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不是鼓励一定要让孩子上名校。是要了解他们是怎样成长的。学习固然重要，但社会实践，特殊才艺，公益活动。都是不可或缺的。 这些孩子有不少是移民的后代。他们的家庭并不富裕。但他们做到了。 Vietnamese refugee honoring her mother 
Background: "I came to America in 2001 as a refugee from Vietnam. I was 3 and didn't speak any English. My grandfather fought in the Vietnam War with American soldiers and was imprisoned for many years for doing so. As soon as we came here, we were in debt because the plane ticket wasn't free. In third grade, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be. I said I wanted to be president and go to an Ivy League. Now I know I can't be president because I wasn't born here, but I want to be Secretary of State." How I did it: "I've done so much to really brand myself and make myself very distinctive so that I would be competitive and marketable to the Ivy League. My freshman year, I joined Occupy Utica. When I was 13, I organized my first rally around budget time in New York, protesting the lack of funding my school district was receiving. I was really passionate about it because public education got me to where I am. It hurts my heart that other kids are denied the opportunities I had to succeed. Since then, I've been the poster child for the movement and one of the key members of it. We held a huge rally this year and 1,500 people came. After that rally I was approached by the New York chapter of the ACLU. They asked me to be on their board at 13. I was also part of a youth delegates to the U.N. It hasn't just been doing these big things. It's been countless hours tutoring kids from one of the inner-city elementary schools, stocking shelves at the library." Test scores and grades: "I did really well in school but to be really honest with you, my test scores were not fantastic. They were below average for all the schools. My SAT was off by 100 points and ACT was off by 1 point. It's a testament to how holistic the admissions are supposed to be." What pushed me: "My mom doesn't have a higher education degree. She's a factory worker. She's happy with what she does but I've always wanted more for her. She's an amazing and brilliant woman, she has such a sharp mind. I can only imagine what she would do if she had the chance to get an education here. I've always understood the sacrifices she's had to make. She always told me, 'if you don't do well in school, you're going to live like me and work and work and work.' I don't take what I have lightly. I live in the poorest part of Utica. It's an area where people lock their doors when they're driving by. I've been cognizant of the stereotypes and I really wanted to break the mold. There were moments where I was ashamed. I've learned that where you come from is very important, but it doesn't dictate where you go. Succeeding for me is not about comfort. It's about survival. It's about putting a roof over my mother's head when she's old. The hunger for the American dream is different." When I found out: "My first thought: I was the first person to graduate high school in my family. I got into all 11 schools I applied to."
Daughter of convicted felon and teen mom wanting success
Background: "My mom is a second generation teen mom. My dad was a five-time convicted felon on charges of possession with intent to sell cocaine. When I was born, he was on house arrest. That's had a profound effect on my development. My dad was the one who really talked about the Ivy League for me. My parents got me into a great school district. They started their own small business. As I was able to see their successes, I was able to see myself through their eyes. My story was different than my peers'. People who apply to Yale have privileged backgrounds, their parents went to these schools and they wanted this all their life. My parents struggled to get high school diplomas. It's a really big deal that they've given me a life that I can flourish in." How I did it: "I was a competitive swimmer for four years. We just won state championships. I'm a long distance freestyler. I volunteer at the YMCA and I work as a lifeguard there. After my college tours last year, especially as a first generation college student, I found out a lot of things that would have helped me when I was younger. For example, a lot of people don't know about the grant programs that make the process more affordable. So I started a program for academically promising freshman and sophomores at my school, where we match them up with older mentors who have been through it. We meet biweekly and talk everything they need to know about the process, like standardized testing and activities." Test scores and grades: "I have a 3.98 GPA. I got a 34 on my ACT and a 2140 on my SAT. When people ask me about my test scores, they don't understand that it's more of a holistic process now. You have to have what my mom calls the 'it' factor." What pushed me: "It's definitely my parents I'm doing this for. I applied to six colleges, and got waitlisted at Harvard. My parents were just so excited that I wasn't flat out denied. When I opened the Yale news, my parents started crying. It was a mess. It's a really cool thing to get to experience with them, knowing how much they went through to get me to where I am."
Debate champion and start-up founder sets the bar
How I did it: "I got really involved in a couple of things early and stuck with them. One of the biggest is debate. I'm ranked number one in the country in high school Congressional Debate. I started freshman year because my mom told me I'm really good at arguing with her. It requires knowing a lot about everything, because you don't know the topics ahead of time. So most of my days are spent reading what's going on in the world so I know every subject area that could possibly ever be talked about. This actually helped me in my interviews with Ivy schools. In one of my interviews, we had a good hour-and-a-half-long discussion about Obamacare, foreign policy, savings plans. By reading so much, I felt I could engage in a breadth of knowledge. The second thing was that I applied to a program in my high school that's basically like pre-pre-med when I was in 8th grade. You still have normal classes with everyone else, but you have one or two classes, like medical terminology or AP biology, that are tied to the program. It's a more rigorous course load. I've always loved computers. I built my first one in 7th grade. I worked at Staples fixing them. Through my school program, I got to intern with doctors, and I realized how badly their technology needs were being met. So I founded a company, which is basically I.T. for medical practices. It started with a lot of cold-calling and walking into doctors' offices, getting past the stigma of being 18 and asking doctors to trust me." Test scores and grades: "I got a 35 on my ACT and a 2270 on my SAT. Good scores aren't the end-all be-all, but it helps admissions officers keep their eyes on your application a second or two longer. I may not have paid as much attention to my school work as I could have. Our school is about 700 kids. I applied with a rank of 29. Nothing spectacular." What pushed me: "My parents are first generation Indian immigrants. They had always pushed me to go into medicine. My uncle really started a fire in me, though. I'd always been kind of a smart kid. When I was about 7, two of my uncles were talking, and one said, 'he's super smart, he may be the first one in our family to go to Harvard.' The other uncle said, 'he's smart, but not Harvard smart.' That's always stuck with me. I have a bar to beat. I have a standard to reach. It's a lot of self-motivation. No one can make you study, no matter how much parents badger you. It's a lot of forethought when it comes to getting into an Ivy and kids who think about this early are at an advantage. I was able to do that."
Horse lover inspired to find a cure
Background: "I've always been that horse kid. I've been riding since I was 5 and I've been following horse racing closely my whole life. When I was 9, it was the year Barbaro was in the Kentucky Derby and I fell in love with him and his talent. When he broke one of his legs, I was sobbing for hours and hours. They took him to the Penn vet hospital. He later developed a foot disease called Laminitis that there's no concrete cure for. He ended up dying. I was really affected by that. I've wanted to go to Penn ever since." How I did it: "When I got to high school I applied to my school's science research program. I knew right away that I wanted to study Laminitis, and maybe develop a cure. I got accepted and I've been researching this, working with teachers and researchers, since freshman year. I got the opportunity to go to a Laminitis conference in Florida in 2013. I got to meet all the top researchers. The head of the conference was kind enough to let me work for him at the Penn vet hospital. He hooked me up with the person who runs the Laminitis lab there. I worked with a couple of vet students, who all took me seriously. I got to live on the campus for 3 weeks and work a 9-5 job. Also, I've played tennis for school all four years. I'm also the captain of my school's ski team. I'm in a whole bunch of clubs -- the wellness advisory committee and a couple of charity clubs, as well as model U.N., Harvard Model Congress. I've always been the kind of kid who doesn't need a whole bunch of sleep. I don't know what I'd do if I did. I've pulled my fair share of all-nighters." Test scores and grades: "I've gotten mostly As in school. I was going to take the SAT and took it three times and never got the score I wanted. I then took the ACT and I got a 34. I took a total of 7 tests." When I found out: I applied early decision to Penn so I only applied to one school. When I found out, I was home alone. I cried, called my parents and changed my Facebook status."
Football superstar with a soft spot
How I did it: "I play football -- wide receiver. I'm going to be playing at Dartmouth. I've played my entire life. My dad played in high school, my grandfather played, my brothers played. It's something that we love to do and it's a passion of ours. A lot of people think [football] gets you into college, but at Dartmouth, I had to get in by myself. I have to really manage my time well to get my school work done and my other activities. I work out every single day. I also work at the Nike factory store, 5 p.m. to close. I'm in several clubs. I mentor little kids at the elementary school who may be struggling in school or at home. I'm also in the Varsity Club, which is the same thing for middle schoolers, but you have to be a varsity athlete to be a mentor. As much as the younger kids get out of it, I get out of it, too. We've all been there, and all had to fight through struggles. It's so great to feel like you're contributing to someone's life. It's something I hold dear to my heart. I'm highly motivated. There's always time during the school day to do homework. I make time in my day to get stuff done." Test scores and grades: "I get mostly As in school. I got a 2250 on my SAT." What pushed me: "Having such a close-knit family, making them proud drove me. My brother said something that resonated with me, that I could take our family name from being a middle-class family to an Ivy League name. Football has made me very competitive, as well. It's opened so many doors for me. The best thing was probably when I told the coach I'd be coming to Dartmouth, I looked over at my mom and she was bawling. That was one of the greatest moments of my life."
Texan golf standout with Nigerian roots
Background: "I grew up in Lagos and moved to Texas when I was in kindergarten. I wrote one of my college essays about my experiences in Lagos and coming to America. I wrote about going onto the bus and having a guy with an AK-47 on there with us. And I remember when I came to the U.S. and saw a grocery store for the first time. I completely freaked out." How I did it: "I think what set me apart is that I play varsity golf. I've played for 12 years. My dad got me into it when we came here. He liked the values of golf. He wanted us to learn how to win and lose. I also crochet. I sew infinity scarves and sell them on Etsy. I just started selling them and I've sold about 70. I've been making them since fifth grade." Test scores and grades: "I have all As. By the end of this year I'll have 14 AP credits. I don't get much sleep but I like what I'm doing so it's okay. I didn't have the best test scores. I got a 2120 on my SAT. I applied to 11 colleges. I got into 10. I didn't get into Harvard."
Tennessee's 'best dressed' wants more for himself
How I did it: "I've always taken rigorous courses, APs and such. I've been very involved with clubs, especially yearbook. My first year I was a section editor. My junior year I was co-editor. And as a senior I was editor-in-chief. As I moved up the totem pole, I started more with managing people and being a leader. I was devoted and it showed that I could move up and I wasn't just hanging around in the background. I also won Best Dressed in the superlatives. I campaigned a bit for it. It's important to be in clubs, but you can't be in every club if you have a job, and I work at a Subway." Test scores and grades: "I've gotten all As in high school. We just got our most recent grade card and I just made my first B. It was a 92%, though. I took the ACT and got 31. I thought that was okay because I hadn't planned on going to an Ivy League school, I was just going to go to University of Tennessee. I thought it would give me a scholarship. But I got some letters from Yale telling me about the school, that they had generous financial aid, and so I started to think I could make it happen. Then I took the test again and got a 32. I was able to have an interview with an alum and I think that really helped. I know that I have overcome things, but a big part of it is being able to meet someone in person to show them I'm normal, I can carry on a conversation and they can relay that to the admissions." Getting in: "I had a feeling about Yale from the very beginning. I told my mom and grandparents that I had a gut feeling that it would work out. I was expecting a letter, but I found out online. I'm a "Gilmore Girls" fan. I was thinking of Rory worrying if she would get a big package or a little package from schools. When it came time to check, I was shaking because I was so nervous. When I logged in, it popped up 'congratulations' and a video with the Yale song played. I sat there for a few seconds and said 'what the hell?' Then it sunk in. I called my grandmother and I started cry. I called my mom at work and she started to cry. I told her about the financial aid package and she started crying again." What pushed me: "I live in a pretty impoverished area. I looked around and I saw the regrets people had. I knew I didn't want that for myself. I'm the first in my family to go to a four-year college. I knew that I wanted more for myself."
Daughter of immigrants with big medical aspirations
Background: "My parents are from Brazil. My mother did go through a little bit of college in Brazil and my father never started high school. He came here to work, looking for a better life and both my parents have worked really hard." How I did it: "I've always had an interest in medicine, so junior year, I started interning at Boston Children's Hospital. My boss takes care of different culture aspects of the hospital. Being from Brazil, knowing people who have had to get a translator at the doctor, that invoked a passion in me to bridge cultural gaps and be able to provide the best care to people regardless of what language you speak and your cultural aspects. It melded both my passions of hospitals and cultures together. I think this stuck out on my application. I've always done sports. I went out for the track and soccer team. With the help of my coach, I rose to leadership quickly. I was track captain my sophomore year. It was weird to lead the seniors on my team. I've also had a love for theater and music. I sing for my church choir. I've been involved with my church group. Senior year, our school was doing 'The Jungle Book' as a winter play, and I got the part of Mowgli. We went to a theater competition and moved onto semifinals. I won acting awards. I've also been Vice President of my class all four years." Test scores and grades: "All throughout high school, I was a straight A student, until pre-calc came along junior year. I got my first B. I got over it. I decided to take AP calc anyway. I got a 2100 on my SAT. They're really good scores, but Harvard level are mostly perfect scores." What pushed me: "What set me apart is that because my parents were immigrants and had to be working so often that I had to be on my own. It made me independent. I had to motivate myself, and that's what really drove me. I also had amazing teachers who saw my potential early. Now my dad tells everyone he sees that I'm going to Harvard. My family in Brazil didn't know about the other schools but Harvard is the one name that everyone knows -- even my great aunt in a farm in Brazil. Everyone knew what it took to get there."
Viola prodigy who didn't give up
How I did it: "In second grade, I started playing the viola. One of my biggest accomplishments was that I've been in regionals every year I've been eligible, since 6th grade. I was selected to all states every year, too, since 9th grade. I started studying at the Hartt School for music at the University of Hartford. I have been in the first chair viola in their best orchestra. We play side-by-side with the professional orchestra in Hartford. In school, I was elected class president three times." Test scores and grades: "My cumulative GPA out of 100 is almost a 98. I don't think I've ever gotten anything under an A. I've taken 9 AP classes. I began studying for the SAT really early but wasn't getting the score I wanted. I made the decision to study for the ACT by myself. I told my parents to buy me a book and I studied the whole summer. I got a 34. I knew that would help me get into the Ivys." A set back: "I applied to Penn early decision and got deferred. I was heartbroken. But I knew there was still a chance, so I made sure to follow up with a letter to update them on what I was doing. I thought I wasn't going to get accepted, but when I opened the acceptance note, it was the most incredible feeling. I thought there was no chance at all. All my love for Penn just came back. I was ecstatic."
Future geophysicist shoots for the moon
How I did it: "I'm really interested in sciences. I'm planning on studying geophysics. I have been really active in Science Olympiad. I've been doing that since 9th grade. My team made it to nationals several times. We got the highest place for Hawaii ever. I'm also part of a project called MoonRIDERS at my school. We are partnered with NASA and PISCES to send a lunar dust experiment to the moon and recently completed testing of our Electrodynamic Dust Shield on the slopes of Mauna Kea, since the volcanic dust is very similar to lunar dust in size, geochemistry, and magnetic properties. When I was a sophomore I went to Japan and presented at the Japan Super Science Fair. We did a project on wave energy. Being in Hawaii, that was easy to test. We tested a turbine where water would wash into it and the mechanical energy would be converted into electrical energy. I got a job as a teaching assistant with a nonprofit that encourages under-resourced children to become interested in STEM while also teaching them about Hawaiian culture. I'm currently working at a local middle school. We're using Minecraft to teach them about coding, computers and Hawaiian culture. I also Science Bowl-- a quiz science competition. I've done student government every year and other service clubs. I don't like having that much free time because I get bored." Test scores and grades: "I think that it really helped that I managed to maintain all As. I got a 2320 on my SATs. I also tried to challenge myself in the courses I was taking. This year, I'm taking 6 AP courses and auditing another course, but it's not that bad. For the most part, I still go to sleep by 11." What pushed me: "I think my drive is both nature and nurture. My parents are very into education. [My father] said there's nothing else I'd rather spend money on than a good education. My school has been fantastic at instilling in me a drive and motivation to do well. I'm planning on studying geophysics, hopefully getting a PhD. I could see myself working or teaching at a university, or working at NOAA or the National Weather Service, or NASA if it's still around."
Inner-city kid wants to break down barriers
Background: "I'm a year younger than everyone in my grade, and I went to a boarding school in Connecticut my freshman year, but it wasn't a great experience. I'm from an inner-city neighborhood, so when I came back, I was really lucky to get into a program that takes students from one school district into a better one." How I did it: "I've always been involved in athletics -- cross country and track. Last year, I was accepted into National Honor Society. I'm the president of my school's Spanish club. I'm involved with my school's choir. I also volunteer at my church and help out at Sunday school, as well as being involved with the youth group there." Test scores and grades: "I've gotten mostly As. I'm really lucky to be in such an amazing school. I got a 2110 on my SAT. What pushed me: "I feel that there's a lot of negative stigma about being Puerto Rican in America and from an inner city. I have so much faith in where I've come from. Having been in Connecticut with people who were raised in suburban homes and lived amazing lives, I saw how they perceived where I came from and my culture. Since I've seen that, I wanted to change that perception. I haven't been given as much as a lot of students who are getting into these schools have. It's important that I can break down barriers and be among them. Now that I've been accepted to such an amazing school, it's opened so many doors for me."
Illustrator with sights set on visual arts
How I did it: "I play volleyball and I'm captain of my lacrosse team. I'm also on the debate team, in student government and I play three instruments -- piano, guitar and ukulele. I'm a freelance visual illustrator. I run a business where people can contact me if they want an illustration. It's mostly a lot of portraiture. I'm fascinated by human anatomy and faces. I like drawing scenes that tell a story and evoke emotions. I sent my portfolio to Penn. I want to study visual studies, because they have a really great program there, and I told them that." Test scores and grades: "I'm in the top 10 percent of my class. I got mostly As in school until I started taking IB classes junior year, when I got some Bs in those. My test scores are low. I guess I'm not a great test taker. I got a 28 on the ACT. I thought that would ruin any chance to get in. No one anticipated for me to get in. Statistically, everyone told me I was better off trying for my second choice. But I said I have to at least go for my dream. I was completely shocked. Our school never really has kids going off to the Ivy Leagues. We had two this year in my class, and we're both going to Penn."
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