Four Questions with TTSD UB Graduate and Stanford Student Tenzin Dolkar
Tenzin Dolkar
1) Why did you decide to apply to Stanford University? How confident were you that you'd get admitted?
In comparison to the Ivy League schools, Stanford was ten hours of drive away, so it was close enough to travel but far enough to live independently. Also, I’ve heard a great deal about the Californian sun and the perfect temperature even during winter. Although it’s expensive, the Silicon Valley area near Stanford with giant tech companies will be helpful for a STEM major like me.
As for confidence, I knew 96% of Stanford applicants get rejected, so I had no faith that I’d get in. I kept thinking that I haven’t published a research paper, solved world issues through a non-profit nor did I win any national competitions. So, I thought I didn't particularly stand out on a paper and probably wasted hours in exchange for a rejection letter. When I opened my acceptance letter, even my mom was like, “Is this a prank or what?” It’s totally normal to feel imposter syndrome and doubt if you’ll achieve your goals, but don’t let that stop you from acting on your dreams.
2) What degree do you plan to pursue at Stanford? Why?
I want to major in Bioengineering, but we have until the spring of sophomore year to finalize our major, so I’m open to trying diverse majors such as Human Biology and Computer Science. I’ve dreamed of becoming a doctor when I was growing up, but I recently grew interested in coding and technological development. So, I’m taking classes related to Bioengineering, which fortunately overlaps with pre-med requirements. However, I’ve yet to decide if I want to pursue medical school, software engineering or scientific research. So many options….
3) How did being a part of TTSD Upward Bound help prepare you for college?
Starting from underclassmen years, visiting WOU and OSU really motivated me and made college feel like a reality because I was sleeping in a dorm and sitting in a giant lecture room. But, most importantly, it was the personal connections I made with UB counselors that inspired me as I saw them graduate with master’s degrees even with their challenges as a FGLI student and immigrant. During senior year, I had uncertainties about the college application process, FAFSA application, and the costs of college. Luckily, Greg and Genara organized financial workshops like the senior FAFSA night and sent constant reminders of scholarship opportunities and deadlines. Being a part of UB also allowed me to earn a $750 scholarship!
UB also offers a summer Bridge class which left the biggest impact on my acceptance to Stanford. Mr. Lieuallen pushed us to include specific imagery and concise descriptions as we shared our stories and read each other’s college essays. I also continued emailing and editing essays with him until the November deadline. Specifically, when there were only two weeks left, I remember freaking out because I still had seven short essays to write. So, we sat down and created mini deadlines for each of the essays and knocked it out one by one. I also received help from other UB staff members in editing my scholarship essays, and that kind of support system kept me accountable from procrastinating. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I couldn’t have gotten in without the Bridge class, college workshops and the UB staff support.
4) What one piece of advice do you have for current Upward Bound students?
The resources are plenty out there, but you can’t force a horse to drink that water. I remember asking the two career counselors at TuHS about how they handle the futures of over 500 seniors, but they said that only few people really come to ask them for help. I was surprised to see the number of students at the FAFSA night, bridge class and career counselor meetings. So, my biggest advice will be to take full advantage of the resources offered by Upward Bound and college counselors. You can email Greg, Genara or any UB staff to help with resume writing, internship opportunities, college lists and financial aid process.
Don’t give up! Another one of the lessons I learned recently is that you can slip up at times, but never let one failure stop you from continuing on to your goals. There were times I cried from grades and heavy loads of classes, but after a week of grieving, I would move on and set a goal to improve on it next quarter. You might feel like you screwed up your chance at dream colleges by wasting three years of high school without extracurriculars or because of a bad grade, but it’s never too late. Also, the online school experience especially taught me that grades and scores don’t define your self worth, and if you don’t take care of your mental health first, you won’t be able to take care of school work.
Specifically for seniors, I think that first-generation and low-income students oftentimes have the most beautiful story to tell. The hardships of immigrating, adapting and assimilating. How you overcame your tumultuous financial background by taking care of your siblings while your parents were away. For me, it was staying true to my Tibetan identity after moving to America while also criticizing the culturally-rooted misogyny in my community. I think that my values and life journey reflected in my essay contributed a lot to my acceptance, so I highly encourage seniors to focus on your essays through the bridge class and just submit your Common App to your dream school in two months before early applications close. Your odds are 0 if you don’t try.
In comparison to the Ivy League schools, Stanford was ten hours of drive away, so it was close enough to travel but far enough to live independently. Also, I’ve heard a great deal about the Californian sun and the perfect temperature even during winter. Although it’s expensive, the Silicon Valley area near Stanford with giant tech companies will be helpful for a STEM major like me.
As for confidence, I knew 96% of Stanford applicants get rejected, so I had no faith that I’d get in. I kept thinking that I haven’t published a research paper, solved world issues through a non-profit nor did I win any national competitions. So, I thought I didn't particularly stand out on a paper and probably wasted hours in exchange for a rejection letter. When I opened my acceptance letter, even my mom was like, “Is this a prank or what?” It’s totally normal to feel imposter syndrome and doubt if you’ll achieve your goals, but don’t let that stop you from acting on your dreams.
2) What degree do you plan to pursue at Stanford? Why?
I want to major in Bioengineering, but we have until the spring of sophomore year to finalize our major, so I’m open to trying diverse majors such as Human Biology and Computer Science. I’ve dreamed of becoming a doctor when I was growing up, but I recently grew interested in coding and technological development. So, I’m taking classes related to Bioengineering, which fortunately overlaps with pre-med requirements. However, I’ve yet to decide if I want to pursue medical school, software engineering or scientific research. So many options….
3) How did being a part of TTSD Upward Bound help prepare you for college?
Starting from underclassmen years, visiting WOU and OSU really motivated me and made college feel like a reality because I was sleeping in a dorm and sitting in a giant lecture room. But, most importantly, it was the personal connections I made with UB counselors that inspired me as I saw them graduate with master’s degrees even with their challenges as a FGLI student and immigrant. During senior year, I had uncertainties about the college application process, FAFSA application, and the costs of college. Luckily, Greg and Genara organized financial workshops like the senior FAFSA night and sent constant reminders of scholarship opportunities and deadlines. Being a part of UB also allowed me to earn a $750 scholarship!
UB also offers a summer Bridge class which left the biggest impact on my acceptance to Stanford. Mr. Lieuallen pushed us to include specific imagery and concise descriptions as we shared our stories and read each other’s college essays. I also continued emailing and editing essays with him until the November deadline. Specifically, when there were only two weeks left, I remember freaking out because I still had seven short essays to write. So, we sat down and created mini deadlines for each of the essays and knocked it out one by one. I also received help from other UB staff members in editing my scholarship essays, and that kind of support system kept me accountable from procrastinating. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I couldn’t have gotten in without the Bridge class, college workshops and the UB staff support.
4) What one piece of advice do you have for current Upward Bound students?
The resources are plenty out there, but you can’t force a horse to drink that water. I remember asking the two career counselors at TuHS about how they handle the futures of over 500 seniors, but they said that only few people really come to ask them for help. I was surprised to see the number of students at the FAFSA night, bridge class and career counselor meetings. So, my biggest advice will be to take full advantage of the resources offered by Upward Bound and college counselors. You can email Greg, Genara or any UB staff to help with resume writing, internship opportunities, college lists and financial aid process.
Don’t give up! Another one of the lessons I learned recently is that you can slip up at times, but never let one failure stop you from continuing on to your goals. There were times I cried from grades and heavy loads of classes, but after a week of grieving, I would move on and set a goal to improve on it next quarter. You might feel like you screwed up your chance at dream colleges by wasting three years of high school without extracurriculars or because of a bad grade, but it’s never too late. Also, the online school experience especially taught me that grades and scores don’t define your self worth, and if you don’t take care of your mental health first, you won’t be able to take care of school work.
Specifically for seniors, I think that first-generation and low-income students oftentimes have the most beautiful story to tell. The hardships of immigrating, adapting and assimilating. How you overcame your tumultuous financial background by taking care of your siblings while your parents were away. For me, it was staying true to my Tibetan identity after moving to America while also criticizing the culturally-rooted misogyny in my community. I think that my values and life journey reflected in my essay contributed a lot to my acceptance, so I highly encourage seniors to focus on your essays through the bridge class and just submit your Common App to your dream school in two months before early applications close. Your odds are 0 if you don’t try.
TTSD UB Student Voices - What has TRIO Upward Bound done for you?
"Upward Bound, Upward Bound, Upward Bound... You are one of the best things that has happened in my life so far. I made so many new friends and it has helped me with math and learning as a whole. And the summer program is where it's at! Getting to meet all the counselors is amazing and even though you met them at the beginning of the summer they make it feel as though you have known them for years. The director is a great leader who always has a smile on his face and is very optimistic! And the program coordinator is a great co-leader and is super smart and sweet! Upward Bound without the two of them is just Bound. I have so many fond memories from Upward Bound that I think about very often. I cannot wait to continue to thrive in Upward Bound as the years progress and I work hard to achieve my goals that Upward Bound has helped me to create and work on. Thank You!" - RR, Tigard High School
"Upward bound has positively affected my life. Because of this program, I was able to make some friends. But I didn't make just any ordinary friends. The friends I made in this program are the kind people who I know will support me. Before I joined Upward Bound I wasn't really social. This program helped me become more social and helped me be myself. I didn't really know if I wanted to know about college at first. But this program showed me the benefits and potential of going to college. We have gone and visited a bunch of colleges and universities to help find the right college for everyone. Not only were these experiences fun and informative, but these experiences were also life-changing and will become part of me for a very long time. I am also really thankful for this program for giving me a place to study to get work done. My home isn't always the best place to study or to do work, but because I'm in Upward bound I have to a place for my studies. Lastly, I know that the staff is going to help me reach my dream of going to college." - HC, Tigard High School
"Upward Bound, especially during the summer, has given me many things that normal school usually cannot give you. I've been able to have an Upward Bound family where I am free to express my thoughts and share my ideas because the staff and students are very approachable. I've acquired many skills like having proper etiquette, being a leader, working as a team, studying effectively, and how to behave for an interview. Trips to colleges have been useful for getting me to think about where I want to go and what I want to do. The counselors are great role models because they share their experiences and guide us through our plans for the future which is intimidating to deal with alone." - IM, Tualatin High School
"Upward Bound has helped me grow as a person and as a leader, challenging me with tasks that I would’ve never have had the courage to do. UB has encouraged me to engage with other people that have similar backgrounds as me and therefore create an atmosphere of trust and confidence that has become a great advantage for me as a freshman in high school. The field trips and activities that this program provides are amazing and very well thought out. The purpose of Upward Bound is to help students be ready for a college future and I believe that UB does just that. During the Summer Program I met the most supportive and amazing people that encouraged me to push on with my education and never give up. The counselors there are amazing and are a great example of what Upward Bound’s mission is. Throughout this journey I have gained more knowledge about college now than I did before joining, and I will definitely come back every single year." - ES, Tigard High School
"UB has helped me stay on track. For me personally, I enjoy the quiet time at tutoring to catch up on homework or study free from distractions at home. The check-ups on how I'm doing in classes have helped me to kind of take a quick look back and try to correct myself. Everyone I've met in the program has been extremely friendly and with the staff always treating you like a friend it really makes talking to them much easier. Overall the experience has been great and I look forward to continuing in Upward Bound." - AV, Tigard High School
"Upward Bound has made my life positive by helping me feel that I can go to college. At first, I didn't take college as seriously as I do now because before I didn’t search up colleges, what major or minors they have, scholarships, how big it is, acceptance rate, etc. Now I have a college list with five colleges that I want to attend. Upward Bound also helped me with being a bit more outgoing and less anti-social. It also provided me with good advice such as not to date guys with a low credit score. LOL. I've been thinking about coming back to Upward Bound as a summer counselor because the summer counselors that I got to know inspired me to be one because it seems so fun and I feel like it could help me with being more talkative. I feel like I've changed after I joined Upward Bound because I'm slowly but surely getting out of my comfort zone, which is very small. I'm very glad I took this opportunity to join Upward Bound. I wouldn't know what to do without it. It pushed me a bit to get on the right track." - EM, Tualatin High School
"Upward Bound has helped me in so many ways. UB has helped me by making sure I get my homework done and stay focused in school. UB staff check up on me and always offer to help. They’re understanding and always look out for us that are in Upward Bound. UB staff always push us to do well in school and make sure we stay on track. Upward Bound definitely made a great and positive impact in my educational life." - VM, Tualatin High School
"Upward Bound has made a very positive difference in my life. I love Upward Bound. I love the community and how helpful it has been. I have made many friendships that I didn't see myself making. Upward Bound has made me think about my education and has made me believe that as long as I keep doing well in school and keep doing Upward Bound, I will for sure go to college. Upward Bound has made the thought of going to college a reality especially for low-income and first-generation students. I enjoy going every summer because I get to make friends, learn, and explore places/go on field trips. I have made special connections with the staff. They are people that I still keep in touch with and I look up to them. Overall, Upward Bound is a fun and safe environment to learn! Not only to learn, but to also make good friendships with staff and students. I would recommend Upward Bound to anyone!" - BD, Tigard High School
"Upward Bound has done a lot for me during the summer and the school year. It has helped me be more outgoing and just be a better person. Academically, UB has helped me get better at math. Math has always been hard for me, but I've gotten better because of UB. Socially, I've made lots of new friendships. I believe I made a good choice joining Upward Bound, and it was a great opportunity. I have learned a lot and made a new family. I believe that I will be a good college student and learn even more during my college years." - DR, Tigard High School
"Upward Bound is a life-changing program. From the standpoint of a kid who had been told many times that his dreams were impossible, due to the circumstances in which his country stands, joining the program was the light at the end of the tunnel. I love being part of Upward Bound, which works to make the dreams of every single one of its members come true. It’s staggering to have people believe in you when you don’t - when you just want to give up and leave. Sometimes you just need to hear “I believe in you” in order to keep going and continue chasing your dreams. Love is a feeling which everyone seeks, but not everyone finds. By joining the program I found love for school and love for the art of knowledge. Upward Bound overall is amazing!" - ES, Tigard High School
