Updated: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
The IvyWise Scholars program offers free college admissions guidance from IvyWise experts to help high-achieving, low-income students reach their college admissions goals. Would you or someone you know like to join the 2025-26 cohort? The application is open now through June 30, 2025 for members of the high school classes 2026, 2027, and 2028.
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 to guide them through the college admissions process. Through a combination of college counseling and tutoring, IvyWise Scholars are empowered to achieve their personal and academic goals.
Meet some of our recent Scholars.
Congratulations to our class of 2025 cohort, who gained admission to many top-tier colleges and universities, including Cornell, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, Penn, Washington University in St. Louis, Stanford, Rice, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, and Williams College. We wish you the best of luck this fall!
Caden wrote this when he first started working with IvyWise in 2023:
I am a native New Yorker and have grown up in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I attended PS 11 and the Special Music School for elementary and middle school. I am currently a junior at The Dalton School. Music has been an integral part of my life, and I am in the Juilliard pre-college program as a percussion major. My academic interests are diverse, but I am particularly intrigued by the intersection between physics and music. Additionally, I have a passion for economics, game theory, and applied mathematics. As a dedicated musician, I would like to do interdisciplinary study in science, music, and economics. I believe that music can heal both physically and emotionally, and a goal of mine is to create therapeutic music tools that are accessible to everyone and to leverage my interests to make a positive impact on society.
For my college preparation, I have begun touring schools and attending admissions online events. My favorite part of visiting colleges has been meeting with faculty members to discuss certain programs in my fields of interest. I also have loved being able to visualize what living on a future college campus would be like when visiting a campus. In addition, I have been researching specific dual-degree programs that align with my interests through various colleges’ websites.
IvyWise has provided a fantastic opportunity to be guided by experts in college admissions, tutoring, and impact projects. A highlight has been being able to get feedback on my class choices this year, SAT test scores, extracurricular activities and passion projects. I am very excited to begin sculpting a college list with Rachel, my college counselor at IvyWise, and to zero in on which colleges would be the best fit for me. Furthermore, I am eager to send my application to the IvyWise Roundtable in order to get feedback that I can apply to my applications. Finally, being able to work with a tutor on SAT studying and finding resources for my passion project has been immensely helpful.
Since I started working with IvyWise, I have already become more comfortable and less apprehensive towards the college process. Although I am only a junior, I feel I am reaching a good place where the college process seems less daunting, as I feel that I have a partner in this process with IvyWise. I would tell younger students to stay calm but also to look ahead and plan out your future years in high school in terms of class choices and following your passion through meaningful activities.
Congratulations to Caden, who gained admission to USC, the University of Miami, Brown, Columbia, Princeton, and Yale! He is heading to Yale this fall.
Yunping, from Honolulu, HI, received guidance on her Questbridge application from IvyWise counselor Mike, and she matched with Stanford University! Congratulations, Yunping!
IvyWise Scholar Omkar from Euliss, TX, worked with IvyWise counselor Danielle on his Questbridge application. He was matched with Rice University. Congratulations, future Owl!
Kevin, who hails from Brooklyn, NY, worked with IvyWise counselor Christine G. during the admissions process. He wrote this early in his senior year:
The most challenging part of preparing for college has been discovering what I really want my college experience to be like. I had to consider various factors such as costs, distance from home, and the availability of clubs that align with my interests.
Another significant challenge was writing the college essays. At first, I didn’t know how different they were from the academic essays I was used to writing. College essays require a more personal touch, focusing on my experiences, motivations, and aspirations.
I chose to work with IvyWise because of their extensive experience in guiding first-generation students like myself through the college admissions process. My IvyWise counselor has been incredibly helpful in discovering more college options that would be a great fit for me. She has also encouraged me to become a more competitive applicant by taking AP classes such as AP Calculus, which is often required by top colleges.
One of the most valuable pieces of advice I’ve received is to address the “so what?” question throughout my personal statement. This advice has helped me clarify my motivations behind my activities or actions, allowing the reviewer to better understand me and see how I can fit into their college.
To students preparing for college, my advice is to find an activity you truly enjoy and describe it in your applications. Reflect on why you enjoy it and whether you want to continue it in college. This will help you present a clear and passionate story to admissions committees.
Additionally, keep a journal of your day-to-day experiences. This will help you quickly recall eventful moments that have changed you or taught you something valuable, which can come in handy when writing your personal statement.
Congratulations to Kevin, who received acceptances from Rutgers, Stevens Institute of Technology, SUNY Stony Brook, Drexel University, Hunter College, Pace University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and SUNY Binghamton. He will attend Stony Brook this fall.
Data, I discovered, has the power to tell the haunting and poignant stories that society tends to overlook. In college, I plan to major in data science, possibly with a minor in economics or Latin American studies. Preparing for the college admissions process has been challenging, particularly due to the accompanying uncertainty that can induce stress and anxiety. However, I’ve found joy in working on my supplemental essays, viewing each prompt as an opportunity for creative expression. Creative writing has been a means of catharsis throughout my high school years.
I was initially interested in working with IvyWise because of their unwavering commitment to promoting higher education among students from backgrounds similar to mine. My IvyWise counselor, Kimberly, has been an incredible source of support. Her guidance and feedback on my writing have been invaluable. Kimberly encourages me to think expansively and has helped me craft compelling essays for both my supplementals and my Common App. She’s also provided crucial assistance with scholarship applications. The most significant advice Kimberly has offered is to present multiple dimensions of myself through my writing, avoiding a one-dimensional portrayal.
Since beginning the college application journey, I’ve embraced a growth mindset, allowing me to learn from setbacks that would have previously discouraged me. My advice to younger students embarking on this journey is to stay true to themselves and unapologetically pursue their interests, even if they diverge from the norm. I often live by the saying “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Everyone’s journey is different, and that individuality is what makes each of us special.
We’re so proud of you, Nashla, and we hope you are enjoying your time at Yale.
Here at IvyWise, we never get tired of watching our Scholars achieve their college admissions goals.
Want to know more about our IvyWise Scholars program?
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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 Benson, a gifted student from Louisiana, to learn more about his college admissions journey, what it’s like to work with IvyWise during this process, and get some of his college prep advice for other students.
