📹 Video Information:
Title: Ask Coach Tony Anything
Duration: 58:24
Overview
This is a live Q&A session with Coach Tony, a former UC Berkeley admissions reader and current college counselor, addressing common questions about college applications, standardized testing, course selection, and admissions strategies across multiple streaming platforms.
Main Topics Covered
- Number of colleges to apply to and school categorization (reach, target, safety)
- Science course selection for medical field aspirants
- Extracurricular activities vs. college applications
- Transfer vs. first-year student classification
- SAT/ACT testing strategy and timing
- UC application system and requirements
- Class selection strategies by grade level
- Dual enrollment benefits and strategies
Key Takeaways & Insights
- School Application Strategy: Apply to 10-15 schools with a mix of reach, target, and safety schools based on GPA comparison to school averages
- Activities Philosophy: Never do activities solely for college applications - focus on what you enjoy and what relates to your intended major
- Transfer Classification: You're a transfer student if you graduate high school, take college classes, then apply (in that order)
- UC System: Uses 20 activity slots across 6 categories plus 4 Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)
- Regional Competition: Admissions officers compare students primarily within their region and high school context
- Dual Enrollment Advantage: Can save 1-2 years of college tuition by earning credits early while maintaining first-year application status
Actionable Strategies
- For Course Selection: Compare yourself to top students at your high school for fair benchmarking
- For Test Prep: Study 8 weeks maximum, aim for 100-point improvement per month, only if you can reach 50th percentile of target schools
- For Activities: Fill all 20 UC activity slots, classify same activity under multiple categories if it fits
- For Dual Enrollment: Start in 9th grade, take one class per semester to accumulate 30+ units by graduation
- For Different Pathways:
- Engineering/CS: Reach past Calculus BC, take AP Physics series
- Sciences: Reach at least Calculus BC, take AP Bio/Chem/Environmental Science
- Humanities: Focus on maximizing rigor across all subjects
Specific Details & Examples
- Test Blind Schools: UC system, Cal State schools don't consider test scores at all
- Test Required Schools: Stanford, most Ivy League schools (except Columbia)
- National Merit Threshold: Typically 1520-1530 SAT equivalent, varies by state
- Student Example: One student applied to 47 colleges (not recommended)
- ELC Qualification: Top 9% of high school or state for UC guaranteed admission consideration
- Dual Enrollment Savings: 30 units = 1 year saved ($40,000), 60 units = 2 years saved
Warnings & Common Mistakes
- Don't apply only to reach schools - maintain balance across all three categories
- Don't do activities solely for college applications - authenticity matters more
- Don't relax senior year course rigor if targeting top schools
- Don't spend months studying for tests if you're applying to test-blind schools
- Don't assume ELC guarantees admission to top UCs - only guarantees a spot somewhere in system if available
- Avoid double-work by doing both APs and AA degree simultaneously
Resources & Next Steps
- Website: eaglelock.com/asktony for submitting questions
- Previous Content: Last week's session covered complete UC PIQ breakdown strategy
- Weekly Schedule: These Q&A sessions may become weekly events
- Contact: Available across multiple platforms (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Instagram, TikTok)
- Team Support: Mentioned team members who can provide additional resources and replay access