Case Study ·

Accepted to
Cornell University

Digital Humanities
Julia started in 10th grade, torn between social science and computer science. Joining the two through digital humanities and her own immigrant stories website led to Cornell, Early Decision.
Smiling student

About Julia

Application Persona · the theme that tied it all together

“Digital historian working to share immigrant stories through innovation and technology”

Started
10th grade
From
Virginia
GPA
92.65 / 100 unweighted
Test score
SAT 1500

Challenges and Activities: Before and After

Where Julia started
Where Julia finished
Torn between two fieldsFelt she had to pick social science or computer science
Digital humanitiesBoth interests joined to study immigration
Familiar activitiesModel UN and Robotics, like many classmates
Immigrant stories websiteHer own platform, first on her activities list
Interest without experienceCared about immigration issues
Volunteer and certifiedImmigrant resource center; oral history certifications from Harvard and Baylor
Choosing an early schoolWeighing UVA and Cornell for Early Decision
Cornell, Early DecisionCollege of Arts and Sciences, Science and Technology Studies

How did InGenius Prep Help?

A Brown University Former Admissions Officer and a Dartmouth Graduate Coach worked with Julia 2-on-1 from 10th grade through the application.

  1. 10th grade

    One plan, two interests

    Getting-to-know-you exercises showed her passion for immigration. The team set a goal: a digital humanities project sharing immigrant stories.

    Through Candidacy Building
  2. 11th grade

    Building the project

    She volunteered at an immigrant resource center, earned oral history certifications and joined the Leadership & Innovation Lab to interview immigrants.

    Through Leadership & Innovation Lab
  3. Summer

    College road trip

    Her Graduate Coach built a guide profiling every college on the family's summer road trip.

  4. 12th grade

    Early Decision to Cornell

    She launched her website, wrote her personal statement on cyberpunk and applied Early Decision to Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences.

    Through Application Counseling

Questions About This Case

Why did Julia apply Early Decision to Cornell instead of UVA?

Cornell was her top choice, and the team used the Early Decision round to show that commitment.

Why didn't she apply to Cornell's College of Human Ecology?

Her Former Admissions Officer saw that her experience fit the College of Arts and Sciences far better, so she applied there to study Science and Technology Studies.

What was her personal statement about?

Cyberpunk, a science fiction subgenre. It let her connect technology and the social sciences in a personal way.

What did she do in the Leadership & Innovation Lab?

She interviewed immigrants in her local community for her capstone project and shared their stories on a website she built.

One honest conversation.
That's how it begins.

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