🎓 Review of the Tongle Public Welfare Lecture | CMU Senior Michael Li: How to efficiently plan high school and university to win in the AI era
Recently, Tongle Chinese successfully held the first public welfare lecture in the series of "Guidance for Seniors from Famous Schools". We invited Michael Li.
As the "No. 1 student" to go out of the same fun, Michael completed his undergraduate degree in computer science at the University of Washington with top honors for three years, and is now a master's student in the field of intelligent information systems at Carnegie Mellon University.
This time, he returned to his "alma mater" and shared a sincere and dry goods as a senior.
🎥 Click here to watch the full highlight video：
名校学长指路：高中与大学规划（精华版）
(Explains how to plan high school life, balance schoolwork and activities, prepare for AP exams and college applications)
💡Key points of the main lecture
一、 The same goal is the starting point of planning
Michael reminds parents and students:
"The goal of high school is to enter the ideal university; The goal of the university stage is to pave the way for the future.”
When parents and children are on the same page, all options are clearer. Contradictions often stem from "thinking differently".
二、Achievements are still the basic competitiveness
- A GPA is recommended to stay above 3.9.
- SAT/ACT: Target score SAT 1530+ / ACT 34+.
- AP Exam: At least 8 courses are recommended (related to future professional directions).
Michael said, "Learning is not about time, it's about planning.”
三、Extracurricular activities: focus on "depth and continuity"
"I had too many activities in my freshman year of high school, and later I realized that university values sustainability and influence more."
It is recommended to focus on three categories:
A long-term academic activity (research/competition/project)
A voluntary or community service
- A sports or artistic project
"Doing one thing for three years is more convincing than doing ten things."
四、Essay writing: Tell your growth story
Michael shares the Universal Writing Framework:
Stories → Reflection → Applications.
"What admissions officers want to see is not the perfect you, but the thinking and growing you."
五、New competitiveness in the AI era
"AI will not replace people, but it will replace people who do not know how to use AI."
Students are advised to learn how to use AI as a learning assistant, such as:
Practice writing or speaking with AI;
organize study notes and time planning;
- Track new AI trends and improve learning efficiency.
六、The Role of Parents: Supporting > Stress
"External pressure may make a child progress in the short term, but it will wear out interest in the long run."
It is recommended that parents focus on cultivating internal drive rather than mere grades.
🎓 Q&A featured summaries
Q1: Which AP courses should I choose?
It is better to be consistent with the future professional direction, and it is recommended to take more Physics, Chemistry, Calculus, and CS in science and engineering.
Q2: Which is more valuable, IB or AP?
IB has a great impact on applications, and AP is more helpful for college credit transfers. If possible, AP scores have a more "plus" effect.
Q3: How do I get started with Research?
"Take the initiative to contact the professor." Read the professor's paper first, write down specific points of interest, and gain experience even if you are rejected. You can also contact doctoral students to do research projects, or initiate small research projects yourself.
Q4: How can parents participate?
Provide emotional support and resource assistance rather than making decisions for your child. Let children grow up in autonomy.
📚 Michael's story gives us a real growth curve:
From the elementary school students who enjoy Chinese to the graduate students of science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon, He has embarked on his own path with the method of "clear goals + continuous efforts + independent thinking".
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