New York student accepted into every Ivy League school

CBS Mornings

2 Apr 201403:58

EducationalLearning

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TLDRKwasi Enon, a 17-year-old high school student from Long Island, has achieved the remarkable feat of being accepted into all eight Ivy League schools. Not only does Kwasi excel academically, being in the top two percent of his class and scoring nearly perfect on the SATs, but he also actively participates in extracurricular activities such as track and field, musical theater, and volunteering at a hospital. The son of immigrants from Ghana, Kwasi was encouraged to seize every opportunity, a mindset that has clearly paid off. His success is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the support of his family, particularly his father's encouragement to apply to all the Ivy League schools.

Takeaways

🎓 Kwasi Eden, a 17-year-old high school student from New York, was accepted into all eight Ivy League schools, an extremely rare achievement.
🌟 Kwasi is in the top two percent of his class at William Floyd High School, a public school in Long Island, and has an almost perfect SAT score.
🏆 In addition to his academic excellence, Kwasi is involved in various extracurricular activities, including youth in government, track and field, musical theater, orchestra, and volunteering at a hospital and church choir.
🎶 As a bass singer in the men's acapella group and a viola player, music is a significant part of Kwasi's life, and he wishes to continue playing as he pursues his career.
🧪 Kwasi aspires to become a neurologist or cardiologist, reflecting his passion for both medicine and music.
💰 Financial aid will play a crucial role in Kwasi's decision on which school to attend, with Yale currently being his top choice.
🇬🇭 Kwasi's parents are immigrants from Ghana, and both work as nurses, moving their family to the United States to provide better opportunities for their children.
🧡 Kwasi's father inspired him to apply to all eight Ivy League schools, demonstrating a strong belief in his son's capabilities.
📚 The transcript highlights the importance of making the most of every opportunity, a value instilled in Kwasi by his parents from Africa, where resources are limited.
🏅 Despite the odds, with less than 9% of applicants being accepted into these elite schools, Kwasi's story serves as an inspiration to other students.
👨‍👩‍👧 Kwasi has a younger sister who is closely watching his journey, indicating the impact of his success on her future aspirations.

Q & A

How many Ivy League schools did Kwasi Eden apply to and how many acceptance letters did he receive?
-Kwasi Eden applied to all eight Ivy League schools and received acceptance letters from each one.
What was Kwasi's high school and how did he perform academically?
-Kwasi attended William Floyd High School, a public school in Long Island, and he was in the top two percent of his class with an almost perfect SAT score.
What extracurricular activities did Kwasi participate in?
-Kwasi was involved in youth in government at his school, track and field, musical theater, orchestra, and he was a bass singer in the men's acapella group. He also volunteered at Stony Brook hospital and played viola in the church bell choir.
What were the odds of getting into the Ivy League schools for the applicants?
-Out of more than 250,000 students who applied to the eight elite schools, less than 9% got in. Yale accepted 6.3%, and Harvard accepted 5.9%.
What motivated Kwasi's parents to immigrate from Ghana to the United States?
-Kwasi's parents, both from Ghana, moved the family to the U.S. to provide opportunities for their children, as resources are limited in Africa.
What was Kwasi's father's profession and how did it influence Kwasi's application strategy?
-Kwasi's parents are both nurses. His father inspired him to apply to all eight Ivy League schools, believing in his ability to succeed.
What career path is Kwasi considering and what are his interests outside of academics?
-Kwasi wants to be a neurologist or cardiologist and he would like to continue playing music.
Which school is Kwasi leaning towards attending and what factor might influence his final decision?
-Kwasi is leaning towards Yale, but financial aid will be a significant factor in his decision.
What was the role of Kwasi's parents in inspiring and pushing him academically?
-Kwasi's parents, especially his father, set high expectations and encouraged him to always strive for better, instilling a sense of belief in his abilities.
How did Kwasi's family background influence his approach to opportunities?
-Being the son of immigrants from Ghana, Kwasi was taught to make the most of every opportunity, as resources are limited in his parents' home country.
What other schools did Kwasi apply to and which was considered his safety school?
-Kwasi applied to thirteen schools in total, including Duke, which was his safety school.
Does Kwasi have any siblings, and how might their experiences influence his own journey?
-Kwasi has a younger sister who is 13 years old. She is closely watching his journey, which might suggest some pressure or motivation for her own future academic endeavors.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Ivy League Success: The Ambitious High School Student

The story revolves around an ambitious high school student from New York who achieves the remarkable feat of being accepted into all eight Ivy League schools. The student, Kwasi Enon, is in the top two percent of his class at William Floyd High School and has an almost perfect SAT score. Beyond his academic excellence, he is involved in various extracurricular activities such as youth in government, track and field, musical theater, and volunteering at a hospital and church. Despite the odds, with less than 9% acceptance rates at these elite schools, Kwasi's hard work and dedication pay off. His immigrant parents from Ghana instilled in him the value of making the most of every opportunity, pushing him to always strive for more. Kwasi's future aspirations include becoming a neurologist or cardiologist and continuing his passion for music. His decision on which school to attend will be influenced by financial aid, with Yale being his current preference.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Ivy League

The term 'Ivy League' refers to an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight prestigious private universities. These institutions are known for their academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elite. In the script, the Ivy League schools are the focus of the high school student's college applications, representing the pinnacle of academic achievement he aspires to reach.

💡college admissions

College admissions refers to the process by which students apply for and are selected to attend a college or university. It often involves submitting an application, transcripts, test scores, and other materials to demonstrate the student's qualifications. In the context of the script, the high school student's success in the college admissions process is highlighted by his acceptance into all Ivy League institutions.

💡SATs

The SATs, or the Scholastic Assessment Tests, are standardized tests widely used for college admissions in the United States. They assess a student's readiness for college and are often a significant factor in the admissions process. In the script, the student's 'almost perfect score' on the SATs is one of the factors contributing to his success in gaining admission to all Ivy League schools.

💡extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities are pursuits outside of the regular academic curriculum that students engage in, such as sports, clubs, or volunteer work. These activities can enhance a student's college application by demonstrating well-roundedness, leadership, and commitment. In the script, Kwasi's involvement in various extracurricular activities, like track and field, musical theater, and volunteering, showcases his diverse interests and talents, making him an attractive candidate for Ivy League schools.

💡immigrants

Immigrants are individuals who move to a new country to live and work there permanently. The term often carries connotations of seeking better opportunities and building a new life. In the script, Kwasi's parents are immigrants from Ghana, emphasizing the importance of education and making the most of opportunities in their new country, which has influenced Kwasi's drive and success.

💡neurologist

A neurologist is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. The term is relevant in the script as Kwasi expresses his aspiration to become a neurologist or cardiologist, indicating his interest in pursuing a career in the medical field.

💡financial aid

Financial aid refers to the various forms of assistance provided to students to help cover the costs of education, such as scholarships, grants, and loans. It is a critical factor for many students when choosing a college. In the script, Kwasi's decision on which school to attend is influenced by the availability of financial aid, highlighting the practical considerations involved in college selection.

💡Yale

Yale University is a private Ivy League research university located in New Haven, Connecticut. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in the United States. In the script, Yale is mentioned as the school Kwasi is leaning towards attending, indicating its appeal and the prestige associated with it.

💡safety school

A 'safety school' is a college or university that a student applies to with a high likelihood of acceptance, often as a backup option in case they are not admitted to their preferred or more competitive choices. In the script, Duke University is referred to as Kwasi's safety school, illustrating the breadth of his college applications and his strategic approach to the admissions process.

💡role model

A role model is a person looked up to by others, especially in a particular field or for particular qualities. They serve as an example to follow and can inspire others to achieve similar success. In the script, Kwasi's parents, being immigrants and hardworking nurses, serve as role models for him, instilling values of hard work and perseverance.

💡academic excellence

Academic excellence refers to exceptional performance in educational pursuits, typically demonstrated through high grades, test scores, and other academic achievements. In the script, Kwasi's academic excellence is evident in his top two percent class ranking and his almost perfect SAT score, which are key factors in his acceptance to all Ivy League schools.

Highlights

A high school student from New York received acceptance letters from all Ivy League schools.

The student, Kwasi Enon, is in the top two percent of his class at William Floyd High School.

Kwasi scored almost perfectly on the SATs.

He was involved in various extracurricular activities including youth in government, track and field, musical theater, and volunteering.

Despite the odds, with less than 9% acceptance rates at these elite schools, Kwasi was accepted to all eight.

Kwasi is the son of immigrants from Ghana.

His parents, both nurses, moved the family to the U.S. to provide better opportunities.

Kwasi's father inspired him to apply to all eight Ivy League schools.

Kwasi is considering Yale but financial aid will be a factor in his decision.

He has a strong academic record and a diverse set of extracurricular interests.

Kwasi's parents instilled in him the belief that he can always do better, which motivated him to excel.

He aspires to be a neurologist or cardiologist and wishes to continue playing music.

Kwasi's sister is closely watching his college journey, adding a bit of pressure.

Duke was considered his 'safety school' among the prestigious institutions he applied to.

Kwasi's story serves as an inspiration for other students and parents.

The transcript provides insights into the factors contributing to Kwasi's success, including family support and personal drive.

Transcripts

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Takeaways

Q & A

How many Ivy League schools did Kwasi Eden apply to and how many acceptance letters did he receive?

What was Kwasi's high school and how did he perform academically?

What extracurricular activities did Kwasi participate in?

What were the odds of getting into the Ivy League schools for the applicants?

What motivated Kwasi's parents to immigrate from Ghana to the United States?

What was Kwasi's father's profession and how did it influence Kwasi's application strategy?

What career path is Kwasi considering and what are his interests outside of academics?

Which school is Kwasi leaning towards attending and what factor might influence his final decision?

What was the role of Kwasi's parents in inspiring and pushing him academically?

How did Kwasi's family background influence his approach to opportunities?

What other schools did Kwasi apply to and which was considered his safety school?

Does Kwasi have any siblings, and how might their experiences influence his own journey?