Case Study ·

Accepted to
Tufts University

Business and Social Impact
Ethan started with no clear interests and a GPA below the Tufts average. Tutoring, nonprofit work and a Yale research mentorship showed he liked helping others, and he was admitted to Tufts Early Decision.
Smiling student

About Ethan

Application Persona · the theme that tied it all together

“Aspiring social impact entrepreneur”

Started
10th grade
From
Shanghai, China
GPA
3.48 / 4.0
Test score
ACT 33

Challenges and Activities: Before and After

Where Ethan started
Where Ethan finished
No clear interestsFree time went mostly to video games
Found he liked helping othersThrough tutoring and nonprofit work with children
Nonprofit volunteerHelping young children with polio
Outreach OfficerReached out to sponsors and recruited volunteers
GPA below the Tufts average3.48 on a 4.0 scale
Yale research mentorshipPsychology and statistics project with a postdoctoral fellow
No school listUnsure where he wanted to go
Tufts, Early DecisionChosen after research and campus visits

How did InGenius Prep Help?

A University of Virginia Former Admissions Officer and a Yale University Graduate Coach worked with Ethan 2-on-1 from 10th grade through the application.

  1. 10th grade

    Finding his interests

    Worksheets on how he spent his time and what he did not want to do. Practice tests pointed him to the ACT.

    Through Candidacy Building
  2. 11th grade

    Building the profile

    Nonprofit outreach, two years of weekly tutoring and a Yale psychology research mentorship.

    Through Academic Mentorship
  3. Summer

    Shaping the persona

    A Graduate Coach from Yale joined. The team combined helping others with business and data: social impact entrepreneur.

  4. 12th grade

    Tufts, Early Decision

    Personal statement drafts, a focused Tufts supplement, interview prep and a final review before submitting.

    Through Application Counseling

Questions About This Case

How did Ethan get into Tufts with a 3.48 GPA?

His ACT of 33, five AP scores of 5 and a Yale research mentorship showed he was ready for college-level work.

What if a student has no clear interests?

Ethan's Former Admissions Officer asked what he did not want to do, then built on what he enjoyed: tutoring and helping children.

What was his Application Persona?

Aspiring social impact entrepreneur, which combined his wish to help others with his interest in business and data.

Why did he apply Early Decision to Tufts?

Tufts was on his list from early on. He loved the school, and his counselors saw it as a good academic and social fit.

One honest conversation.
That's how it begins.

Every student works 2-on-1 with a Former Admissions Officer and a Graduate Coach.