Finding a way to weave your interests, values, and extracurriculars into one cohesive story can be one of the most challenging parts of the college application process. With the support of College Solutions, Benjamin was equipped to craft an authentic and distinctive application that helped him stand out even at the most competitive schools on his college list.
In high school, Benjamin split his time between choir, tennis, and aviation, earning both his private pilot's license and instrument rating before senior year. He wondered how he could highlight his unique talents and extracurriculars in his applications, and sought out guidance from College Solutions. After seeing how College Solutions helped support his brother on his journey to UPenn, it felt natural for Benjamin to follow the same path.
When he began to make his college list, Benjamin considered and liked many schools, but one school stood out-a school that he worried was out of reach. "I knew UVA was probably a reach for me," Benjamin recalls. It was his older brother who pushed him to apply, reminding Benjamin that UVA had always been his dream. With the help of his counselor, Benjamin began to see how he could use his unique extracurriculars to craft a compelling narrative about his values.
From the beginning, Benjamin appreciated how personable and approachable the College Solutions team was. "I felt like I could truly just be open and be myself," he reflected. For his personal statement, Benjamin knew aviation would be central, but his counselor encouraged him to connect it to his faith. "She gave me the idea of talking about how being in the air draws me closer to God."
College Solutions also helped him show UVA what he's learned from his various passions. "I talked about being one of the only men in my choir, and about challenges I faced with my pilot test," Benjamin said.
Just as important was the extra push from his counselor to get his applications in early. College Solutions helped him create a clear summer timeline, and he was able to finish most of his applications before his senior year began. "I finished my Common App before August first and got a jump start on supplementals."
While deferred at first, Benjamin was excited to ultimately gain ED acceptance to UVA, a school that once seemed out of reach for him. Benjamin is one of many College Solutions students to be admitted to UVA; for the class of 2025, College Solutions clients were 2.5 times more likely than the general applicant pool to be admitted to UVA.
Now a first-year student, Benjamin has already thrown himself into the UVA community. He sings with the University Singers, plays club tennis, continues flying with a local flight school, and has joined the aviation club. "Everything I wrote about in my essays, I'm actually doing here. I think UVA admissions would be glad to see that."
"One of the most helpful things about working with College Solutions was having a set timeline. That was huge. It meant I could go into senior year focused on my grades, which ended up being really important since I was deferred from UVA at first. Honestly, if it wasn't for my counselor pushing me to get ahead, I probably wouldn't have gotten into UVA."
"I admire Benjamin because he stayed committed to his values. Benjamin knows himself so well-he really spent a great time of time and energy getting to know the colleges and determining how it would be a good fit for him. One of the most rewarding parts of my job at College Solutions is getting to know siblings from the same family. What makes Benjamin stand out, and what I admire most about him, is how he stuck to his guns throughout the whole college application process. In a world where it's easy for students to get swayed by what others think, Benjamin showed he knew himself. He's very aware of his interests, his strengths, and what he truly wants out of a college experience."
