Amnesty Int’l Rocks! (a Columbia University Success Story)
We’re big supporters of Amnesty International at IvyZen. Our students have started over 50 student chapters across the globe over the past 10 years and have collectively gathered over 10,000 signatures for more than a hundred political action campaigns! Today’s post talks about Amnesty International and the amazing work they do. In addition, we present a…
A Columbia Success Story: Creating a Unique and Compelling Theme
Creating a Unique & Compelling Theme for Ivy League Admissions Success + Columbia U Success Story If you have read our article about the Hedgehog concept for Ivy League admissions, then you already know what makes the IvyZen approach unique in the field of Ivy League admissions consulting. I’m talking, of course, about the concept of…
Why being Well-Balanced is a Negative Approach: A University of Pennsylvania Success Story
Theme vs. Well-Balanced Many consultants, high school teachers, counselors and parents think that because happiness in life requires a well-balanced approach, so success in college admissions does as well. Not so. This philosophy has been around for a long time but died years ago as admissions applications increased and admissions committees permanently changed the way…
How to Create a Research Leader Theme: A Stanford Success Story
I reluctantly took the meeting with David’s mom. While many consultants try to take 20-30 students a year, I focus on taking 8-9 of the very best students I can find. Students whom I can help and that will work hard towards goals we both develop. I was already at my 8th student so I was…
How to Create a Computational Biology Theme: A Stanford, Caltech Success Story
Richard was a biology super star at his school. He was the top student in the Biology Olympiad since the 9th grade at his school and recently qualified as a USABO finalist. He had attended a Catholic boarding school on the East Coast since the 6th grade and had been able to maintain a cumulative GPA of…
A Caltech Success Story: How to Create a Number Theory Theme
I met Matthew through a referral from a previous student’s mother, and from the first time I met him, I knew that he was a math guy. In my initial consultation with him, I noticed how each of his answers were calculated and rational, and judging by his appearance, he definitely wasn’t the artistic type….
How to Create a Political Activism Theme: A Columbia, UPenn, Brown, UChicago Success Story
Brian is a student that is hard not to love. He’s very well spoken, confident, and knowledgeable about many political issues.When he told me that he was both Model United Nations and student council president at his school, I wasn’t surprised; he had a polish to him that was rare at his age. For those…
A Columbia Success Story: How to Create a Creative Writing Theme for Your College Application
Charles came to us a gifted student who was doing well at school. Starting his 10th grade at an academically rigorous boarding school, Charles was a good student with a 3.7 GPA (unweighted) and working towards strong SAT scores. Activity-wise he was spread out among lots of different activities. When asked which one he liked…