When Priya joined Oriel Admissions as a rising ninth grader, she already had a spark. She had participated in Girls Who Code during middle school and knew that computer science was something she loved but like many high schoolers, she was not sure how to turn that early interest into a compelling story for college. She wanted to make a real impact, not just build a resume. What she needed was a roadmap.
Emma came to Oriel Admissions in her sophomore year with a goal of developing a cohesive story for her applications but more importantly, to discover opportunities for growth and personal development. Emma was already fairly involved in school but she was not sure if she was utilizing her time wisely. Already a mature and motivated student, she was looking for direction and a better understanding of how to prioritize her time and what other opportunities she was missing. Emma was academically strong and she enjoyed more of her studies but she did not have a clear favorite area of study. Additionally, she felt that she was at a disadvantage because she was coming from a high school with some oddities to their curriculum and they did not typically send students to Ivy league institutions, a point that she was particularly concerned about.
Gabriel approached Oriel Admissions in late summer, just ahead of his senior year. He had been working on his college list and his personal statement for many months. However, he was unsure if he had the right balance of colleges and if he should apply to any colleges during the Early Decision round. Gabriel was involved in a large number of activities at school but he needed guidance on how best to present them and what approach to take with his applications to increase his chances of success.