Case Study ·

Accepted to
Stanford University

International Relations
Kate started the summer before 12th grade with test scores below Stanford’s 25th percentile. Her team built a global justice persona, she applied test-optional, and Stanford admitted her Restrictive Early Action.
Smiling student

About Kate

Application Persona · the theme that tied it all together

“Global justice advocate and community builder”

Started
12th grade
From
California
GPA
4.0 unweighted / 4.68 weighted
Test score
SAT 1360 / ACT 31

Challenges and Activities: Before and After

Where Kate started
Where Kate finished
Scores below Stanford's rangeSAT 1360 and ACT 31
Applied test-optionalHer record and essays carried the application
Many separate achievementsJournal, research coalition, Model UN, dance
One clear personaGlobal justice advocate and community builder
Dance apart from policyFolk dance seen as a side interest
Dance at the centerPersonal statement linked dance and international relations
Teacher letters onlyTwo classroom recommenders
Added a Stanford professorLetter from her Stanford online course

How did InGenius Prep Help?

A Smith College Former Admissions Officer and a Wellesley College Graduate Coach worked with Kate 2-on-1 from 12th grade through the application.

  1. Summer

    Getting to know her

    Her team learned about her youth advocacy journal with 60+ writers and her research coalition with 35+ members.

    Through Application Counseling
  2. Summer

    Persona and school list

    They chose the global justice persona and a balanced list, with Stanford as her Restrictive Early Action school.

  3. Fall

    Lists and letters

    Her activities and honors lists got line edits. She asked AP Biology and AP World History teachers and a Stanford professor for letters.

  4. Restrictive Early Action

    Final review

    The team reviewed the full application, then she applied to Stanford without test scores.

Questions About This Case

How did Kate get into Stanford with an SAT of 1360?

She applied test-optional, so her 4.0 GPA, her advocacy and research leadership, and her essays carried the application.

Why did she apply Restrictive Early Action?

Stanford was her first choice from the start, and applying Restrictive Early Action made that clear.

What was her Application Persona?

Global justice advocate and community builder.

What was her personal statement about?

Her love of traditional Bulgarian folk dance, which she teaches in her community, and how it connects to her interest in international relations.

One honest conversation.
That's how it begins.

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