TRUTH MATTERS… Donate to support excellence in student journalism
As she stepped onto the hallowed grounds of Harvard University, Ms. Aditi Doshi felt a mix of excitement and trepidation, eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in the Ivy League.
The Ivy League schools, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford and Columbia, are known for their rigorous academic programs, world-class research facilities and programs and, most notably to prospective students, their extreme selectivity.
In 2022, Cornell University had the highest Ivy League acceptance rate at 7.5%, while Harvard’s was lowest at 3.2%.
For history teacher Ms. Aditi Doshi and recent graduate Sean Kim, gaining acceptance to an Ivy League school represented a significant personal achievement.
History teacher Ms. Doshi achieved her dream of attending one of the world’s most renowned institutes of higher learning, Harvard University, to pursue her bachelor’s degree in history.
Due to her own discipline, Ms. Doshi aspired to pursue a challenging education post-high school, as she felt her prior schooling lacked rigor.
At Harvard, she received the level of rigor she desired and openly allowed her to explore her interests. She realized that STEM wasn’t suited to her interests and took a new interest in the social sciences.
“As a senior, I took every AP class that my school offered, which wasn’t that many,” Ms. Doshi said. “My high school had a total of eight AP classes that they offered, and I took all of them, but I never really felt like I was getting a super rigorous education, and that was later confirmed.”
Throughout high school, she involved herself with the highest level of rigor that her school offered and was a member of her school’s Key Club, along with taking part in many community service clubs.
Outside of school, she had exposure to college-level research through the completion of a summer research program at Brandeis University and Drexel University. This all followed the interest that she initially had in STEM.
To achieve her goal of going to Harvard, it was crucial that she stand out on her application and leave an impression on the admissions committee.
It was her involvement, academic discipline and well-structured writing that Ms. Doshi believes allowed her to stand out in her college application.
“I made sure that I had a really detailed resume that included every single thing I did in and out of school,” she said. “Every single volunteer activity, community service activity or leadership position, just so the college would get a complete picture of who I was as a student. Every single optional essay that was offered, I answered it, and I just gave them all the information possible about myself and my goals.”
Class of 2024 valedictorian Sean Kim felt the same way. He believed that the time he spent writing his essays, which he thinks truly revealed his character, was what secured his admission to his Ivy League dream school, Brown University.
“In terms of what made me stand out, I think it was the diversity of my profile, considering it wasn’t just academics,” he said. “I also think my essays were a strong point. I did more than just say what I did.”
Kim emphasizes the importance of showcasing personality through the essays, alongside academic achievements.
He also suggests that applicants do not have their goals set towards an institution purely because of its selectiveness. While Ivy’s are known for being the greatest universities to attend, they might not be the right fit for all students.
“Don’t be too hung up on a single school,” he said. “Many people tend to beat themselves up over something out of their control. Furthermore, have some foresight. Consider where you may end up going, because I never even saw other schools as an option.”
