For Amy Wang, studying isn't a task but a mindset.

A lifestyle, even.

This lifestyle helped her juggle a gauntlet of tennis matches, math competitions, and AP classes throughout high school. Her hard work paid off, earning her admission to Caltech as a chemical engineering major. Now, the 26-year-old has built a social media empire with over 600,000 followers across all platforms, empowering teens with study advice and college admissions insights she gained from her journey.

"I'm a big proponent of holistic habits: eat well, exercise, and sleep well," Wang shares. But most importantly, she emphasizes deleting social media during finals season. All of us—including me—struggle with this. Teens come up with excuses like, "I'll just set a time limit" or "I'll set my phone aside."

Again, her mindset comes into play.

"Essentially, you are losing years of life by being on social media. That maturity helped me from a young age, being able to time travel," she says.

As a teenager, Amy Wang realized she was "working for her future self" and wanted that future self to be "proud of her."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Teen Magazine, Wang shares her finals study hacks, college admissions advice, and tips on managing burnout while maintaining balance.

Image Credit: @fotolab and @wamyy5 on Instagram

Exam Season Hacks

TTM: What are your top study skills that helped you succeed at Caltech?

Wang: For studying, the eagerness to gain awareness of my material. I want to have taken an attempt at a problem set or assignment first, so I can see when I need to go to office hours and spread out the work. Advice number two-- set study groups.

I had a group of friends for chemical engineering at Caltech. We would set two days at 7 PM where we'd work on thermodynamics. This gave me peace of mind and comfort. Use laziness to your advantage. Consider whether you are getting something valuable out of your study methods. Assess whether you're using your time and efforts wisely, so you can study less and smarter.

TTM: Now, for finals season, what are your tips?

Wang: Start early. These are basic things, but people don't do them. Use basic, boring advice.

I like to list everything I need to study for one class: homework, quizzes, tests. I make sure everything is covered. I like to use textbook summaries.

Now, teens are lucky because they can use study platforms like Thea to create questions. It makes things faster and easier for active recall. I would also find someone who can quiz you, and final tip, sleep enough and delete social media just for the study and exam period. You'll be able to study more without distractions.

TTM: Teens struggle with deleting social media, so what's your advice for actually implementing it?

Wang: It's more of a mindset, rather than forcing. Time travel ten years in the future, and you'll be like, "all of those weeks that I didn't have social media– I don't even remember that.”

You will remember how your exam results compounded over time. Essentially, you are losing years of life by being on social media. That maturity helped me from a young age, being able to time travel. What would older me be grateful for. You are working for your future self, and you want your future self to look back and be like, "I'm proud of them."

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College Admissions Advice

TTM: What's your advice for getting into top universities?

Wang: A lot of people think you have to max out AP's and extracurriculars. You definitely need that, but reframe it so that academics are your foundation. It's a baseline for being considered to have a fighting chance in a top university.

Then, you have to be able to manage time such that you can focus your brainpower on leadership, being proactive, and creating things. Having a leadership position doesn't mean much. Everyone is president of NHS.

If you're not memorable, people will just pass you by. You have to be memorable. Something distinct, and you.

You also want to show that you're a good person who will contribute to their campus, and show that you will make a positive impact through a track record from high school.

TTM: How do you think having extracurriculars makes an application shine?

Wang: Academics are really basic. You will see dozens of kids who have dozens of AP's, straight A's, and everything.

It's going to be your extracurriculars and how you show impact and commitment. Depth. Not only does having extracurriculars make you stand out and more memorable, but it helps you do better in school.

When I played basketball, I got to relax, and my mind ran free. I had more energy to study. It shows that you're a person who can function in society.

TTM: Some teens struggle with balancing their ECs. How did you juggle your extracurriculars?

Wang: Honestly, I could've cut some unnecessary ECs out. The first main thing is to be a thinker and not just a doer. If you have many things to handle, you'll have to be more efficient.

Question which pockets of time you can use wisely. For example, when I was waiting for my teammate's tennis match to finish, I read my physics notes. Do things earlier to, and prioritize what really matters. For instance, don't go to every football game, and sacrifice when necessary.

TTM: What's your advice for the essays and interview part of applications?

Wang: Realize that you're working on admissions before you even step foot in high school. Your foundation of the things you've learned and your interests in middle school set the foundation. Realize that the stuff you're doing through high school will play a role in the final product.

No one wakes up the night before and creates a perfect application. It takes thought and introspection.

Mental Health Tips

TTM: Teens have opened their admissions decisions, and many have been rejected. How did you deal with rejection?

Wang: I felt demoralized and cried for a few days. I think that's part of how I dealt with it. My parents were sad, but they were sad with me, not disappointed.

That's a huge distinction. You need people around you who know you for who you are and for your hard work. They love you for you, regardless of the admissions result. I imagined that I'm capable of doing great things with or without a top university.

TTM: Many high schoolers, with ECs and classes, face burnout. What's your advice for counteracting burnout?

Wang: So, what's important is to put first things first. You need to live your life in alignment with your values. As a natural side-effect, you'll be healthier and happier, with more mental clarity.

You'll be able to give yourself self-love. You'll want to put yourself first.

Rapid-Fire Questions with Amy

TTM: What was your favorite thing of Caltech?

Wang: The people. It's always the people that make-or-break it. When I stay up until 1 AM, and I'm doing organic chemistry, I'm with my delirious friends, and it just makes it better.

TTM: Like a trauma bond.

Wang: Yeah, haha.

TTM: During finals season at Caltech, it must've been stressful. What was your way of fighting your stress?

Wang: This is not unique, but I like exercising. Scientifically, you release serotonin, and it energizes your brain, and what students have to remember is you have to step away from it.

TTM: What was your favorite study method?

Wang: Practice problems. Testing yourself. It's a lot more interesting.

TTM: In 2-3 songs, describe the process of waiting for college results.

Wang: Marathon by Connor Crise, All I Do Is Win by (DJ Khaled). If you have human capital, then you'll win no matter what. Use these empowering songs, haha.

TTM: What made you choose content-creating and create this empire to empower teens across the world?

Wang: After college, my first job was a management consulting job. This happened by accident. I didn't like my first job.

I started making vlogs when I was in college. I decided to keep doing it because it was fun. Eventually, I moved to New York and I realized I didn't like working for other people. It was a crazy identity shift. I expected to climb the corporate ladder. But I discovered this other side, where I was good at being entrepreneurial and being creative, finding shortcuts. Being lazy, in a smart way. Content creation was a way to use creativity and entrepreneurship, and helping people. Everything just came together.

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