Many students at Arcadia High School (AHS) fret about their studies as well as their plans for the future. With so many students attempting to get into the same colleges, it may seem almost impossible to secure a spot. However, students must always keep in mind that college isn’t about grades and extracurriculars that look good on their application. Take Darren Kuo, an AHS alumnus of 2023, who was accepted into the University of Chicago. In an interview, he discussed the advice that helped him succeed.
At AHS, Kuo was the captain of multiple clubs, including the Quiz Bowl and the History Bowl, and a member of the Constitution Team. Kuo was also a sports player, as well as a member of Seniors of Merit At Work (SMW).
Kuo encouraged students to “be intentional about the extracurriculars you want to do.” He recommended against joining clubs for the sake of college applications. He said that being part of clubs you enjoy and taking leadership will allow you to invest more time in something you enjoy and give you credit for it as well.
As for his academics, Kuo took nine Advanced Placement (AP) classes overall and was a member of the Boys Varsity Tennis team. Although it was a lot of work, Kuo said he “forced himself to believe ‘Yes, I can do it.’” Kuo typically got home at around 8 p.m. during the tennis season.
Additionally, the boys’ tennis season is during the AP exams, which was an added challenge. Since he had a heavy workload, Kuo adopted a few strategies to study smarter. Kuo’s schedule after getting home at 8 pm was taking a two-hour nap before working until 12 a.m. and getting up at 6 a.m. To keep track of things, Kuo wrote down a list of tasks. He found it very helpful and allowed him to get tasks done on time. The habit has carried over to college as well, and he recommends that others use it.
“It required a lot of grit and motivation,” he said. “I was so tired, but I still forced myself to push through, and I think this really helped shape my work ethic and made me mentally stronger.”
Kuo emphasized throughout the interview the importance of doing things that interest you.
He researched cryptocurrency and Decentralized Autonomous Organization at UC Berkeley. He personally reached out to Berkeley for the opportunity.
“Just reach out and ask,” said Kuo. “If they don’t get back, don’t take it personally. You will also be doing more of that in college, too.”
He added, “Try to be human, be professional, and don’t be afraid to reach out.”
In challenging classes, Kuo urges students to ask teachers for help.
“If you get a bad grade on a test, you shouldn’t talk trash about the teacher; you should actually be going to the teacher and say, ‘How can I improve?’ It’s a much healthier mindset.”
When asked if he had the opportunity to do anything different in high school, Kuo said that he would’ve done more interesting things outside of school. He thinks it is important to have interests outside of class, and wishes to explore more interests.
During his junior and senior years, Kuo was more focused on studies and getting good grades; however, he finds himself to be more social now in college.
At UChicago, Kuo is in his third year studying economics and public policy. He is involved in multiple clubs and volunteers at neighboring schools. Kuo plans to study abroad soon in Paris as well.
When asked what his favorite thing about UChicago was, Kuo stated that it was the people.
“When you come to college, you feel very lonely and foreign because you don’t know too many people,” he says. “But you’ll fit into place. UChicago is interested in niche things. Everyone is interested in their own things.”
