💫 We have just reached 400 Freshman Alumni

We typically admit 30-50% of students to the Alumni Network. Joining the group means successfully graduating from any of the Freshman's courses.

As we celebrate the project's upcoming fourth birthday, we made an exception, allowing ALL the enrolled students in October to enjoy the Birthday Celebrations.

One may think we have worked with hundreds of students to produce our admissions results. However, we have traditionally focused on fewer students, doing our best to ensure their parents' investment in them will pay back.

I wonder where this journey will take us in 10-15 years when our students graduate and start performing on the highest levels in Business, Art, Science, Politics, etc.

We still have a lot to prove ourselves. We have side missions like having graduates in ALL Ivies—we have active students at Yale, Harvard, Columbia, and Cornell now, missing Princeton, Dartmouth, and Brown.

We also have main missions, such as increasing the diversity of Freshman students while bringing our approach to new countries and regions. Also, it would be phenomenal if someday we build the Freshman Business Accelerator to support student projects.

Alright, I may be just babbling at this point. It is 2:35 a.m. in Singapore. And this is NOT the official birthday address.

I am just happy with where we are as a community. And yes, we may be far from reaching our ultimate mission. But we will get there, slow and steady.

We will get there the Freshman Way!

@valeranotes

🦭Where do essay ideas come from?

Most imagine that the creative process involves an epiphany moment when an idea strikes you without warning. While such a rewarding experience may occasionally happen, this approach is unreliable because you do not control it.

Through the years, I have observed an alternative method employed by my family members who have worked as creative professionals: artists, teachers, and theater directors.

First, they start with unpolished sketches or drafts of their ideas. Then, they methodically improve them, often seeking feedback from the people whose perspectives they find valuable.

In college, I have developed a similar attitude. In writing essays, I avoided getting stuck by over-relying on my subconscious to bestow brilliant ideas on me.

I tried to overwhelm the creative problem. Wrote down any ideas that came to my mind first. Then, I filtered and built upon them while conversing with my peers when possible.

The creative process is an active, rigorous discovery rather than shy, hopeful waiting.

@valeranotes

💯% Commitment to Admissions

Parents of students who plan to take a gap year often insist on their kids enrolling in a local university program to hedge against a potential university rejection next year.

On the surface, it sounds like a win-win plan. Parents are relatively happy. And students have a chance of applying next year. However, for most applicants, this is an ill-conceived strategy.

On the one hand, you do not have the time to socialize or duly complete assignments at the local university. On the other hand, you fail to commit to the demanding application process.

Generally, TED Talks are akin to intellectual fast food. But a speech by Benjamin Hardy is an exception. He posits that crucial pursuits require 100% of your commitment. This heuristic maps well on the university admissions.

Indeed, in any competitive process, nothing less than a dedicated commitment is an essential requirement. We now have students who write 50 pages of reflections in two weeks and spend 10-12 hours daily improving their scores and working on their passion projects.

The admissions process is brutally competitive. So, if you take your dream seriously, you must use every resource to realize your vision.

@valeranotes