By Krishiv Shah
New York, NY: For teens, especially Asian American and South Asian teens, college admissions feels like a make-or-break moment. As a senior who has just gone through the process of college admissions, I understand that there is pressure from a multitude of angles—peers, social media, relatives, and more. Especially going to a competitive high school, there is pressure to get into an Ivy League school or a top university, although mostly self-imposed pressure. But what I’ve learned is that there is a deeper and more meaningful path—one that blends achievement with self-awareness.
In order to learn more about this, I spoke with Alice Chen, an award-winning journalist and founder of BrightStory, a boutique college admissions consultancy that specializes in guiding high-performing South Asian and Asian-American students to top-tier schools. With over 23 years of professional experience, Alice has helped students gain admission to Ivy League schools and top universities like Stanford, MIT, Harvard, and scholarships to schools like Rice and USC.
Her approach is not just about getting in—it's about building a life you love.
“Since Covid, admissions have become even more competitive,” Alice said. “So I use the process to teach students life skills like self-advocacy, communication, and an entrepreneurial mindset.”
According to Alice, 90% of students who come to her don’t have a narrative. They may have a perfect GPA or resumes filled with tons of extracurriculars, yet they lack a story, something that is able to tie everything together and really seal the deal. That’s where her journalistic background comes in. She helps students discover their “A+ story,” and once that happens, the essay “writes itself.”
Alice’s process is highly personalized. She starts with an essay guide, then works with a small group of students to craft compelling narratives that are more informal and authentic—nothing AI-generated can match that human spark.
So what really matters in admissions to top colleges? “GPA, strong leadership, state or national-level extracurriculars, and a passion project,” she says. But just as important? Protecting your mental health.
One major misconception Alice sees among South Asian families is the overemphasis on academics and prestige. “A good school doesn’t guarantee success. Life skills and mental health are just as important,” she stressed. “Parents can support their kids not by pushing more, but by being the one place they feel loved unconditionally.”
With rising mental health issues in the Asian-American community, especially around college stress, Alice believes it’s time we shift the conversation. As she puts it, “Where you go is not who you’ll be,” quoting the title of an antidote to the college admissions mania by author Frank Bruni.
A message to my fellow South Asian teens: the college admissions process is not easy, and may seem daunting, but it can truly help you find yourself. Use your identity, use your voice, and use this time to explore what matters to you—whether it’s a passion project, a cause you care about, or a story only you can tell.
If you’re interested in learning about BrightStory and Alice Chen’s college admissions consultancy, check out her website: https://www.brightstory.info/
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Krishiv Shah, the founder and submission coordinator of Kaleidoscope, is an Indian-American senior at Syosset High School with aspirations to pursue a degree in International Studies and Business.
