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Student Profile
Student Name: Lucy
Admitted College: Cornell University
Lucy’s Background
Lucy’s journey in the U.S. began when she arrived from China to attend middle school. She was motivated by her brother, who was already studying in the U.S., and wanted to experience life and education in America for herself. Initially, her biggest hurdle was the language barrier. As the only Chinese student in her class, Lucy felt isolated by her limited English skills. At the time, she was too shy to communicate openly with others, and most of her interactions were with teachers rather than peers.
Lucy was determined to overcome those challenges. She made a conscious effort to step out of her comfort zone, engaging with classmates and forming new friendships. As time went on, her English skills and confidence improved. By the time she reached high school, she was fluent in English.
Working with Ivy Talent Education
Lucy started working with Ivy Talent in 11th grade. Her consultant guided her in choosing the right summer programs and provided crucial feedback on her application essays. Through this experience, Lucy recognized the value of having a consultant who understands the complexities of the U.S. college admissions process.
How Ivy Talent Helped
As Lucy entered her junior year, Ivy Talent helped her select the right courses. Her consultant helped her strike a balance between academic rigor and extracurricular activities, ensuring that she was neither overwhelmed nor underprepared. This approach resulted in a manageable workload, allowing Lucy to excel academically and in her extracurricular pursuits.
Initially, Lucy planned to follow a business-oriented path, influenced by her family’s background in commerce. However, after attending a summer business program, she realized that it wasn’t the right fit for her. Although she enjoyed her AP statistics course, Lucy’s experience was limited to one class, and she recognized that she lacked the time to gain significant exposure to the field, especially as she was already in 11th grade.
Her consultant identified her interest in Latin and her involvement in related activities and suggested she consider Classical Studies as a major. While Lucy was hesitant due to its niche nature, her consultant explained that the flexibility of U.S. college systems would allow her to change majors if needed. After researching the policies of top universities and learning more about the field, Lucy decided to embrace Classical Studies as her major of choice, seeing it as a way to highlight her unique strengths.
To enhance her application, Ivy Talent connected Lucy with a professor at Dartmouth College, allowing her to work on advanced research projects and write a research paper. That project, combined with her Latin studies and her role as editor of a Latin journal, enriched her understanding of the field and strengthened her application.
Lucy’s love for music has always been a central part of her life. She began learning the piano at a young age, and by 8th grade, she had discovered her passion for playing the violin in a group setting. Over the next several years, she participated in the Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra and served as the principal violinist in her school’s orchestra.
Her music involvement provided a creative outlet and developed her leadership skills. As the head of the violin section, she guided her peers, coordinated with other sections, and managed rehearsals. That leadership experience became an essential component of her application. Her consultant encouraged her to include it in her supplemental essays to showcase her dedication to both music and leadership.
Additionally, Ivy Talent introduced Lucy to Music Heal, a student-run group focused on using music for social good. Lucy collaborated with fellow music enthusiasts to compose and adapt songs, as well as publish articles on a music-focused platform. This initiative enabled her to explore a broad range of genres and reach a wider audience, giving her a new perspective on the power of music.
As part of her application to Cornell, Lucy’s consultant encouraged her to take advantage of the opportunity to submit a music portfolio. She recorded and submitted a violin performance, providing the admissions committee with a concrete demonstration of her skills. That submission showcased her musical talent, passion, and dedication to her craft.
Choosing Cornell
When it came time to choose where to apply for early decision (ED), Lucy faced a tough decision between Washington University in St. Louis and Cornell University. Lucy was drawn to the academic resources and campus environment at Cornell, and with the support of her Ivy Talent consultant and family, she decided to apply ED to Cornell.
While preparing for the SAT, Lucy recognized that standardized tests would not fully reflect her abilities. Instead of focusing solely on the test, she concentrated on strengthening her essays, activities, and overall application. Her decision to highlight her strengths through extracurriculars and her passion for music allowed Lucy to stand out in the competitive applicant pool.
Lucy’s Reflection and Advice
Looking back on her six-year journey, Lucy notes that her transition from middle school to high school in the U.S. was a crucial period for improving her English, which laid the foundation for her academic success. Throughout high school, she maintained a strong GPA while participating in meaningful extracurricular activities, particularly community service. Those experiences helped her develop the persistence and consistency that Ivy League schools value.
Lucy also emphasizes the importance of choosing challenging yet manageable courses. While it is essential to push oneself academically, she advises future applicants to select courses that align with their interests and strengths. This approach enhances college applications, allowing students to explore their passions in depth.
Lucy’s success story is a testament to the power of personalized guidance and staying true to one’s interests. When Lucy came to Ivy Talent, she had a general idea of her career path but lacked the direction needed for a successful Ivy League application. By analyzing her academic and extracurricular background, we helped her identify and develop her unique strengths, her passion for music, her academic potential in Classical Studies, and her leadership abilities.
Taking a strategic approach to her activities and academic interests enabled Ivy Talent to help Lucy craft a standout application highlighting her individuality. The combination of her academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and passion for music ultimately helped her gain admission to Cornell University, fulfilling her family’s expectations and her personal dreams.
