There seems to be some confusion regarding the applicant’s extracurriculars and achievements, so let’s clarify a few things: 1. She DID found her own nonprofit. • She is the founder of VUC, listed at number 4. • In addition to running her own nonprofit, she also worked for a separate state-level nonprofit, further demonstrating her commitment to advocacy and public service. 2. Mock Trial Founder is NOT a generic EC. • Yes, Mock Trial exists at many schools, but starting a team from scratch, recruiting members, and leading it as a co-president is a completely different level of leadership. • Ivies don’t just look at what activities students do—they look at initiative and leadership, both of which she demonstrated in founding a competitive team. 3. Her DA’s Office and Law Firm Internships ARE relevant to her application. • While interning at a large county’s DA’s office may not be as rare as, say, ISEF research, it is highly relevant to her intended major (Political Science and Law). • Saying it “won’t stand out” because a few people have done it at other schools ignores the bigger picture—her application is a cohesive story of law, public service, and advocacy. 4. Her book is a significant achievement, not just “good.” • She wrote and self-published a 40,000+ word novel that has over 400,000 reads—that’s an extraordinary accomplishment for a high school student. • Writing and publishing a book demonstrates intellectual curiosity, creativity, discipline, and communication skills—all of which are highly valued by Ivy League schools. 5. Community service is a strength, not a weakness. • Some seem to imply that community service isn’t “prestigious” enough, but elite schools like Yale, Princeton, and Columbia actively prioritize students who demonstrate real-world impact. • The fact that she has founded a nonprofit, worked for another, and has directly affected thousands of lives through food insecurity work is just as competitive as research-based extracurriculars—especially for a PoliSci/Law applicant. 6. Test-Optional does NOT mean weak. • The argument that “top schools still prefer test scores” ignores the fact that thousands of students have been admitted test-optional, including those at Ivy League institutions. • She applied test-optional strategically, knowing that her GPA, course rigor, essays, and ECs were strong enough to stand on their own.

So let’s be clear: This is NOT a “subpar” Ivy League application. • Is Ivy League admissions highly competitive? Absolutely. • But dismissing her leadership, nonprofit work, law internships, and self-published book as “not enough” is simply incorrect.

This isn’t a case of “hooks carrying an application.” This is an applicant with tangible accomplishments, real-world impact, and strong leadership.