which is alright" uh okay

Hello, Nicholas: The National Geographic Students Expeditions sounds really fun and I would love to do it later. Could you possibly tell me what you did for the extracurricular section? Do you list photography extracurriculars or general extracurriculars? Also, when did you apply and which teachers did you ask for recommendations? Thanks!

Hello, Nicholas: I am not eligible to do the scholarship but am still interested in doing the National Geographic expedition. Will colleges still acknowledge this achievement even if I had to pay for it?

If I was another person, I would call myself dumb for this question that I'm about to make but I don't care. Can I get into Princeton as soon as I graduate from Highschool? Or can't I?

Music - Woodwind Captain - Clarinet Section Leader - Clarinet Squad Leader - Youth Orchestra Photography - NG Student Expeditions - Pres of Photography Club Other EC's - Korean American Youth Leadership P rogram

Breathe guy lol it’s just you and a camera you can slow down man hahaha

I’m in 7th grade and I’m just really interested in how to get into Ivy League colleges/universities. At the same time I’m somewhat worried

I got 1050/2400 I'm happy with my life flipping burgers though

Ricegum's long lost brother.

I’m a Junior right now and honestly thinking of college throughout high school has just been very stressing so I ignored it all. Now I’m coming toward an end. I’ve done good in school I’ve had 4.0 all year freshman and sophomore year and currently have a 4.0 as a junior. The only thing is that is that that’s it. I don’t do sports our school is small so they’re isn’t that many clubs. I joined honor society but I never showed up to any of the meetings and I didn’t take the pre SAT thing. At the moment I didn’t realize how important it was and so I didn’t take it. I just really feel like these decisions I made really fucked up my future, but then again I’m not really well educated on what you actually need to get accepted by colleges. It’s just very stressing to me thinking about the future and going to college. And now I’m half way through my junior year and I still haven’t even looked into colleges or come to a decision of what I want to study for. I just feel like I’m a weak person compared to everyone else cuz I see people just casually moving with the flow of life and I’m over here struggling and stressing. This got way to emotional and serious but it’s true lol. But hopefully I pull through and manage to get through this.

What are you majoring in?

Lmao why am I watching this after I already got into college? Lolol

that really impressive to be honest considering Asians have a harder chance to get into these ivies

This video literally saved my life, thanks man.

HI I just wanted to ask your opinion on something: if I'm president of 3 or 4 various clubs and have great stats, would I have a good chance of getting into Princeton?

Hey Nicolas quick question, did you do anything to the colleges that you decided not to attend, like email Admissions a letter saying you won’t attend or did you just wait until after May 1. Do you recommend to email them something or tell your admissions counselor that you won’t be going to their school? What’s a good letter to send them so that for grad school they don’t like dislike you or something?

I'm a little confused...For example, I'm a member of NHS, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, how should I put that on the activities section? Because I don't want to use up 3 spaces just for these three organizations, is there any way I can shorten it? Thank you!

I remembered when I ran for president and the other candidate won because she received more votes than me based on her popularity. I was the new student and a fresh face in the school, so not a lot of people recognized me. After the candidate speech I was told by many students(some that I've never even met before!) that my speech was clear and on point. My teachers also came to me and told me that my speech was well written(which I felt kind of bad because the other candidate was in the same class as me but only received a "great job" as a complement). After the election one student told me, that "Your speech was really good! But I'm sorry, I voted for my friend." I told her that it was okay and I did't think it was a big deal, but I just want to say that sometimes people tend to vote for whom they're friends with rather than someone who'll actually make changes to heir school, and I find it truly unfair to candidates who put in all their effort trying to gain their student's approval.

I took SAT cuz ACT requires higher visual processing speed and that is NOT my strength (science section w giant charts took me twice as long as anyone else). took new SAT (graduated hs 2017) and got 1580 and 23/24 on essay because I had time and that is soooo worth it! (to anyone out there currently freaking out about these exams, just consider your learning style--are you more speedy and therefore strong in diagram analysis(act) or slower(and legit not in a bad way)and therefore stronger in critical thinking/assessment (sat).

what is a good range of amounts of ap classes highschoolers should take in order to get into these Ivy League?

Congrats on achieving your goal!

Can you give us tips on filling out the Common App and essays? Also, did you submit any supplemental music videos? I play violin and an concertmaster of a few orchestras in and out of school, and I want to submit a violin recording even though I am not applying for music. Do you have any advice/info on that?

Hi, I was wondering how you were able to get a scholarship with National Geographic Student Expedition? The website only talks about paid trips. Thank you

Ok so many of these opportunities seem to stem from being from a large highschool, what would be your recommendations for someone who is not from a big town or huge school?

thank you so much i am only 12 but its my dream to get into princeston, right now im trying to get into Tj and Aos hishchool in virginia, thanks so much

To get a 750 on the math subject test means u have to get like 9-10 wrong out of 50. Just to shed some hope for the ones that are desperate like me 😂

I want to go to Princeton so bad but they only accept 13 transfer students per year....

Another quick point of relief: a 34 on the ACT is equivalent to a 1520-1550 on the SAT. So Nicholas is obviously underestimating his own score XD. Great video though, I hope to someday be like u 🤫

i really hope that i can study abroad in the US in the future

Ive now got some inspirations for my studies

This is so interesting, cuz i took the act 3 times and i got 25,26,27 but got a 1450 at a first shot. i'm going to focus on my sat and enhance the score. Maybe you are an act person and i am a sat person

hi nick!! lol so i got waitlisted for Princeton and I know you were in the same position before and I was just wondering if you had any advice on what you did or what to do? I think I can send in a letter of continued interest or something but like am ded rn so LOL any advice would help!!!!!! ps I luv ur content :-)

If I get 1550 at SAT and 3.7 high school gpa, will I get selected?

I got a five on like 6 AP classes I'm sorry that's possible I'm done just no

Do you still think NG Student Expeditions would be a good extracurricular on the common app if I did not receive the scholarship?

thank u very much ur videos r very inspiring and shows the real pictures. Loved it. keep making videos.

danggg you graduated about where I currently am in my class of 200 students haha. some solid determination, sir!

Hello Nicolas Chae. It seems that extracurricular activities is important for applying to Princeton. My family doesn't have alot of money so we don't have a car, so I can't apply for those activities since I would have to go back and forth between home and school. I really dear that because of our lack of money that I will not be able to attend Princeton because of my lack of those activities. I really don't know what to do, but I really want to go to Princeton.

I felt like crying when he talked about all the stuff that being a national merit scholarship semi finalist can get you. I was so close to making the cutoff

My passion is English (specifically creative writing). It’s my junior year and I got accepted into governor’s school for English. Would this be a good spike to focus on?

My school is SO SMALL so only the top 15 sit in the front! I’m sad

I'm Daniel I just came across this video can u plz post the link of the scholarship program

Hi, I really enjoy watching your videos and subscribed today. I wanted to ask a question. I have not applied to college yet, and honestly don't know when I will. However, I have been working full time (night shift) to support my parents and younger siblings. I have been doing this for 5 years now. I'm working as an Application Analyst. Do you think writing about my job would be of any help when I apply for college?

what major did you apply as?

You and I are pretty similar: 34 on ACT (trying to get 35 in September), I play violin (concertmaster of school chamber orchestra, assistant concertmaster of my city’s youth orchestra, attended governor school for violin, all state honors orchestra for three years), good sat subject scores, and lots of extracurriculars (state champion at Deca for two years and competed in international competition for two years, 6 honor societies, and lots of community service). I also worked at a bubble tea shop for two years and a Chinese restaurant before that for one year. What do you think are my chances of getting into Princeton?

What's the link for the National Geographic thing

I like how u got 1500 which isnt like a 1580 that i see all utubers get then they say it doesnt matter the sat score LIKE I CANT TRUST U. U GOT A HIGH SCORE AND UR TELLING ME THAT ISNT WHAT HELPED U GET INTO THAT IVY LEAGUE. i mean 1500 isnt low but like it isnt scary high. Its like really amazing but not like a woah u studied the past 10 years for that test

By any chance, were you one of the soloist for your 2016 show lol also it's really amazing what you're pursuing and how you got ther. I've been told that majoring in music and psychology is useless but after watching this video and subscribing, you gave me some hope. Thanks :))

Hi, I don’t know if you will be able to give me an answer here, but I’m gonna ask anyway lol. I’m a sophomore in high school at a very good public school Ad a freshman I had a 3.75 GPA and my dream school is Michigan and knee that wasn’t going to cut it. I have been working harder and want to keep improving as my unweighted GPA is 3.9 now. I am also in the Chamber Choir at my School and I play on one of the school hockey teams. I haven’t taken SAT’s yet but do you think I need to improve my grades and extracurricular’s? thanks

My son had to do full time job to pay for his undergrad. Should he mention that as his extracurricular?

I know I’m late but I was wondering if you applied to some of these colleges like Princeton and Stanford with an arts portfolio?

Willing to share Resume Outline?