Max was unsure about his interests and educational intentions. His love for animals led him to Chicago.

SITUATION

Max came to NEW IVIES in 9th grade. During our first few meetings with Max, getting a word out of him was difficult. As we tried to gauge his interests to zero in on a potential hook — and activities that he could get involved in throughout high school — he kept repeating the refrain, “I don’t know.” On his last utterance of this phrase, he began assuaging his anxieties by petting his dog. “Do you like animals?” we asked. Max’s face lit up. His hook would be animals.

Goal Schools

Duke University, University of Chicago, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University

CHALLENGES

Max was a bit stubborn, and despite our advice that he take BC Calculus as a junior and Multivariable Calculus as a senior, he hemmed and hawed and decided against it. He also didn’t take the SAT or ACT even though we told him that test-optional schools, all else being equal, would always favor students with excellent scores over students with no scores.

HOW New Ivies HELPED

Max didn’t listen to us on his math trajectory. And he didn’t listen to our advice on continuing to take the ACT after an early low score. But he did listen to us when it came to getting involved in the specific extracurricular activities we recommended he get involved in through high school, from herding cattle in a nearby town to working part-time at an animal shelter to researching the communication of ants. Max truly demonstrated his passion for the animal kingdom.

And Max listened to us on applying Early Decision to Chicago rather than Duke. While he liked both schools very much, he had a sibling at Chicago — which is always helpful in the Early round. We pushed him away from Duke towards Chicago.

But would his wow activities, storytelling, and awards be enough to overcome no SAT or ACT score and other limitations to his candidacy? (Note: Chicago was test-optional at the time of Max’s candidacy.)

COLLEGE RESULTS

Max earned Early Decision admission to other colleges. The cattle herder also earned Early Action admission to the University of Chicago, though he was bound for Chicago (which he preferred anyway!).