My Background

Hi! My name is Carla, and I’m from Sabadell, Spain. I lived there for all 18 years of my life and attended Sagrada Familia Sabadell, a semi-private school.

At 14 years old, I started the Dual Diploma Program, which meant that while completing my studies in Spain, I was also earning a U.S. high school diploma from a school in Florida.

Since I was a child, I always dreamed of studying in the United States. At first, it was just a fantasy inspired by American movies, where everyone talked about Harvard and Yale, but that dream never faded. I remember telling my parents at six years old that I wanted to study in the U.S., and they just laughed, thinking I would grow out of it. But I never did.

At 13, I begged my parents to let me do an exchange program in the U.S., but I ended up not being able to go. At 16, while scrolling through TikTok, I came across a video about Aditus, a program in Spain that helps students apply to U.S. universities. That was when I realized my dream could actually become a reality.

My parents were not thrilled about the idea at first. My dad was especially upset when I told him I was leaving, but over time, they came to accept and support my decision.

Why Northwestern?

I was lucky enough to be accepted into multiple top universities with full scholarships, including Dartmouth and Northwestern.

Choosing between them wasn’t easy. Dartmouth is an Ivy League school, historically prestigious and well-known. However, there are other factors that are very important to me. One of them is that it was four hours away from the nearest airport and located in the middle of the mountains. Academically, it wasn’t ranked as high as it used to be, and I felt like it wasn’t the best fit.

On the other hand, Northwestern is located in Chicago, an incredible city with great transportation connections. The university is rising in the rankings every year—currently ranked #6 in the U.S. for academics. For me, it was a no-brainer. The moment I got my acceptance letter, I knew Northwestern was the right choice!

Application Process & Lessons Learned

At the time, Princeton was my dream school, so I applied for Restrictive Early Action, which meant I couldn’t apply early to any other private U.S. universities. Unfortunately, I was rejected, and one of my biggest regrets was not waiting to apply for Regular Decision.

Looking back, I wish I had applied Early Action to a lower-priority school first just to gain experience with the application process. Princeton was one of my top choices, and I truly believe that if I had waited and applied Regular Decision, I would have had a better shot at getting in.

In my experience, if you’re applying to U.S. universities, I recommend saving your top-choice school for Regular Decision—unless you have a strong advantage like legacy status or an exceptionally competitive application.

That said, everything worked out for the best—Northwestern turned out to be the perfect fit, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision!

My Major & Med School Journey

When I started at Northwestern, my initial major was Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics.

For most of my life, I wanted to study medicine in Spain, but through Aditus, I learned that the medical path in the U.S. is very different. Unlike in Spain, where you go directly into medical school, in the U.S., you must first complete a four-year undergraduate degree before applying to medical school.

I decided to start with engineering and math since I was great at physics and problem-solving. However, after a year, I realized that medicine was still truly my passion.

Now, I’m transitioning into a Mathematics & Biology double major, which will prepare me for medical school. The U.S. pre-med path is highly competitive, especially for international students, but I’m determined to make it happen!

My Stats

High School GPA:

• 4.0 GPA (from the U.S. Dual Diploma)

• 9.88 out of 10 (Spanish system, including high school and ESO)

Standardized Tests:

• SAT: I went test-optional

• Duolingo English Test: Scored above average and submitted it

Honors & Awards:

• Selected for a prestigious international STEM program (out of 3,500 students)

• Aditus Scholarship

• Honor Roll & Excellence Awards in both Spanish and U.S. high school programs

• National Science Competition Winner

• Competitive Dance Certification

Extracurriculars & Leadership Experience

The extracurriculars that I added in my Common App can be divided in three categories:

STEM & Academic Activities

• International Science Programs: I participated in multiple prestigious STEM programs, including “Bojos per la Ciència”, focused on medicine and research.

• Tutoring: Taught English, math, and history to students aged 10 to 16 as a paid job.

• Mediation Club Leader: I was trained in conflict resolution & psychology, which helped resolve student conflicts at school.

Competitive Sports & Arts

• Competitive Latin & Ballroom Dancer (at a high level in Spain).

• Competitive Artistic Figure Skater

Student Leadership & Community Service

• Student Government: Class President and Student Council School President.

• Volunteer Work: Participated in multiple community service initiatives.

Campus Life at Northwestern

Northwestern is academically rigorous, and professors strictly follow grading policies, making it common for students to struggle. Unlike at some other top universities, where grades are sometimes curved upward, Northwestern maintains high academic standards, and many students find the workload challenging. Some even transfer out because of the intensity. However, I love the challenge and have no regrets about choosing Northwestern.

Outside of academics, I’ve found ways to balance my studies and social life through various student organizations:

• Medical Fraternity: I am actively involved and aiming to run for president in the future.

• Latin & Ballroom Dance Club: I was invited to join the competitive team, but I chose a more relaxed group to better balance it with my academics.

• Delta Gamma Sorority is a sisterhood organization that also focuses on philanthropy and fundraising, which is something I’m really interested in.

One of the things I love most about Northwestern is the endless variety of clubs and organizations. If you can’t find one that matches your interests, you can create your own!

Financial Aid & Scholarships

I’m so grateful that I received a full-ride from Northwestern.

In my case, my financial aid covers tuition, housing, books, and meals. The only things I pay for are my flights and personal expenses.

Applying for financial aid required filling out a detailed CSS Profile, which includes information about family income, expenses, and assets. Some universities, like Dartmouth, even requested additional financial documents.

Aditus helped me through this complex financial aid process, which made everything much easier for me, which I’m extremely grateful for!

Plans After Graduation

My goal is to stay in the U.S. and attend medical school.

I know that for international students, getting into U.S. medical schools is extremely competitive, but it has been a dream of mine since I was a child, so I’m committed to making it happen. Medical school would take four years, followed by four to five years of residency.

While I love the research opportunities in the U.S., I also feel strongly about the healthcare disparities here, especially coming from Spain, where healthcare is universal. Eventually, I plan to return to Spain later in life, but for now, my focus is on building my career in the U.S.

Advice for Future Applicants

My biggest advice for future applicants is to do your research. Universities love it when you show genuine interest in them, so take the time to understand their values, programs, and what makes them unique.

When it comes to essays, make them personal and authentic. Your story should be unique to you and reflect who you are. I highly recommend getting feedback from others, but in the end, make sure your essays still sound like you, not what you think admissions officers want to hear.

Applying to U.S. universities was a long and challenging process, but it was worth every second. If you dream of studying in the U.S., know that it’s possible with hard work, persistence, and the right mindset!