Hello! My name is Jean, and I’m part of a native community in Brazil. I was accepted into the Class of 2029 at Northwestern University. See how I made it!

My background

I come from the largest native community in Latin America, the Kalunga Quilombo. Quilombos were communities formed by escaped enslaved people in Brazil, and today, many still exist as quilombola communities, preserving African heritage and fighting for land rights and social justice.

I’ve always studied in my community, with local teachers. Starting in high school, our classroom experience changed significantly. But despite these limitations, my school still supported me. The teachers wrote recommendation letters for my applications, sent me encouraging messages, and were always cheering me on.

But it’s important to understand that this is a school within a quilombo — the entire college application process was unfamiliar to everyone there. The teachers didn’t know what a letter of recommendation was supposed to include, let alone how to write one in English. Thankfully, a mentorship program supported both me and my teachers — they explained what the letters needed to convey, helped guide the writing process, and took care of translating them into English.

Deciding to Study Abroad

My mother was one of the first people in our community to attend college, not abroad, but in Brazil. She studied Rural Education atthe University of Brasília, in a campus extension specifically designed for quilombola students. She became a teacher for a while but eventually left the profession. Still, she always inspired me to value education and to see myself as part of that world.

One day, while watching a livestream, I came across the Jovens Embaixadores program—a fully funded U.S. exchange program for 50 Brazilian public school students. I applied twice. The first time, I didn’t get in, but on my second try, I was accepted. That moment gave meaning to my story and my existence. Before that, opportunities never really reached me.A friend of mine, once said there's a “black hole” that sits between our communities and the opportunities that are supposed to reach us—it sucks them all away before they can ever arrive. That’s exactly how I felt. But after the exchange, supported by the U.S. Embassy and government, everything changed. I got to engage with diplomats, learn about different cultures, and connect with 49 other incredible students. My world expanded.

During the trip, we met with EducationUSA and learned about the Opportunity Funds Program. I took a chance and applied. I was accepted again. That was in my final year of high school, when I began applying to universities abroad. But none of my activities were planned with college in mind. Everything I did—my extracurriculars, my leadership, my advocacy—was always rooted in benefiting my community. Nothing was “strategic” for an application. It was just who I was and what I cared about.

Why I Chose the U.S

I never really considered studying in any other country besides the U.S. After experiencing the U.S. through the exchange program and seeing so many people studying there, it just felt natural. Even as a child, I was always watching videos and dreaming about doing an exchange program, and it was always about the United States.

I think that desire was rooted in me from a very young age. I never thought about going anywhere else. I just told myself, “I’m going to try for the U.S.” It’s a dream I’ve carried with me for as long as I can remember—since I was a kid saying, “I want to do an exchange in the U.S.,” or “I want to visit the U.S. someday.”

Why Northwestern?

One of the main reasons I could really see myself at Northwestern was because I got to know some people who had already studied there, and the energy was contagious. There’s a magic to that place that you can’t even imagine, the aesthetics & environment, everything captivated me.

Not only that, but as I researched, I discovered they have a theater program focused on Black narratives. I also found out that their public policy program could be a great fit for my goals, especially after hearing about it from a friend who got in.

It wasn’t one specific thing that made me feel at home—it was everything. From the professors to the support systems, I could really see myself thriving there. Northwestern offers everything I’ve never had in my life: opportunities, qualified professors, and a strong community.

There, I could also see myself being part of their Rainbow Alliance club, which resonated with my values. All made me feel like the university could truly be my home.

My Stats: SAT, GPA & DET

Studying for the SAT was extremely difficult, since I come from Quilombo. After two unsuccessful attempts, where I couldn’t even score a thousand, my mentor and I decided I would apply test-optional.

He told me, "You're an exceptional student. Any university you apply to will understand your context because it's not just about grades. What matters is your story. You need to have a story to tell." And beyond that, I had extracurriculars that supported and proved that story. So, I focused on the proficiency test, and we decided to save money. Instead of taking the SAT, we would save for the flight after I got accepted.

On the Duolingo English Text, I scored 130, and my GPA was 9.13 out of 10.

Tips to Prepare Yourself

I was really overwhelmed in my senior year. I had to dedicate time to apply to universities abroad while keeping up with schoolwork, grades, and assignments. Balancing everything was chaotic. That's why I decided to take a gap year. It gave me the chance to really understand who I was. During that time, I attended several conferences and participated in events that helped me connect with specific educational institutions. It was an amazing opportunity to explore and find myself.

In my Gap Year, I had the time to apply, visit waterfalls, spend time with my family—things I couldn’t do when I was in school. I’ve always been someone who does a lot of things and gives a lot of myself to others, but during my Gap Year, I gave to myself. If I could give advice, I’d say: take a Gap Year if you want to apply. It’s okay if you can’t, but if you can, it’s really worth it. I didn’t initially want to take one, but with the support network I had, they convinced me, and looking back, it was the best decision I ever made. I didn’t waste time—I dedicated myself to a social project and to giving back. I ended up making a huge impact on children across Brazil, especially in my community. The Gap Year truly changed my life.

Another piece of advice I’d give is to focus on your story. Don’t stress too much about proficiency tests. Study and do well, of course, but remember that the holistic process is what matters most. Universities want to understand your background, your extracurriculars, and who you are as a person—how special and inspiring you are. A test score alone can’t define you without the context of your life, your experiences, and your values. Take your time. Watch movies on weekends to recharge, so you come back with energy to apply and focus on the human side of your story.

In my Gap Year, I focused more on the human side—learning more, dedicating myself to projects, and working to improve education in my community. I didn’t want to leave without making a positive impact here first. It was also important for me to keep doing well in school and take part in volunteer projects, but not just for the sake of applying. It’s crucial to show who you are outside of the classroom. Participate in projects that align with your values, not just the ones that everyone else does to pass. Do what you’re passionate about. You need to be able to talk about and express your involvement in those activities.

I think these are my most important tips: be yourself and tell your true story. Show your voice.

Extracurricular Activities

Firstly, I wrote a book as part of a research project on medicinal plants in my community. It was a community-based effort where we worked with local leaders and researchers. The book is called Medicinal Plants of the Kalungas, and its purpose is to preserve the ancestral knowledge of our elders and pass it on to future generations. This was one of my most important extracurricular activities, deeply tied to my community.

The second was Agecos Ambientais (Environmental Friends). During a cultural fair, I learned about a massive fire that occurred in Chapada dos Veadeiros in 2021, which destroyed a lot of our natural resources. We were losing precious water and biodiversity, and I couldn’t stand by. I wanted to take action, so I created an organization called Ajecos Ambientais with three friends. We gave presentations at schools, raised over 100 native plants from our region with IBAMA’s help, and organized reforestation efforts with the community. We also invited local elders to talk about the importance of preserving our natural heritage.

Another project I’m proud of is creating the first Student Council at my school. I’ve always been a curious person, and I went through a lot of bullying. I didn’t want other people to go through the same thing, so I decided to create the council. I didn’t even know where to start, but I gathered some friends, mobilized the teachers, and we created the Geração Calunga Revolucionária (Revolutionary Kalunga Generation). We organized events, like one for Black Consciousness Day, which brought together the entire community. It was a beautiful event where we shared our personal stories and created a stronger connection with the teachers.

Additionally, I founded a theater group called Arte Kalunga MATEC. "Mateque" refers to the environment, tradition, and education. We performed plays about the origins of the quilombo for tourists and local students. This project was created by my first teacher to encourage youth leadership. Many kids my age or younger have difficulty expressing themselves, so this initiative helped them find their voice and learn to share their stories, like what the Kalunga territory is and what it means to us.

In addition, I volunteered with PROFUTURO, an organization that supports children in vulnerable situations. I’ve also been a beneficiary of this NGO, receiving help with food and other necessities.

I’m also the director of operations for Tocando em Frente, an educational non-profit that impacts over 12,000 children across Brazil.

My Personal Statement

I remember a specific mentor once telling me that I was focusing too much on repeating the same narrative about my community. He warned that if I brought this up too often, both in my university essays and personal statement, it might become repetitive. So, I took a step back and thought, "Does it make sense to write something else?" The truth is, what I want to show them is precisely my community—my people, my identity as a Kalunga quilombola. This is who I am, and it is essential for me to highlight this in every part of my application because it’s my voice, my essence. That’s why my community will definitely be part of my story.

In my personal statement, I shared an experience from my time volunteering with PROFUTURO, the organization that supports my family for being in a vulnerable community. We were running a campaign to raise awareness about the Disque 100 hotline, which is for reporting sexual abuse cases, especially in communities like mine. Unfortunately, these types of crimes are alarmingly high in my city, and I felt that it was important to take action. I’m not the kind of person to sit still, so I thought, “Let’s make sure these numbers get to every household,” and we did that. We went door-to-door, distributing information. I even mentioned how I painted a butterfly on a child’s face during the campaign.

While I was doing this, I realized I had forgotten to include the Disque 100 number in the materials we were handing out. So, I rushed to include it while still in the process of painting the butterfly. It was then that I truly began to tell the story, focusing on how I dealt with sexual abuse issues in my community and how I worked on reporting cases and protecting children through my role as a representative in CTA (Childhood and Adolescent Council) and CONANDA (National Child and Adolescent Council). We fought for children’s rights at the local, state, and national levels, and I took the needs of the children in my quilombo to those platforms.

It was a meaningful mobilization, and I focused heavily on how I overcame challenges and how I was actively helping children in need. It’s a powerful story that reflects my personal growth and commitment to my community. I’m really proud of how my personal statement turned out—it's one of my favorite pieces, and I hope you get a chance to read it someday.

Financial Aid

I received a full ride to attend Northwestern. I will need to work to save money for personal expenses outside of school, but they will cover everything—food, aid, books. They’re even giving me a multi-pass for transportation. So, they really take care of everything, and I won’t have to pay anything—literally zero.

I didn’t have to apply separately, I only had to send my complete CSS Profile.