Updated: Wednesday, November 27, 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, Nevaeh, 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 Nevaeh, 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.
Hi! My name is Nevaeh, and I’m a high school senior at The MacDuffie School in Granby, Massachusetts.
As a senior, I’m taking various rigorous (and sometimes fun!) courses, including:
I’m also a very active member of my school community. Whether it’s playing sports, planning events, or running school clubs, I try to be as active as possible!
Preparing for college while taking challenging high school classes isn’t an easy feat. I’m a bit worried about the workload and the general experience of waiting to hear back from my top-choice schools. On the other hand, I’m super excited for the end reward: a college acceptance and a fantastic college experience.
There are so many schools that I’m interested in, like USC, Brown, Yale, Boston University, Stanford, Northwestern University, Occidental College, Howard University, American University, Clark University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Generally, they are all located in major cities or are very close to them. I’m also looking for schools that emphasize their commitment to diversity and inclusion through various programs, clubs, and other resources important to their student bodies.
As for my major, I’m not entirely set on any one subject yet. I’m considering various STEM majors, including physics and chemical engineering. In the future, I’d like to pursue a career in the STEM field, but I’d also like to be politically and socially active in my community. So, I’m looking for an option that will give me the technical experience I need to work in STEM while also supplementing my passion for history and community-based projects.
Just because I know the general path that I’d like to pursue doesn’t mean that you have to, too. For all the high school students out there, many of you are gearing up for the same arduous college process. It’s okay to not have everything figured out just yet! It’s a learning curve, and eventually, you’ll get the hang of it, even if you feel like you’re just drifting along right now.
So, take it one step at a time. Enjoy high school!
For more information on families’ experience with IvyWise, check out our testimonials page, and meet some of our other IvyWise Scholars. Want to learn more about what you can be doing now to prepare for the college admissions process? Tune in to our Just Admit It! podcast for top tips from admissions experts!
Watch as Nevaeh learns of her early acceptance to Brown University!
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We all know the personal statement is a huge part of the college application, but how important are those extra supplemental essays? For many students writing fatigue can set in and they don’t spend as much time working on those – especially as application deadlines loom. So how important is it to spend time on those supplements?
Get a Head Start on Planning for the New Year
With the new year right around the corner, now’s the time to start thinking about your test prep goals for 2020. Whether you’re a freshman who is just beginning to think about college, a sophomore gearing up to start test prep, or a junior who is already in the thick of it, there are concrete steps that you can take in 2020 to get closer to achieving your test prep goals.
If you’re planning to apply to Rice University, you can request to be interviewed as part of the admissions process. While Rice University interviews are optional and not guaranteed, they provide a unique opportunity for you to learn more about the campus experience, showcase your knowledge of Rice, and highlight your life experiences and accomplishments. If you don’t have an interview, it won’t hurt your chances of gaining admission. However, participating in an interview can give you a competitive edge, since your interviewer submits a report to the admissions committee.
