As a person in the world, I’ve grown up wanting to give back to it, which is not surprising once you know the way I’ve been enveloped by nature since I was young.
My journey started in Alexandria, Virginia, in the United States. From there, it continued to Bogotá, Colombia, when I was seven. From there on, it was Brussels, Belgium, when I was 14. I moved to San José, Costa Rica, at 16, and now life has taken me to Ithaca, New York.
This is to say that my high school years were split across two continents: for 9th and 10th grade, it was in the International School of Brussels; then for 11th and 12th grade, I attended Marian Baker School in Costa Rica.
These vastly different experiences, alongside my double nationality given by my parents — being half Swedish, half Costa Rican, although I am also a citizen of the United States— have given me a cohesive worldview.
Stats
I took the SAT twice. The first time was in June 2025; I got a 1420 with a 690 in math and 730 in English. I took it again in September 2025; this time I got a 1490. My English score stayed the same, but my math score went up to a 760. What made my SAT score go up? I just spammed Bluebook practice tests.
My predicted IB grades were:
Overall predicted: 40
- Spanish A Literature SL: 7
- Business Management SL: 6
- ESS HL: 6
- English A Lang and Lit HL: 7
- Physics HL: 6
- Math AI HL: 6
My actual IB grades were:
Overall grade: 35
- Spanish A Literature SL: 6
- Business Management SL: 6
- ESS HL: 7
- English A Lang and Lit HL: 6
- Physics HL: 5
- Math AI HL: 5
- I also got a D grade in the Extended Essay and a B in Theory of Knowledge
I think it’s important to highlight that the IB academics at the high school I graduated from were a little complicated and somewhat messy. For example, with my EE, I went through several rounds of feedback where I was told that I did a good job, yet ultimately I was given an 11/34.
I would recommend ensuring that your school has a solid understanding of the Extended Essay and that the subject you are writing has an entirely sure advisor who can give you an accurate understanding of your areas of improvement.
Puzzle Pieces That Assemble Me
I made sure to fill the 10 spots on the Common App with activities.
My first activity regarded Wildcat Park. A green space in my school that I helped restore. Through the National Honor Society chapter at my school, I drafted the greenhouse design, oversaw landscape architecture, and fundraised. I really emphasized this project throughout my application; it was even the theme behind my Common App essay. Having one kind of project that really hooks all your interests in one place, and that you’re also really passionate about, is something that would be important to consider for any application.
Since I was unable to take Visual Arts due to an issue in scheduling, I spent my breaks creating an independent mixed media art portfolio that included sketching, architectural drafting, photography, and painting under the supervision of the art teacher. I wrote it down as my second activity.
My other activities included maintaining fluency in four languages (English, Spanish, Swedish, and French); working as a camp counselor and art coordinator during summer break; and organizing school events and managing social media. Additionally, I am an avid, self-taught nature and sports photographer, specializing in birds, and I served as my school’s official sports photographer. I have also played acoustic guitar for over seven years and performed in various settings. Furthermore, I served as the head of the wardrobe and makeup department, where I designed and fabricated costumes and oversaw makeup application for several school theater productions. I participated as a JV and varsity volleyball player at Marian Baker School, and lastly, I was selected as a teaching assistant for 1st–5th grade drama classes, where I led performance-related activities.
All in all, I would say my activities consisted of projects that resonate with who I am as a person, as well as the kind of field of study I was interested in.
Do your extracurriculars because you love them, not because you want to add them in your college application; it will work out in the end. (Unless you just truly start adding fully random and completely impactive activities)
Dreaded Application Process
For my Common App personal statement/essay, I chose the prompt “discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and new understanding of yourself.” As mentioned, I decided to touch upon the Wildcat Park and the impact that its burning down had on me. I styled my essay with a lot of imagery and strong wording, which I think is an important way to grasp the admissions officer’s attention and simply not make your writing a monotone piece of work.
This was my opening sentence:
Growth for humanity should not be synonymous with the destruction of nature (…) when I walked through the gate that morning as I had countless times before and saw the charred ground that had replaced the beautiful forest, I was devastated the school had severed her closest connection to the natural world without even realizing it.
Many of my essays were related to my activities list. They were things that I had already spoken a little bit about, but I used the essay space to expand upon my ideas and why they were meaningful to me. Generally, though, I would say I simply spoke about the things I am interested in.
I began my Common App applications in August, and sent them around a week before they were due. I would definitely not recommend this to another student; please make sure to work with some sort of framework when working on your college applications.(Because I really didn’t, and it was kind of chaotic)
In August, I began having meetings with an academic writing coach my dad knew. I started by brainstorming ideas, and it was just a loop of sending essays and receiving feedback.
My general Cornell essay prompt had the following written:
We all contribute to and are influenced by the communities that are meaningful to us. Share how you've been shaped by one of the communities you belong to. Define community in the way that is most meaningful to you. This community example can be drawn from family, school, workplace, activities, or interests, or any other group you belong to.
There is also one AAP-specific Cornell essay. That has to do with all applicants (both those coming in decided and undecided) needing to apply to one of Cornell’s eight undergraduate colleges/schools directly rather than the university as a whole; so everyone has to write a specific essay to the specific college they want to enter, although the criteria can vary from school to school.
In the end, I applied to:
- Cornell (got in)
- Syracuse (got in)
- McGill (waitlisted)
- University of Maryland (got in)
- Virginia Tech (got in)
- University of Virginia (rejected)
- University of Pennsylvania (rejected)
An interesting detail is that, just like all other Ivy League schools, Cornell does not provide merit-based (aka academic) or sports-based scholarships, only need-based financial aid. This does not apply to me, so I am not on any kind of monetary support.
Choosing the United States and the Big Red
Generally, educational programs in the United States are well developed, and the U.S. is a central place in the world. It's a country where I can network effectively and build connections. Not to mention that my friends live very near my university, which makes everything better.
Cornell in particular has an outstanding, world-renowned undergraduate architecture program in the Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP). It takes 5 years to receive your bachelor’s degree; 3 years are dedicated to focusing on the rigorous core curriculum, which covers all the bases. Then followed by 4 semesters where students can customize their personal trajectory. By the end of the 5 years, you are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which satisfies the educational requirement needed to sit for the Architect Registration Examination and become a licensed architect.
All this to say that by the end of this program, I will be a full-fledged architect, will have an international license, and will not need to go to grad school.
My dad is a global conservation executive, and my mom is a biologist. Because of them, I’ve grown up doing all sorts of natural activities (my life has kind of been built around that), but birdwatching in particular has always been an incredible love of mine. This is to say that the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has quickly become a place I frequent. Being able to stay close to things I have loved all my life has truly been something I’ve enjoyed here.
Itachan Life: I Guess I’m Annabeth Chase Now
I take four classes: studio, representational drawing, environmental systems, and the world we make (which is a lecture theme regarding how everything connects for the whole college). I also have one required PE credit, which for me is Latin dance. A decision I made with the idea of keeping a strong connection to my heritage here on campus.
I only have classes three days a week, which is pretty cool, but the rest of the time I am stuck working in the studio.
In regard to the work-life balance, I think the workload isn’t too bad. You’re expected to be in the studio on the weekends and that kind of thing because you have to get your work done.
In my free time, I just chill with my friends in different places. I also joined a club called the Cornell Media Guild. It has a bunch of subsidiaries, including a record label, which has a bunch of band nights and signs student artists. There are also a few radios on there and a magazine that focuses on music. I decided to join the radio, so I’m going to have a one-hour slot a week to be a radio DJ, which I am super hyped about. I’m also in the marketing part of the record label, so I’m beginning to help out in that sector.
Talking about my life for birds, again, I go to the ornithology lab a bunch. I go to the events they host and look at their merch (and wish I could buy all of it); I also just walk around and look at the things on display. Ultimately, Cornell University just fits my interests as a person and is an environment that is helping me build the life I want.
