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Student Profile
Student Name: Justin
High School: Virginia Episcopal School (VES)
Admitted College: New York University, Tisch School of the Arts
Justin always knew he wanted to pursue game design, and with guidance from his Ivy Talent consultant, he turned that dream into reality. His journey was far from easy—from receiving a late acceptance offer from a top U.S. boarding school in Virginia to ultimately being admitted Early Decision to NYU Tisch, every step demanded determination, focus, and personal growth.
We spoke with Justin and his mother to learn more about his journey and how he remained true to his goals while navigating the path to NYU.
Q: Did your school provide much college counseling support?
Justin: Yes, they did, and they were supportive. But the official college counseling program at my school doesn’t start until the second semester of 11th grade. Since colleges look at more than just your grades and activities in 11th and 12th grade, I wanted to start preparing earlier so I wouldn’t feel rushed later on. Ivy Talent had already helped me with my high school applications, so they knew me well. That’s why I chose to work with them for college advising starting in 9th grade.
Q: What kind of support did your Ivy Talent consultant provide?
Justin’s mom: Ivy Talent consultant consultant worked with Justin on a long-term plan starting in 9th grade. They outlined monthly goals, helped him stay organized, and guided him to meaningful extracurriculars aligned with his interests, especially in game design.
Justin: They helped me select courses that matched my goals and fit my academic level. They also encouraged me to get involved in theater and film, which helped me develop storytelling and production skills.
Outside of school, with the Ivy Talent team’s suggestion, I applied to USC’s summer program for game design. That experience became a significant part of my application. Ivy Talent also guided me through my Scholastic writing competition entry, which ultimately won an award and added a strong component to my profile.
Q: Why game design? What kinds of activities did you participate in to explore that interest?
Justin: My love for video games has always driven my interest in game design. I knew I wanted to create my games, so I focused on developing the skills to help me.
I co-founded a film club at school that assisted students with their video projects. That taught me valuable lessons in time management and teamwork. I also designed my own video game, handling everything from art and gameplay to programming. That project became the centerpiece of my application, and I even wrote a paper on it and created a downloadable demo.
Beyond those efforts, I took coding classes, participated in school plays, joined the wrestling and tennis teams, and played guitar in the jazz band. I wanted to demonstrate to colleges that while I was focused on my passion, I was well-rounded.
Justin’s work
Q: Did you participate in any contests or volunteer work?
Justin: I won a Scholastic writing award for a piece about using video games to support autistic children. The game design project I created for that paper also won a community service award.
Q: Why did you apply to NYU Tisch through Early Decision?
Justin’s mom: Justin knew from the beginning that he wanted to study game design. When making a college list, we focused on the top programs in that field. Our Ivy Talent consultant helped us weigh the pros and cons of each school. NYU Tisch has always been Justin’s dream school, but it’s extremely competitive. We considered Northeastern as a potential safe option. In the end, after several internal reviews and conversations with the consultant, we decided to pursue NYU Tisch through early decision. We’re so glad we did.
Q: How did you stay in touch with your consultant?
Justin’s mom: Since we’d already worked with Ivy Talent during the high school process, I trusted them completely. For college, I stepped back and let Justin take the lead. Nonetheless, his consultant kept us informed, responded quickly to our questions, and managed the entire process in a very organized way. They helped us keep track of deadlines, emails, and documents. I’m thankful for their support; it gave us peace of mind during a very stressful time.
Q: What was the hardest part of the process?
Justin’s mom: The adjustment to high school in 9th grade was tough. Justin arrived late, missed the first two weeks of class, and had to adjust to life in a new country during a pandemic. Our Ivy Talent consultant helped him get through those challenges, from navigating classes to managing stress. Things improved a lot once he returned to campus in 10th grade.
Q: How did you manage your time between school and college applications?
Justin: My consultant helped me plan everything. We created a schedule for summer, Thanksgiving, and winter, setting clear goals for each one. When it came to essays, they were brainstorming with me while still letting me lead and express my voice.
Q: What do you think made the most significant difference in your application journey?
Justin’s mom: Having a thoughtful plan and a reliable support system made all the difference. Our consultant helped Justin grow by encouraging him to explore new interests, reflect on his goals, and take ownership of the application process. In the end, it wasn’t just about getting into college—it was about finding the right fit and making sure he had the tools to succeed once he got there. Ivy Talent consultants didn’t push Justin to take the hardest courses or aim for straight A’s in every subject. Instead, the focus was on helping him grow and discover his interests. With a smart application strategy and clear goals, Justin stood out among many strong applicants at his school and received an Early Decision offer from NYU Tisch. We believe there are three key takeaways from his journey that other students can learn from:
- Clear Focus and Thoughtful Planning
Justin identified game design as his goal early on. Whether in course selection, school activities, or outside enrichment, Ivy Talent made sure that every part of his profile aligned with that goal. This strong sense of direction helped strengthen his overall application and balanced out the areas where his academic performance wasn’t as strong.
- Smart Timeline Management
We started preparing Justin’s portfolio as soon as summer break began, so that he wouldn’t be overwhelmed later in the fall. At the same time, we began working on essays. By planning ahead and tracking every deadline carefully, Justin had more time and energy to focus on school and tests.
- Strategic Decision Making
Because we had laid a solid foundation, Ivy Talent encouraged Justin to be ambitious in his application strategy. We also helped him thoughtfully explain his 9th-grade GPA, framing it within the right context. By highlighting his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses, we built a compelling and authentic application that ultimately led to his acceptance at his dream school.
We have no doubt Justin will shine as a future game designer.
Date: June 11th, 2025