Social Sciences

Student Wang, Wenzhou

1420

SAT

110

TOEFL

Admissions

Cornell University Columbia University

Final test scores: SAT 1420, TOEFL 110
Admissions: Cornell University (that year’s lowest-SAT Ivy League undergraduate admission nationwide)

Planning began in the first semester of grade 11
- A student from a regular Chinese high school with no tradition of sending students abroad
- Little time and a lot to do, so precise positioning was essential
Summer school strategy
- Planned and supported applications to American-style university summer schools in China
- Helped obtain a professor’s recommendation letter to make up for the school’s limited track record
Activity design
- Helped find a nonprofit organization to work with
- Connected the activity to the student’s strengths, creating a distinctive application profile
Development after admission
- Advised on choosing a major, and the student settled on computer science
- Supported the master’s application, leading to admission to Columbia University’s master’s program in finance

A classic case of high admission with low scores, showing that sound planning and precise positioning can make up for weaker test scores.