Admissions Consulting Case Studies
How They Got In: Explore Success Stories by Category
Explore real student case studies and see how PrepScholar’s expert guidance helped them craft standout applications, overcome challenges, and secure admissions to top colleges.
Case Study #1 – Kevin L.
From Unfocused to Ivy League – How Strategic Positioning Helped a Student Gain Admission to U Penn
Challenges:
Weak extracurriculars
Unfocused application narrative
Outcome:
ED Acceptance to U Penn’s Huntsman Program
Client profile
When this student from a private high school came to us in July after his junior year, he had strong academics but lacked the kind of standout extracurricular achievements that top-tier schools expect. His activities included Scouts of America, orchestra, and a past role as class vice president, but he had no major leadership positions, awards, or research experience. His ultimate goal was ambitious: gaining admission to U Penn’s Huntsman Program, one of the most competitive dual-degree programs in the country, combining international studies and business at Wharton.
Changes Made Through Consulting
Recognizing that his application lacked a compelling narrative, we built his candidacy around an international outlook and a service-oriented mindset. His year abroad in Italy became a central theme, reframing him as a globally minded student with real-world exposure to international affairs. His leadership in Scouts of America was positioned as a reflection of his commitment to service beyond just local engagement. To further strengthen this narrative, we helped him secure an internship with a U.S. Senator, giving him direct experience in policy and governance, and advised him to start the largest club at his school, demonstrating initiative and leadership in a tangible way.
To bolster his academic profile, we guided him into an engineering research program at a local university, adding a research component to his resume. Since he was targeting highly competitive programs, we also recommended a flexible major strategy, shifting between history, philosophy, international business, and global studies depending on the school to maximize his chances.
His essays ultimately became his strongest differentiator. He crafted a compelling personal story about overcoming adversity, tying it to his global perspective and leadership growth.
Outcome
With this comprehensive strategy, he was accepted early decision to UPenn’s Huntsman Program. In just a few months, he transformed from an unfocused applicant into a standout candidate with a clear, compelling identity.
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Case Study #2 – Deepak T.
Beyond Grades: How a Passion for Economics Opened Doors
Challenges:
“A” student lacking extracurricular impact
Difficulty staying on track with essay revisions
Outcome:
ED admission to NYU Stern and EA acceptance to University of Michigan
Client Profile
Deepak attended a public charter high school and came to us in the spring of his junior year already having a strong academic foundation—a 4.0 unweighted GPA, a 1570 SAT, and 11 AP courses by junior year. He was interested in finance, business, and economics, aiming for top undergraduate business schools.
Changes Made Through Consulting
Beyond academics, he had solid but underdeveloped extracurriculars: he was an Eagle Scout, the tutoring chair for NHS, and had worked on an economics research project. But merely participating wouldn’t be enough. We advised him on how to “10x his impact”—instead of just being involved, he needed to create tangible, measurable results. We encouraged him to submit his research to journals, take on a leadership role mentoring younger Scouts, and set clear goals for growing NHS tutoring participation at his school.
To further differentiate his passion for economics, we helped him launch a YouTube channel where he explained complex economic concepts in creative ways, making him a unique voice in an academic space. He also applied to multiple summer programs, ensuring he had a well-structured Plan A, B, and C in case of rejections. Ultimately, he secured a competitive AI learning program and an internship, adding layers to his finance-and-tech profile.
One of his biggest hurdles was his essays—despite revisions, he often rewrote them or veered off course. We worked intensively to help him frame his Eagle Scout experience as a powerful diversity story, highlighting how he connected with peers from different socioeconomic backgrounds and saw firsthand the impact of income inequality in Arizona.
Outcome
With a more refined narrative, a stronger leadership presence, and standout essays, he earned Early Decision admission to NYU Stern and Early Action acceptances at Michigan Ross and Indiana Kelley. More than just gaining admission, he left the process with greater confidence in his ability to create meaningful impact—an essential mindset for success in business.
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Case Study #3 – Cindy Z.
A Rapid Transformation: How a Last-Minute Overhaul Led to Columbia & Barnard
Challenges:
Late start
“A” student without a clear diffentiator
Outcome:
ED acceptance to Columbia and Barnard
Client Profile
Cindy attended a public charter school and had a 4.0 unweighted GPA (4.7 weighted) and a 1460 SAT. Her extracurriculars were solid but not particularly unique. Initially, she lacked academic awards and had a generic sports essay, which wouldn’t stand out in Ivy League admissions. She applied Early Decision to Barnard/Columbia, but with a late start in October of senior year, she needed a fast but strategic overhaul.
Changes Made Through Consulting
PrepScholar focused on helping her craft a compelling personal narrative that would set her apart. Initially, she planned to write about being a volleyball captain, but we knew this wouldn’t create the depth Ivy League schools look for. Instead, through guided conversations, we uncovered a powerful and deeply personal story—her family’s forced displacement from Tibet and the role of resilience, culture, and Buddhism in their journey.
While there was a risk of focusing too much on her mother’s experiences, we helped her balance personal background with her own identity and aspirations. We encouraged her to tie this into her growing interest in psychology, specifically intergenerational trauma—a theme that had emerged in our discussions but that she had never considered as an academic pursuit. Through multiple essay revisions, we helped her structure a nuanced, emotionally resonant statement that remained focused on her own intellectual curiosity and ambitions.
To further reinforce her fit for Barnard, we guided her in crafting supplements that connected her interests to faculty research, particularly a Barnard/Columbia professor known for coining the term “intergenerational trauma”. This made her application feel highly tailored and showed a clear alignment between her passions and the university’s resources.
Outcome
She was accepted Early Decision to Barnard/Columbia, despite the competitive applicant pool. More than just an admission, she gained clarity in her academic direction, realizing her interest in psychology, mental health, and research on trauma. The process was transformative—not just for her application, but for her confidence in sharing her unique story in a way that resonated with admissions officers.
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Case Study #4 – Hamad A.
Overcoming Setbacks: The Journey from an Average Applicant to a Full-Ride BU Admit
Challenges:
“B” Student
Weak extracurriculars
Appealed college rejection
Outcome:
Admitted ED to Boston University
Secured full-ride Merit Scholarship to BU
Client Profile
Hamad came to PrepScholar in July after his junior year facing multiple challenges. With a 3.6 GPA and an SAT score of 1210, his academic credentials were on the lower end for his target schools. His extracurricular profile was thin, consisting mostly of sports and short-term internships, without a clear focus or leadership roles. He was applying as a business major, with Boston University as his dream school and Bentley University as a favorite target. Adding to the stakes, he was competing for a prestigious Kuwait Government Merit Scholarship, which required acceptance to an approved list of universities.
Changes Made Through Consulting
Given his late start and underdeveloped profile, PrepScholar focused on building a cohesive and compelling narrative to make him stand out among business applicants. First, we helped him refine and expand his extracurriculars, ensuring they aligned with a central theme of corporate finance and sustainability—a unique angle that set him apart. He also developed a passion project, giving him a tangible leadership experience that reinforced his business acumen.
To further strengthen his application, we secured a finance-focused internship and guided him in boosting his GPA from 3.4 to 3.8+ by strategically choosing rigorous but manageable coursework. Since his essay writing skills were a major roadblock, we dedicated multiple sessions to brainstorming, structuring, and refining his personal statement and supplements, ultimately crafting a polished and authentic narrative.
The final challenge came when Boston University initially rejected him due to a transcript error from his school. Instead of accepting defeat, we worked with him to appeal the decision, ensuring BU received the correct documents and reconsidered his application.
Outcome
His persistence paid off—Boston University reversed its decision, admitting him Early Decision. He also gained acceptance to Bentley University and secured the Kuwait Government Merit Scholarship, which will fully cover his BU education. Beyond admissions success, he gained stronger organizational skills, improved time management, and confidence in his ability to overcome challenges—a skill set that will serve him well in business and beyond.
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Case Study #5 – Nick R.
From an Empty Resume to NYU ED: The Power of a Strong Personal Narrative
Challenges:
Lacked a clear personal narrative
Weak extracurriculars
Outcome:
Accepted ED to his dream Philosophy program at NYU
Client Profile
This student at a public high school had a 3.98 weighted GPA and a 1340 SAT, but because his score wasn’t competitive for his target schools, we advised him to apply test-optional. His coursework included a mix of AP and IB classes, but his only major extracurricular was Boy Scouts, where he earned the Eagle Scout rank. He was deeply passionate about philosophy and aimed for NYU or BU Early Decision, but his application lacked a clear narrative. More critically, his writing—though full of advanced ideas—struggled with structure and clarity, making it difficult to convey his intellectual depth effectively.
Changes Made Through Consulting
With limited time to build additional extracurricular activities, PrepScholar focused on positioning his love for philosophy as his strongest asset. His ability to engage deeply with complex texts set him apart, but his initial essays failed to translate this into a compelling personal story. We spent weeks exploring different angles, ultimately developing an essay that examined the nature of intelligence through the lens of Camus, Kant, and Kierkegaard.
While his first drafts leaned too heavily on abstract theory, we guided him to connect philosophy to his personal experiences, illustrating how these ideas shaped his worldview and decision-making. By refining his structure and focusing on intellectual leadership rather than traditional leadership roles, we helped him craft a personal statement that was analytical yet deeply personal—one that demonstrated his curiosity and ability to apply philosophical reasoning to real-world challenges.
For his NYU supplement, we ensured he clearly articulated why their philosophy program was the right fit, making a strong case for his academic alignment with their faculty and curriculum. Given his lack of conventional extracurriculars, his ability to showcase his intellectual depth through writing became the defining factor in his application.
Outcome
He was accepted Early Decision to NYU, a competitive outcome given his limited extracurricular profile and test optional application. Through our work together, he not only strengthened his application but also gained confidence in his writing and analytical abilities, demonstrating that depth of thought and a well-crafted narrative can be just as impactful as a long list of activities.
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Case Study #6 – Julia K.
From Poland to Berkeley: An International Student’s Path to Success
Challenges:
International student – Lack of familiarity with U.S. admissions
Unclear major and career path
Outcome:
Admitted to UC Berkeley / Sciences Po Dual Degree Program
Client Profile
A Polish student at a private IB school, she had a 1500 SAT and a strong extracurricular record, including volunteering at refugee assistance centers, organizing climate protests, and founding a student council. However, she was unfamiliar with the U.S. college admissions process, had no clear major or career path, and struggled to find a cohesive theme for her application essays. Confident in her options within Europe, she only applied to U.S. Top 30 schools, with UC Berkeley as her dream school.
Changes Made Through Consulting
PrepScholar played a critical role in shaping her college strategy, helping her identify a compelling academic path, build a well-balanced school list, and navigate the complexities of U.S. admissions. Through deep discussions, we discovered a natural through line in her experiences—she was deeply engaged with migration issues, political activism, and cultural preservation, but had never considered how they could translate into an academic and career trajectory. We guided her toward International Relations, Political Science, and History as strong major choices, aligning with her passions and future aspirations.
We also helped her strategically position her extracurriculars. Rather than viewing them as separate activities, we framed them as a single, impactful story of international policy and social justice. She initially questioned whether her role as a historical monument tour guide was relevant, but we helped her see how it contributed to her broader interest in cultural diplomacy and governance. Additionally, we advised her to expand her global engagement through language immersion in French and German, reinforcing her commitment to international affairs.
Her essays required a transformational shift—she needed to move from describing experiences to demonstrating intellectual curiosity and future impact. Through structured brainstorming and feedback, we helped her articulate how growing up in Poland, witnessing the rise of far-right politics, and working with refugees shaped her ambition to work in policy and international cooperation.
Outcome
She was admitted to the UC Berkeley / Sciences Po Dual Degree Program with a focus on international migration, a program perfectly aligned with her aspirations. More than just gaining admission, she discovered a clear academic and professional direction, realizing that her activism, leadership, and love for history could fuel a meaningful career in international policy.
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