Updated: Thursday, December 5, 2024
It’s so important to have perspective when going through the college admissions process, which is why we’ve reached out to one of our own students, Mariel, to share some advice for future applicants.
As part of our IvyWise Gives Back initiative, IvyWise Scholars is our pro bono college admissions counseling program for high-achieving, low-income students. We caught up with IvyWise Scholar Mariel, a gifted student from Massachusetts, to learn more about her college admissions journey, what it’s like to work with IvyWise during this process, and get some of her college prep advice for other students.
My name is Mariel, and I’m a senior at The MacDuffie School. The classes I’m taking this year include:
I’m the Student Body President, president of the Key Club, and a member of the Judiciary Council, the school newspaper, and the Diversity and Inclusion Club at my school.
Outside of school, I read a lot, worked at a hospital, and had the opportunity to present research about the relationship between physical activity and adolescents’ mental health. By participating in these extracurricular activities that I found very rewarding, I was able to explore my interests in exciting and meaningful ways.
As college approaches, I’m nervous about submitting applications. The few weeks of silence between having submitted my applications and receiving admissions decisions are nerve-wracking! However, I’m most excited about committing to a university that will be my best fit.
When thinking about where I want to go, my best-fit university would have strong undergraduate research programs, pre-med advising, and support for first-generation, low-income students. With these resources, I would feel more confident moving forward to medical school, and ultimately, my career.
I plan on majoring in either cognitive science or neuroscience. After college, I plan to go to medical school to become a neurosurgeon. Additionally, I want to participate in academic neurological research.
I’d encourage freshmen and sophomores to start exploring their interests as early as possible! I’d also suggest creating organization systems, as being organized helps immensely with classes and college applications later on.
Learn more about Mariel by watching the video below.
For more information on families’ experience with IvyWise, check out our testimonials page, and meet some of our other IvyWise Scholars.
For current seniors, the college application process is in full swing. It’s so important to have perspective when going through the admissions journey, which is why we’ve reached out to one of our own students, Daniel, to share some advice for future applicants.
Many colleges include an admissions interview as part of the application process, which is a great way to further demonstrate your interest, learn more about the school, and get answers to your questions. It’s a good idea to send a thank you note via email after you’ve been interviewed. Not only is it a good practice, but it helps keep you top of mind and gives you one more opportunity to make your case for admission. Keep reading to learn more about how to craft a good thank you email.
Early Decision and Early Action notifications are right around the corner, and many students have already received their admissions decisions. With so many more students applying to college this year, unfortunately, there isn’t a spot for everyone. But remember, it isn’t the end of the world if you were not accepted early!
