Updated: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Each year, IvyWise welcomes a select group of high-achieving, low-income students into the IvyWise Scholars program, our pro bono college counseling initiative. The reasons each student has for applying to the program are as varied as their backgrounds.
Some of this year’s Scholars came to IvyWise looking for structure and accountability. Others sought guidance from people who know the process firsthand. For some Scholars, access was the deciding factor. Several described the challenge of building a college list, preparing applications, and navigating financial aid without a roadmap, and the confidence that came from having an experienced advocate in their corner.
Along the way, many Scholars discovered something they didn’t expect: The college admissions process is as much about self-discovery as it is about applications — it became less about presenting accomplishments and more about understanding what matters most.
For over two decades, IvyWise has offered pro bono services to students who would not otherwise receive expert admissions guidance. The IvyWise Scholars program combines counseling and tutoring to support students through every stage of the college admissions process. Each Scholar works one-on-one with a dedicated IvyWise counselor and receives 10 hours of academic tutoring or test prep. Scholars also benefit from the IvyWise Roundtable, a mock admissions committee that provides expert feedback on all aspects of the college application, and receive start-to-finish support when applying to match with top-choice schools through QuestBridge.
Below, our Scholars share their stories in their own words, including what drew them to IvyWise, what they’ve learned so far, and their advice for students just beginning the journey.
My whole life, guidance has been a very important part of who I am — I lead, but I love having someone who can help me keep my focus forward and keep me grounded. Working with Tasha has been such a helpful and eye-opening experience. As someone who often finds themselves doing things at the absolute last minute and being stressed, I have never felt freer during such a difficult and stressful time period. Tasha sets deadlines for everything leading up to the final deadline, so I find myself almost completely done with everything even a week before it is actually due.
I will be applying as a psychology major, which is a big step that Tasha helped me decide on. I have always been interested in psych, but I wasn’t sure if I was willing to take that step and fully commit to applying in that major, especially because I wasn’t sure my application was competitive enough coming from such a music-heavy background.
I’ve been an artsy kid all my life. I’ve worked in my parents’ photography business for as long as I can remember, and I take my musical studies on the cello extremely seriously — something I had considered making my life for the past couple of years. Through talking with Tasha, I realized I don’t have to keep these interests separate. I want to study music’s ability to help and heal, whether through music therapy or a more psychology-focused approach, studying how music can affect memory and the way people process their experiences and emotions.
The most difficult part of my college admissions process has been actually sitting down to write my essays. I feel as if it is very hard for me to write about myself, but having deadlines set for me has been extremely helpful. It forces me to sit down and truly think about what I’m going to write, even in moments when I would normally tell myself to “call it a day and pick it up another day.” I wanted to be an IvyWise Scholar for this very reason — to have someone to keep me accountable — and it definitely has been a great experience. I feel as if I have learned so much about myself already.
Right now, I am looking to submit my QuestBridge application, and if I don’t match, I will move on to the Regular Decision round. I am looking forward to all parts of it, both the difficult and the more exciting, and I am extremely grateful to Tasha and the rest of IvyWise for providing me with such a helpful program.
I was born in South Korea but raised in the U.S. for as long as I can remember. High school sounded so daunting to me as a kid. I was never a fan of change, and being in a completely new setting gave me a lot of pressure. It felt like there was this crushing weight on my shoulders, and if I went under that pressure, it would be the end of everything. However, as time went on and I started adjusting, high school was not as scary as I thought it would be.
High school definitely is more demanding with the amount of work there is to do, but my favorite part of high school is being part of a community. I took Korean to fulfill my foreign language credit, and through that I met people and made countless friends. I am grateful to the upperclassmen who helped build my confidence and supported me throughout my freshman year. We were able to do many activities such as wearing hanbok — traditional Korean attire — playing traditional games, eating plenty of rice cakes and cup ramen, and performing skits. I was surrounded by students of similar backgrounds to mine, as well as people who were genuinely interested in learning about my culture.
As a sophomore now, I am trying to be more involved in the Korean-American community. I try to reach out to the new students in my Korean class who remind me of my younger self when it comes to the desire to belong somewhere. I realized high school does not mean it’s a time where I need to be “perfect” or suddenly act like a full-grown adult, but rather the time where I figure out my identity — trying new things, seeing what interests me, and becoming involved in the community.
I was born in Chicago and raised in Springfield, Illinois. Some interests I have are reading, especially science fiction books like “Dune” or “Scythe,” and new genetics or physics discoveries. I am a frequent listener of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s podcast, “StarTalk,” where I get a lot of my astrophysics knowledge. Some of my favorite subjects are math and science. I enjoy math because of how every question is a new challenge and following the right steps always gets the right answer. I like learning about science because everything I learn affects my life day to day, even if it’s as small as a cell or as large as E=mc². Some extracurriculars I do are Science Olympiad, Key Club, P4 (Physician Pipeline Preparatory program), and I will join the math team when it starts again this spring.
My main goal working with IvyWise is to get into an Ivy League school. But even if I don’t make it there, I am sure I can still get into one of the top colleges, like UC Berkeley, with the counselors’ help. I also hope to learn strategies that go beyond preparing for college — skills I can use in college and throughout my career, like how to stand out among many other strong applicants, whether on a college application or a job application.
Some advice I would give to students who are beginning to think about college is to be very thorough in their research into different colleges and start as early as possible to build their profile with the goal of acceptance into college. I say this because which college a person attends is a huge choice — not something to decide on a whim. Colleges will take a serious look at all four years of high school. So, the earlier someone starts research, summer camps, clubs, and maintaining strong grades, the better it looks to their prospective colleges.
I wanted to become an IvyWise Scholar because I wanted to be set apart. The places I want to reach have a lot of really strong competition, and I want to be the one who stands out among them. I could try to do that on my own, but it wouldn’t be close to what I could achieve with counselors who actually worked in the admissions offices of these top colleges.
I was born in Korea, and our family moved to the United States when I was in third grade. At first, I struggled with both language and cultural differences, but those challenges helped me grow more as someone who’s adaptable and confident. Today, I am fluent in both Korean and English, and it’s especially meaningful to me because it allows me to be connected to both cultures.
My background has also influenced my interests and goals. I seek opportunities in the music industry, especially in the K-pop field, so I take responsibility for singing and dancing practice. For K-pop auditions, I choose songs and dances to perform in front of the judges. During the preparation, I might struggle with high notes I cannot hit, words I have trouble pronouncing correctly, and confusing timing that prevents me from singing properly. However, I practice until I get satisfying results because I believe the more I prepare, the higher my chance of getting a good outcome. I am part of the school dance team as well, so I practice choreography before going to the next class, so I can be ready to perform full out while making clearer movements.
I wanted to become an IvyWise Scholar because I really needed guidance through the college application process from someone who has more experience than me. My IvyWise counselor supported me by trying to understand what I want to show in my writings, giving me advice and comments on things I can improve on, and explaining what I should do throughout the process. With my counselor, I am most looking forward to working on my writing to create the best outcome possible for my college applications.
The most challenging part of my college admissions journey was having to carefully put my experiences into words. For example, writing my personal essay, describing my activities, and completing brag sheets required me to reflect thoughtfully on my feelings and things I have done. Despite the challenges, at the same time, it is also rewarding to finish these tasks because I can see my experiences come together in my application. Through this process, I was able to have a better understanding of myself and become more confident in expressing my experiences and goals.
The first piece of advice I received from my counselor was to find a way to connect my career goals with helping others in my community to show my dedication to the field. My current goal is to become an accountant, and over the past few months, I have been working toward becoming a certified volunteer tax accountant. As I get closer to completing my certification, I hope to use these skills to help people who may not have as much knowledge or experience with taxes and financial planning.
I also plan to apply what I have learned through my school’s FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) chapter, where I can explore different areas of business and challenge myself through competitions. My counselor’s advice has helped me think beyond simply choosing a career and consider how I can use my interests and skills to make a meaningful impact.
One of the most challenging parts of preparing for college has been balancing these goals with my schoolwork and other academic responsibilities. Although it can be difficult to manage everything at once, I have been making steady progress and hope to complete my certification by next year. I have also learned that college preparation is not only about academics, but about being willing to take opportunities outside of my comfort zone in order to challenge myself. My advice to younger students would be to take advantage of the opportunities you are offered, even if you are unsure whether you will qualify or succeed. In the past, I have struggled with being apprehensive about new challenges because of my fear of failing — and I still do — but I have learned that trying and not succeeding is still valuable experience. Growth comes from taking an opportunity, regardless of the outcome, and it tells others that you are open to all possibilities rather than being limited to a closed mind.
Becoming an IvyWise Scholar has changed the way I think about the college admissions process. Before working with IvyWise, I mostly thought of college applications as a way of presenting everything I had accomplished. As I’ve gone through the process, I’ve started to see it more as an opportunity to understand what I actually care about and what I’m looking for in a college. That shift has made the process feel much more personal.
One of the most challenging parts of junior year has been balancing applications with everything else I’m involved in. I have a lot of interests, particularly in computer science, AI, and computational neuroscience, and it can be difficult to decide which experiences are most important to share. My IvyWise counselor, Mari, has been a really kind and supportive person throughout the process. She made it easy to talk openly about my goals and helped make what can be a stressful process feel much more manageable.
Working with IvyWise has also taught me the importance of having an outside perspective. When you’ve spent years working on your activities and projects, it can be difficult to recognize which experiences actually say something meaningful about you. Having someone help me step back and look at my experiences as a whole has made it easier to approach my essays and applications with more confidence.
The biggest piece of advice I would give another student going through college admissions is to focus on understanding what matters to you before worrying about how impressive it sounds. There are so many parts of the process that can make you feel like you need to have the perfect application, but I’ve learned that being able to explain why your experiences matter to you is much more useful than simply listing everything you’ve done.
My name is Danielle, and I’m currently a sophomore from Houston, Texas. Some of my main interests are running and art, and I also have a passion for medicine. My favorite subjects in school are math and art, and a few extracurricular activities I enjoy participating in are HOSA club and volunteering with my school’s National Art Honor Society. So far, I’ve enjoyed the freedom high school offers, the longer lunches, and being able to steer into individual subjects that cater to me.
Though I’m not certain of it, I’m interested in exploring a career in ophthalmology and attending college on the West Coast, especially because of the nice weather and getting to experience all four seasons. Because of my strong suit in STEM-related subjects like science and math, I plan to pursue a profession in medicine. Although I’m still unsure about college and what the future holds for me, I would advise newly attending high school freshmen and sophomores to be okay with not being totally confident about where they plan to go next or what profession they want to pursue. I would also suggest finding at least one passion or interest they would want to spend their high school career pursuing.
I wanted to become an IvyWise Scholar because, as a low-income student who has a small idea of how to plan my future, I wanted to have support and guidance when building my list, researching colleges, and preparing for applications. Getting advice from experienced mentors — people who actually understand the college admissions process — will be very helpful in achieving my goals and building confidence in my academics. Through my work with IvyWise, I hope to grow personally by figuring out my interests, values, and what I truly want to do in the future. I hope I can build relationships with mentors and other students and gain a better understanding of college overall.
I did not grow up in the United States and always expected to apply from a very small school in a random country. Everything changed in 2023 as I began life as an American high school student. I had this permanent feeling of being lost in my collegiate career, and it wasn’t until my mom mentioned the IvyWise Scholars program that I felt I’d figure it all out. Becoming an IvyWise Scholar changed the trajectory of my college process. My counselor, Alecia, helped me find my way through applying to college and also how to make the most of high school. High school is never easy; however, having someone who understood that a setback doesn’t define me helped me grow into a very confident person.
The most rewarding part of my college admissions journey so far has been finding institutions that feel like myself. I’ve found colleges that have amazing urban campuses where I can access clinical volunteering! With IvyWise’s help, I’ve been able to work through the process of financial aid and making sure I get the same opportunity as other students. Lastly, I’ve truly been able to find where I would belong.
I’ve been working with Carl Foreman at IvyWise to help prepare me for the ACT! I originally worked with him to prepare for the SAT and then moved around my scheduling to find that the ACT was a better test for me. He’s really supported me in learning the methods of the exam and has also been incredibly flexible with a busy schedule such as mine. Our time together has helped me understand the methods of the reading section and overall how to tackle the English portion. Coming from countries with completely different standardized testing, I have found that Carl has truly been an amazing help.
I can only wish for students like me to apply to the IvyWise Scholars program! I believe the best college advice I can pass along is to be authentically yourself every time. Write supplementals that make you laugh. Write a personal statement that reads like a FaceTime with a loved one. Be incredibly you because that is the best thing you can be. One “no” does not mean you are doomed; you will figure it all out.
I am from a rural small town in Virginia, where the population is made up of local citizens and the students from two colleges. I attend a public high school that has around 1,000 students, and most teachers and students know each other. The majority of people native to the area are fans of either Virginia Tech or UVA, and students often want to go to one school or the other but find it hard to get acceptance at UVA.
My interests include psychology, theatre, vocal music, movies, games, and tarot. I also love fashion and antiques, and I am a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I live in a predominantly Christian area where some of my traits are not widely accepted, so it has been challenging at times. However, I have found a good group of friends who enjoy similar interests, and I have grown comfortable with who I am and what I enjoy doing.
I grew up with a brother who had Down syndrome and autism, which I think gave me a lot of empathy and compassion. I lost my brother to COVID when I was 12 and he was 18. The trauma of that loss caused grief and depression, and I found that there was not a lot of support available for people in my age group. I found peace in counseling and meditation, and I realized that clinical psychology was the direction I wanted to follow.
I want to attend a college with a very diverse student body, where I can learn different perspectives and see the world from a global lens. It’s important to me to find courses that challenge me and help me to grow both academically and as a person. I also want to be in an area that is urban so that there are many opportunities for internships, cultural experiences, and growth as a person.
I applied to IvyWise because I wanted to have the best possible opportunity to reach my academic and career goals. I have dyslexia and have had to work very hard to gain access to rigorous classes and maintain my grades. My family would not be able to afford many of the schools our local high school students generally attend. Many of those students come out of school with a lot of debt, and I don’t want that. Many of the best schools offer excellent financial aid but have competitive admissions. I felt that I needed a little extra support to help make my application as strong as possible.
Working with Jami throughout the application process has been wonderful. We have common interests, and I feel like she really understands who I am as a person and what I want for my future. Her guidance, along with the Roundtable process, allowed me to make the best choices with my essays and application responses. I feel like I have submitted the best possible application I could give.
My advice to students working through the application process would be simple: Be yourself. I found that Jami and the members of the Roundtable liked my work best when I was talking about myself and who I really am. Schools want diverse and interesting people on campus. Just sit down and write. You can edit and make things look good after you get everything out that you want to say, and your IvyWise counselor will give you feedback to help you make your personality show.
I’m from Pflugerville, Texas, and I am currently a senior at John B. Connally High School. STEM has been at the center of my life, as I am in the PTECH early college program, majoring in computer information technology. This program has provided me with invaluable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of technology. My academic journey has solidified my passion for exploring various parts of science and engineering.
My main academic interests lie in computer science and engineering, but I also have a passion for economics, law, and neuroscience. Each of these fields offers challenges and opportunities that have given me chances to learn. I believe that exploring a lot of different subjects will enable me to develop a better perspective on problem solving. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in cybersecurity or in an interdisciplinary field that combines medicine and engineering, allowing me to incorporate some of my other interests.
I wanted to become an IvyWise Scholar to prepare myself as thoroughly as possible for the college admissions process. The guidance and resources provided by IvyWise are invaluable for navigating this journey. My IvyWise counselor, Claire, has been helping me strategize my college application timeline. With her support, I feel more confident in presenting my strengths and experiences to potential colleges.
I am excited to submit my application to the IvyWise Roundtable to receive feedback that I can incorporate into my applications. I look forward to hearing advice that will help me better myself as an applicant. For other students navigating the college admissions process, I would advise them to spend LOTS of time researching to make the journey smoother.
Each Scholar’s path is different, but a common thread runs through their stories: With the right guidance, the college admissions process becomes an opportunity for growth. Whether they are just beginning to explore their interests or putting the finishing touches on their applications, our Scholars are approaching the process with a stronger sense of who they are. We look forward to supporting them every step of the way and celebrating their successes.
Interested in applying for the IvyWise Scholars program? Please stay tuned for the launch of the 2027–28 application cycle in spring 2027.
As part of our IvyWise Gives Back initiative, we offer the IvyWise Scholars pro bono counseling program. Each year, we accept a select number of eligible students into the program. Through a combination of college counseling and tutoring, IvyWise Scholars are empowered to achieve their personal and academic goals.
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