David tells us about how he had never expected to earn the Coca-Cola Scholarship (which is awarded to only 150 people of over 100,000) and why that taught him a big lesson.

Part 1 is here

Transcription

Kamila
Hey college kids. This is part two of my interview with David. So if you have not checked out part one, make sure to do that. Also make sure to subscribe and check out my blog, a college kid.com. But other than that, hope you enjoy

you’re in you say yes to MIT. And so now you’re going to go to MIT. Tell me first impressions. What was your first day? Like? Did you regret choosing the school up north because it’s freezing all the time.

David
Ah, so a couple different points of interactions. So first, MIT has what’s called like a CPW. It’s an event loop for admitted students, which they host Yeah, they host that. I actually decided not to go to it. Because I had a prom, and I had prom. Actually, my English teacher made me promise, I would go to prom because I was a little, little antisocial in terms of like to party insane. So I had to be bought by MIT, like, offer to pay for me like to fly out like late, late April. And so I went to campus. That was my first time in Boston. And I was like, this place is so bad. So that was my first interaction.

Kamila
What was your impression of the campus because MIT is notorious for being ugly. I visited there, MIT, it was, I was actually my first college visit. And the campus was like, decent, you know?

David
Bad. Yeah, maybe compare like to other like, elite colleges, like, like a Princeton you Chicago, I can see where people are coming from like, look, compared to all colleges in general. I’m like, This place isn’t ugly. Like I’ve been to Australia. So I thought it was so big. Like, I spent most of my time within its libraries. So the hot time Hayden Library, which is like the Humanities Library, I was like, Dang, this is nice. And yeah, I was so excited for it. And I ended up doing a summer bridge program, which is like students like new comp prep, like very crappy, like high schools and who are also underrepresented students. So I was like, actually, at MIT, like my entire summer before actually starting get my tea. That’s good. Which was super exciting for me.

Kamila
And did you make friends through there? Like, was that hard? Easy? Were people like you. And were you nervous? Excited? You know, what were the oceans?

David
I was so nervous, honestly. But I think what made it good was like everyone else was nervous. Machir all these other people who are like class of 2020 30, who are like now at MIT, like we’re, we’ve all been except, and we were taking, like classes that would prepare us like for PRs, which are like, ended like foundational courses like everyone has to take to graduate. But yeah, I think there’s a mix of like, excitement, anxiety in the air. And I think it was just like, really good to like, build community, a lot of the people in the program like I’m still friends with and like, Yeah, still close friends with or even if I see him in the hall, like it’s very, like, it’s not. It’s, it’s totally normal like to say, hey, stop him in the hall and try. And there’s definitely a strong community behind that.

Kamila
Okay, I want to I want to ask one question before we continue on with college. So with a lot of these top schools, of course, there are things that you have to do like you have to have a good GPA, if you’re just an ordinary student, not like an athlete or, you know, legacy or whatever. So if you’re just an ordinary student, without any sort of like, something to you, you need to have a good GPA, you need to have like, a good extracurriculars you need to be like a top student. So but then after that peep, a lot of people say it’s kind of like a gamble. I’ve heard the term like lottery school with these top schools, not just Ivy just top schools in general. So do you think that’s true? Do you think it’s like kind of a gamble once you’ve met the requirements that are unspoken up but are necessary? Do you think it’s a gamble?

David
Yeah, I think absolutely. I think the phrase like or the term lotteries that really good description. So I think like they colleges can cut down speedo, and it’s like, just the very minimum like adequacy like, do you have at least a decent GPA? A decent like SAP, or like, like, reasonably well, like if you don’t make like a very minimum caught off, like they’ll cut you out? But I think after that what really comes into what matters most is like your personal statements. Like are you a good fit for this college? Are you going to take like advantage of every opportunity like made for you? And so I think like there’s some students like you would Like you don’t get into a top school, but like could totally do well could totally be a great student. So for me, like I got waitlisted rejected Barber, but through MIT, I can actually like take some barber classes as a registered student. Yeah, heard of that? Yeah. Yeah. So I actually took two classes like this past fall. And honestly, like, I, I felt like I wasn’t like on the same level of like, a, and sometimes maybe a little bit more. The same level like academic workers, like someone from Harvard, even though like I ended up not getting into the school. So yeah, I think honestly, a lot of times it’s just a gamble of like, what up schools like you’ll get into if you’re, if you have good GPA, a good as ACP SAP and good personal statement, I think you have a good shot at getting into some, some top school. I think what the wildcard is, is like, what top school are you going to get into? Yeah,

Kamila
okay, so we’ve discussed that. Let’s go back to college now. So. So you were like, in this summer bridge program before you actually started the school year? So is that where you made your main friends? Are they still your friends today? Or did you kind of just jump around between friend groups?

David
Right. So I think that’s what provided me with the foundation of my friend group. And so some of them, like some friendships, I kind of lost along the way. And then some of them I still have. One friendship that I still have is like someone was like someone, we were like, pcep partners. So we did homework together. And then we kind of fell off, like during the fall semester. But then like, we actually like picked up like this past fall. During this like past fall, like over mock trial, which I now do at MIT. And yeah, and so I sometimes like some of those, again, like summer bridge friends I’ve made like I lost. But yeah, I’ve just gained friends through like other activities I’m involved in. So I’m involved with student government. So I’ve made friends there. And my best friend like I made through my learning community at MIT. So yeah, I think you just kind of make new friends as you have new experiences.

Kamila
Okay, and I want to ask you something as a person who didn’t go to like, one of the top high schools. So I was my previous interview was with a girl from Northwestern. And she was also from a first generation she was from a first generation low income background. And she said, and I asked this of everyone, like, did you feel kind of dumb when you first came into your top school? Because you’re, you’re now all top student, you were all top students in high school. So you’re all have the same intellect level, right? And she said that for people who came from, you know, low income did not have access to the resources. It’s really unfair for them because they grinded their ass off with what they had available to them. And they did well, they took advantage of every opportunity they had. But then there are people who, you know, grew up in the nice suburban neighborhood, went to the nice high school, and you know, learned more and just had better resources. So did you find that to be the case at MIT? Like, because you didn’t go to the best high school? That was the case for you?

David
Yeah, for sure. Definitely. MIT definitely has some of that culture. Actually, when I was picking colleges to apply to I tried to actually pick colleges like that didn’t have that characteristic so much. So I look for schools that had a very high percentage of like minority students, schools with the high percentage of like Pell Grant students, so which is an indicator of like low income. And in my and another third factor is like social mobility, economic mobility, like how well do graduates do like after graduation? MIT was definitely the winner there. But going back to your question, like yes, like my first year, fall semester, like, I was so frustrated at people like you were breezing by, like in these freshman classes. Like I knew classmates, like who took philosophy classes in high school, organic chemistry, was like, What the heck is this? I mean, personally, like speaking personally, I failed my physics class, my fall semester. Luckily, at MIT, like your fall semester, it’s like on pass no record. So if you fail, like there’s no existence of that, other than this podcast. But I ended up taking a class over January that would help me like get my credit, and I was able to pass physics halfway. But like, I was like, failing that class. I was like, dang, David, like, you ain’t it? So I was a little disappointed there. But like, honestly, I was like, I kind of took the mentality like you talked about it was like, okay, David like you are literally giving like crappy like materials to start out with, like, first of all, like a knowledge that you got to the same place was like all these other people like you have a silver spoon, like high like access to any AP class, they wanted to have that, like their parents are lawyers and doctors, they know like how Ivy League’s work. They know the college application process like they had people like to counsel them through. I was like, okay, David, like, we did something even just to get here. But I think in terms of like, what I brought to MIT, like from my background, like, I really, I think my strong suit was like, really like, caring about people like very community pays. I remember like calling my mom like breaking down in tears. It’s just like, I just don’t think like people here like, care, like they care about like their grades and like getting a good job, but I, they just don’t care about like others and like serving the community and like making an impact. So more of like a public interest. But I think that’s kind of like my strong suit. And so like, maybe like, I’m not always top of my class academics. But I think there’s other areas of MIT where like, I’m definitely like a stellar student.

Kamila
When I was this first came to my, like, awareness when I was interviewing someone from Johns Hopkins. And they said that in high school, you know, as a top student, like, it sounds kind of, you know, arrogant and such. But if you’re like a straight A student, you walk into your math test, kind of expecting that you’re going to get an A, like, it may be a challenging math test. But you know, you’re going to pull through and get like an A, or at least a, b. But going into college, it’s completely different. Like you walk into a to test and you have no idea where you’re going to get like a 70 is pretty normal at like one of these top schools. So is it the same at MIT, like, you just walk in, and you’re just like, what I get is what I get, you know, just, it will be it is what it is?

David
Honestly, for some classes like 70 A is like super high. And honestly, like be the highest classes. Like they’re like stories of like some classes like honestly, where like, you get like a single digit score out of 100. And like, it’d be like the average, like the class average. Oh, my God, it humbles you like very quickly. Yeah, it’s honestly a very, like a couple of phrases that get thrown out, thrown out or like drinking from the firehose. And then another common MIT expression is I HP FPS, so it stands for, like, I have truly found paradise, or the alternative is like, I hate this effing place. So like, it kind of depends, like what your state is. But I think what MIT teaches to you is like to work hard to collaborate with others. Like, I think what I really like about it, like everyone struggles, like academically, even, like the smartest people will say, like they’re struggling at MIT, which I think is like, super great. But it’s a true test of like, how you overcome with that academic struggle. I think like, other schools, like a lot of like, your IVs, like have great grade inflation, where like, you can close by with like an A, A plus average, I think like brown and Harvard are like really notorious, like for grade inflation. And then there’s like other schools were Stanford where like, you hear something called like, the duck syndrome, I think is the term for like people like suffering academics, but like, they put on the appearance that like, everything is like rainbows and sunshine is going well, like at MIT, like people will flat out tell you, it’s like, I’ve been working on this, like problem set, like for a week. And like, I did them problem entirely wrong. And then starting from scratch after like, 10 hours of work. Wow. So I think it definitely like humbles you in that regard. But it also teaches you like to work like extremely hard, which I which I do appreciate.

Kamila
And I know that you’re on the more humanities side, in terms of major, but like MIT is without a doubt in America, the top for STEM, just in general. I think if you took all the STEM subjects, MIT would probably rank as number one in general. Do you find that like, people who are in MIT, like engineering, whatever it may be? Do you find that they struggle hard? Like is it just really do you think some classes are just like unpassable? Like, for example, your physical physics class? Do you think that was just like too much? Do you think it’s like some like inhumanely, like hard?

David
I think some classes particularly freshmen classes, are mainly just a reflection of your high school experience, which I do not appreciate so much. So like, tip I think around like 25% of freshmen like end up failing like physics one and having to either like take it again or take some sort of like, remedial. Like part of it to pass, but I don’t appreciate and in that like in terms it offers Just reflect what access you had to like in high school. Like I never took like a direct physics class in high school, like I had self studied. But again, like, it’s entirely different thing having a science teacher walk you through. And then even if I was to take a physics class, I mean, there’s other people out here, like who had literally took college classes. I like really good schools, like, I know, people who took like Columbia Princeton classes, like as a high schooler, because like, they left like nearby and I was like, I didn’t get that. But I think all classes are passable, I think like, What grade do you end up with? It’s like in fluctuation. But I think there’s a really great support system like to help you through whether it’s like teaching assistants tutoring. Like there’s a wide variety of people like you’re there to help you through this struggle.

Kamila
Okay, so we’ve kind of gone over the grades aspect, and I want to, I’m gonna ask one thing. So I know that your high school probably didn’t prepare you for college, at like, all because you self study. But again, you know, a teacher walking you through something is entirely different. So can you tell me how you’re like ability to study by yourself and your just time management skills in general? Like, how much of that actually helped you in college? Did you see yourself doing much better in that area? At least and other other students who just came into college?

David
Right? Honestly, I think so. So like self studying, I think what it teaches you it’s like, start from scratch, like, identify a problem and then form a solution. So for me, it was like, Okay, I don’t have an econ class, what am I going to do about it? Solution, self study. And then I have to flesh out like every step in between that, like, what books am I going to read? Like, what’s the course? What’s my timeline? How do I what study bookstore I used for, like the AP exams, which I think that’s a direct translation and like to college work, like, sometimes like, you’re literally just thrown course material and have to, like, learn it on your own. And even if teaching is like really great, like, you have to be able like to explain not only like the what, but the why, in a lot of like what you learn and so I think that was really helpful. No other experience I talked about where I was like giving $20,000 to that creative project. That’s really helpful. Like in more the extracurricular social part of college, a lot of colleges like will there’s always like funding available like to do things I think being able like to create use, like a budget interact with different people solve a problem. It’s a very like useful tool in a lot of different areas of college life. So honestly, like the most useful part of high school, and I think like, regardless of what high school you go to, it’s not so much the content you learn in classes, but like the skills and the mindset, in classes, but also outside of classes. I think that’s really where you’re going to learn most of like your applicable skills in college.

Kamila
And I have one question about professors. So I wasn’t aware of this, because I assumed that with the price tag that comes with top schools, the professors would be like, you know, top of the top as well. And they are they’re, like extremely smart and well educated in their specific subject. But again, that girl, I was interviewing from Northwestern, she said, those people, they’re extremely smart. They know everything about their subject. But the thing is they come to the school to do research, not exactly teach teaching is something that they just have have to do based on the contract contract. So your professors, even though they’re insanely smart, they just don’t know how to articulate it. They’re not good teachers. Is that the same at MIT? Yeah.

David
So I honestly I think it’s like a mixture. Like I’ve, I’ve never had a professor yet, luckily, but I know some professors, like who kind of put teaching to the side and like research takes top preference. I know some like who, who kind of like value research and teaching the same. But again, like these people aren’t trained to teach like they don’t go through an education program. Like they know how to teach like differential equations, multivariable calculus, but they don’t know how to convey that knowledge, what are the techniques you need to use to make sure that someone else understands that they don’t have like formal training and that, which is definitely a downside, and then you get get into like some professors who were like, really great. Like, who knew who can do the research definitely are like really great, like in terms of like teaching students, and whether that’s like forming personal relationships in office hours, or how they explain concepts, it’s just like, amazing. So I don’t think it’s a uniform answer. I think you’re gonna get a mix of like all three of the categories that describe that really any college. So I think it’s more round just like kind of hearing around from fellow students about maybe like, what professors you should take in which you may want to stay away from,

Kamila
like, right my professor. Yeah. Okay, so let’s move on to the, I guess you could say extracurricular social part of college. So coming into college, how did you get involved in Unfortunately, COVID happened and that probably, like, completely destroyed a lot of your plans. So but coming in, did you? How did you get involved? Did you know you wanted to get involved? Did you even have time to? So can you take us through that?

David
Right. Um, so the biggest one I wanted to get involved with was student government. So which I made he it’s called the Undergraduate Association. And I really got kind of, as a very puts you in the spotlight of a lot of different policies, he kind of get this burden so few of the institute. So that was the one I wanted, wanted to get connected with. I ended up like joining four different committees. Yeah, like community diversity, Alumni Affairs, education, and involvement. So like really getting to like, be in some of the committees that are like most influential to student life. Yeah, and I think besides that, like, I would just try different things like throughout the year. I think in the spring, like I tried out, like concert band. So started up like a pre Law Society at MIT spring semester. And then my new thing to try out, like my sophomore year was mock trial. And so I tried that out fall semester. So yeah, I think it’s just a matter of like, trying and see trying and getting what works.

Kamila
And I know that again, COVID just, you probably have only been through one real semester of college, right? Like, right off the bat, I know COVID Like cancelled all of these things. But when you are able to get back into the university, most likely like later this year, probably your junior year. Do you know that you can take advantage of like different internships? Do you have some of them lined up and that you’re like interested in taking?

David
Right actually, I feel pretty good on the internships I, the my the spring and summer of 2020, I interned at this special education, nonprofit in Boston. So it’s like with them for seven months. And this spring guy was able to get academic credit for the summer, I was actually able to get some funding, like from the political science department. And I think it was really just a great experience to learn more about like special education from a very like advocacy, in a little bit of like a legal perspective. So it’s really happy with that internship. This summer, I’m super excited, I got into MIT’s DC Summer Internship Program, which basically, like provides you with really great funding alumni connections, to get an internship of your choosing in Washington, DC. And so I think there’s a lot of like support in terms of like getting internships, and I’m super grateful to be able to like, take advantage of it.

Kamila
That’s great. And that is, I assume, that’s why you’re in DC now. Is that Well,

David
yeah, I honestly picked DC just because I wanted to live here, but I’ll be here for the summer as well. So I guess it kind of just worked out.

Kamila
Oh, is that is that kind of with your political science major? Like, is that what you’re like in DC?

David
Yeah. So for me, I just wanted to try out some new cities. So it’s a non campus. So I’m actually from, as I’m sure you know, and from Louisiana left there. The so in the fall, I actually lived in Chicago. So try that out.

David
And the best city in the

David
world, it’s so okay, the food scene is really good. Honestly, like, I judge the city by their food. And I was like, Okay. And then DC. I was like, I guess it was the political science person and me like you have to live in DC. So it’s like, okay, I’ll live here for like the spring. And so far, so good. And I’ll be here for the summer. So I was like, it’s gonna be nice.

Kamila
That’s amazing. And, okay, so, David, we’re kind of getting to an end here. And there’s one thing I ask every buddy, and that is two pieces of advice. So one for current high school students, and you can give them advice on anything that can be you know, extracurriculars wise, preparing for college, whatever it is. And then one piece of advice for college students who maybe just came into college and they don’t know what they’re doing, right? It’s a confusing New World. It’s a completely different universe. So what advice would you give for those two groups? So high schoolers, and then people who are just going coming into college?

David
Right? So for high schoolers, what I’m going to say is, I think just put yourself out there honestly, like, try different things. See what works what you like. And then like once you find something you like, hopefully you find it after like your freshman year. Stick with it, build with it. That challenge yourself step outside your comfort zone. And I think as the senior getting more like putting yourself out there this includes like applying to different things like scholarships. I know for me like there was like a really the Coca Cola scholarship I applied to never expected to get it ended up getting get

Kamila
the Coca Cola scholarship. Why didn’t you say, I

David
am so sorry? Like, yeah, it’s just a matter of like, trying like, there are some things like you seem like you’re never gonna get like, you seem like you’re not the type of person for it. I honestly, I mean, like, the thing that hurts worse than like being towed or getting like a no or rejection is like having to constantly think about like the what if, like, if you’ve never done it, so honestly, like, get it out of the way, apply for it, shoot your shot. And then my advice for college students.

Kamila
Wait one sec, one sec. Yeah, this is not acceptable. Please. Oh, cook. Oh, scholarship. Oh, my God.

David
How? Hi, I’m so sorry.

Kamila
Can you tell a little bit about that? Because, I mean, I look at it, and I’m like, what, it’s 150 students that can get it and just look at it. It’s like 1000s of people apply a little bit about the process, you know,

David
oh my gosh, yeah. So for any people like he like the statistics of it. I think what they Yeah, as you said 150 People get it. And I think like 100,000 apply for it, like ended up submitting an application. So I think how it works is like the pick semifinalist, which I think it’s like 1500 anywhere from 15 to like 2500 like students and I think it’s like based based on like your like GPA a CT personal statements, going from semi finalists to finalists, which I think they pick with 250. I think they send you a whole bunch of essays for like you really hone in on really your community service, like Coca Cola scholars is very centered around like public service, how you engage with your community, and not so much like your academic palace. That’s the biggest thing. And then once you’re finalists, they it’s they’ll interview you they interview all 250 or so students to pick 150. Like final slot. Next year. Yeah. And then you’re Coca Cola scholar, but it’s yeah, really, for people who are passionate about like, serving others and making a really strong like, impact in their communities.

Kamila
Oh, so is that what it is? Like? What the essays are about? Like the kind of community service you did?

David
Right? Yeah, it’s the mission of Coca Cola scholars is like developing being like community leaders. So if service is something that you’re passionate and have a heart for, definitely recommend applying.

Kamila
Oh, my God, you MIT has humbled you too much. A coca cola scholarship. Wow. That’s amazing. I was like, uh, you know, I’m sure you get good financial aid from MIT. But I was like the rest of the cause. I mean, how are you gonna pay for the rest of the class? We have a Coca Cola scholarship. Wow. How did you feel when you like got it? Was it

David
my car is like apparently, like, where I go to when like things happen. I opened up my decision. And like, my school’s library is like, during the day, I was like, in one of my off periods. I got the email literally walked out to my car. And I just like ball, I literally called everyone though, in my family, like my sister, my dad, my mom, and no one answer. awkward because I was like, in between tears, like, ready, ready to put on a show. But like, no one answered that I was so excited. And again, I think my English teacher was like, one of the first people like to learn about it.

Kamila
Like, was this more exciting than getting accepted into MIT?

David
I think yeah, at the time, it was so exciting. Like $20,000 I was like, dang, that’s a lot of money. But I think what stood out more to me was just like, I like getting like recognized like that. I do like really have like, I can make a difference in my community. Like, I know that I’ve always like done things for my community. And I really, I think being interested in education just naturally inclined towards like helping others I think really getting a Coca Cola like scholar for me just kind of like, like solidify there was like, okay, like I like someone sees me as like a change maker. I think like the one of the words like in your acceptance letter is like a lightning rod for change. And I think for me just like if I think that really like built some like competence in me that like hey, like I really can make an impact.

Kamila
So oh my god. Amazing. Okay, okay. Get on with your advice for First. Anything else I need to know? Any other scholarships?

David
Kind of thing? Oh, one other big thing. I guess I did get an associate’s degree in like, Christmas. So like fall 2018. So actually, like graduated from college before graduating from high school.

Kamila
So what So basically, you’re telling me that with your 19, APS, bunch of extracurriculars and schoolwork, you also got an associate’s degree.

David
I Yeah.

David
On what,

David
um, so I was like, in General Studies, and like, my concentration was like, natural and Applied Sciences. So I got it, like, through a mix of like Dolan, Roman classes, I took out my school. Some, like, just college classes I took, like, directly with the college because like, I wouldn’t get high school credit. And then like a mix of like, AP credits,

Kamila
and that propelled you to get a college degree.

David
Honestly, I didn’t even a I wasn’t aiming for it. And then like the high school, kind of, like enrollment person, like at the college is like, by the way, David, like, you’re gonna get an Associate’s, like after like, the semester, and I was like, Oh, okay. I never like plan for it. I think it just happened where, like, I met all the criteria of like, the credits I needed. So it was like, okay,

David
okay, if, if that’s all that’s a carry on,

David
nothing more, nothing. Sorry. Advice for college students. Um, take advantage of the students. I mean, honestly, like, that’s your biggest your biggest pro of going to college, I think, especially like, if you go to like a very, like diverse school. And I mean, like, diverse and however, however you want to defy it. So of course, like ethnicity and race, income. Geography, I think is a really cool one. For me. A lot of like, your top schools will get a student like from all 50 states. And of course, like a really, you should like 10% international students. put you out there and like listen to stories, listen to experiences, just because like someone is like performing better for you, like don’t feel like intimidated or anything like us, like use those connections, like as a learning experience. Like if you don’t want to be around someone because just because like they may like score better than you or like perform better in a class. I think that’s a really bad reason, just like to not interact with that person. I mean, you’re here at college to learn. I’m like some of the best of the best. And I think there are certain things that you may excel at which like you should definitely contribute. But I think there’s also areas where like, of course, you’re not going to be the strongest but like learn from the people who are. So I think just be willing to engage in learning opportunities wherever you see them because they’re not always in the classroom.

Kamila
Thank you very much for coming today. Very good interview full of surprises. Last minute surprises. So yeah, have a good night.

David
know us well take care you too.

Kamila
And that’s my entire interview with David again, make sure to check out part one if you have not done so already. Also subscribe and check out my blog, a college kid.com for college related content on there. But other than that, hope see you in the next one.