Hello! My name is Anna Praxedes, and I just got accepted into the University of Pennsylvania for the Class of 2029! Read my story to see how I did it.

My Background

Although I was born in Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo, I moved to Rio Preto around the transition from middle school to high school. I believe Rio Preto is what truly represents me. I grew up here, got to know the community, and feel deeply connected to this place.

Regarding my school, I studied at Colégio Intelectos, which isn’t part of a large school network but is a private school in my city. They gave me a scholarship and supported me with my application. In fact, when I attended YYGS in 2023, they even wrote me a letter of recommendation.

However, with Brazilian schools, you know how it is—they don’t always know how to handle the application process for studying abroad. I was the only student applying internationally, so my coordinator was a bit overwhelmed, like, "Oh my God, what is happening?" He didn’t fully understand the process, but he was always willing to help.

Studying Abroad: Why?

At first, I was just following the crowd. I started participating in Model UN in ninth grade, but once you enter that environment, everyone starts talking about applications—everyone wants to study abroad, everyone wants an international career. I thought, “Wow, this sounds really cool, so crazy, so different.”

By the end of my second year and the beginning of my third, when I had to apply for mentorship and fully commit to the process, I started recognizing the many opportunities that studying abroad could offer me. I want to study Political Science and Economics, fields that aren’t highly valued in Brazil, and I wouldn’t have nearly as many opportunities here as I would abroad.

Beyond academics, studying abroad also makes much more sense for me financially. I received a full scholarship covering tuition, housing, and meals—something that wouldn’t be possible in Rio Preto. Since there are no public universities here, I would have to move to another city, adding more financial costs.

But more than anything, it’s about the opportunities—both in terms of job prospects and work experience. Public policy is a field that’s much more valued abroad, and I want to spend my academic career working closely with people.

My reason to choose the U.S

During my first or second year, I considered studying in Europe or another country, but I never really took the time to research how to apply to those places. So, in a way, choosing the U.S. was more of an instinctive decision.

The U.S. places a strong emphasis on community, which is something I really value. The universities are excellent, I see many people going there, and I genuinely felt like I had a real chance. I also felt that my profile aligned well with what they were looking for. In the end, it just happened naturally.

Why the University of Pennsylvania

My story with UPenn is funny because at first I didn't want to apply there. But as I talked with one of my mentors, they said, “No, I think you really fit UPenn. You should apply there for Early Decision.” I thought, “Should I really do that? UPenn?” But then I sat down and decided to research the university and see what they had to offer. And that’s when I started to fall in love with it.

First, because they had the exact program I wanted, which is PPE—Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. It’s a combination of all three, and then you specialize in one of them. That was perfect for me. I also wanted to be in a big city, something like New York or Boston, because I had lived in small cities for most of my life. I really wanted a complete change, you know? I wanted to be in a big city and feel like a tiny ant in the middle of a crowd. And Philadelphia is huge, right? So that was a huge bonus.

Then, as I started researching more about the academic side and looking at the university’s profile, I really liked the infrastructure they offer. Everything is so modern and renewed, and they provide great support with dorms and meals. This was also important because I had an experience at YYGS, where I hated the dorms.

I also fell in love with their civic engagement program. They’re so connected with the community, which was something I really wanted. So, it was all these little things that, as I researched, started to align, and I thought, “Wow, this university really fits me. My gut feeling was right.” So, I applied Early Decision to Penn, and here we are now—accepted through ED.

Stats & Tips

My GPA was 9.6. As for my SAT score, I went test-optional, so I didn’t use it in my application. However, I did score 1420 on my last SAT in December, but I didn’t think it was really relevant, so I didn’t send it to Penn.

For the proficiency test, I took the Duolingo English Test and scored 140.

Regarding preparation tips, I believe that practice is key. For Duolingo, I kept taking their free practice tests. The score I needed for Penn was around 130–135, but I aimed for a higher score, so I took the test multiple times throughout the year. Eventually, when I took it for the last time with PrEP, I achieved the score I needed. It was all about consistent practice.

The same goes for the SAT. It’s a test where repetition helps you improve your score. At the start of the year, my score wasn’t increasing despite taking several tests, but by the end of the year, after more practice, I saw an improvement. It’s important to practice regularly and familiarize yourself with the SAT’s question patterns. The math section, in particular, isn’t too difficult because our high school math is much more advanced than what the SAT covers. However, the test is full of tricky questions, designed to mislead you. You need to be skilled at identifying those traps and understanding the question style.

For the English section, it’s the same principle. You need to practice a lot, especially by carefully reading the questions. The interpretation of questions in the Common App or College Board can sometimes be tricky, so you need to stay alert. I focused primarily on exercises for both English and math. In the Fundação Estudar mentoring program, we worked extensively on the College Board’s English question bank and completed all of it. We also did many math exercises, but we didn’t finish the entire math bank because it’s much larger. However, we covered everything in English. In the end, it’s all about consistent practice.

Extracurricular Activities

I served as a young councilwoman in my city for two years, attending City Hall meetings every month to discuss local issues and draft bills. This experience opened many doors for me, introducing me to various communities and deepening my connection to Rio Preto. Being involved with the City Council at such a young age led to numerous opportunities.

During this time, I visited Favela Marte, which is part of the Favela 3D project—Digital, Dignified, and Developed. I spent time volunteering with children there and learned about the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Additionally, I got involved with the Valkyrias project, which works with young girls, an area I’m passionate about. Through these experiences, I discovered several smaller social projects in the city, which I had the privilege of discussing at City Hall.

One of the projects we initiated through the City Council was a petition to establish a UFSCar campus in the northern part of Rio Preto, the poorest region, to promote economic development and make higher education more accessible to less privileged students. We also organized Rio Preto Model United Nations (MUN), the first MUN simulation in my city, in partnership with two local schools. It was incredible to meet so many people there, many of whom were interested in studying abroad.

What made this experience especially exciting was the role reversal I experienced. Before Rio Preto MUN, I had always been a delegate, simulating the conference. But in this event, I had the chance to be part of the organizing team, which was a truly rewarding experience. It was fulfilling to meet so many people from my city who shared a passion for international affairs, diplomacy, and higher education abroad. It’s often lonely when you’re applying to universities and pursuing these goals, feeling like you’re the only one in your city with these ambitions. But at Rio Preto MUN, I discovered a community of like-minded individuals, and it was incredibly inspiring.

Personal Statement: Rephrasing My Name

The process of writing my personal statement was challenging and very personal. I started by reflecting on my relationship with my surname, Praxedes, which was given to my family during the colonial period in Brazil. Back then, the surname was used as a symbol of possession, a mark of property placed on slaves by a Portuguese person. Initially, I wrote about the meaning of the name, mentioning that Praxedes has roots in Greek and means something like "call to action." However, the text lacked vulnerability and personal connection.

I then decided to shift the narrative and focus on the emotional impact this surname has on my life. The opening sentence of my personal statement reflects this idea: "I have a love and hate relationship with my surname Praxedes." This relationship of love and hate with my surname is deeply tied to experiences of violence that I witnessed, especially violence against women.

From there, I developed how these experiences motivated me to get involved with women’s rights and how they shaped my desire to fight for a better future for women in my community and in the world. My sister’s influence was a key factor, making me realize the importance of creating a more equal future with more support and opportunities for women.

Throughout the text, I shared how my family managed to transform the weight of this surname, marked by violence, into a symbol of strength and redefinition. Instead of carrying a legacy of pain, we chose to redefine the meaning of Praxedes, creating a future where the legacy of resistance and transformation prevails.

Financial Aid

Regarding my scholarship, I received a 100% scholarship. It didn't require a separate application, but I did submit my CSS Profile. The way it works at Upenn is that after you submit your Common App, they open a portal where you can upload your financial documents. This scholarship covers tuition, housing, meals, and indirect expenses like clothing, technology, and books. However, it doesn't directly cover travel costs, though there is a program for students who are highly aided—if you pay for your travel, they reimburse you.