Extracurricular activities

I focused on creating an overarching theme of technology throughout my activities. The main activity I undertook was co-founding a nonprofit that offers digital education workshops and mentorship to students. It resembles Borderless in a way but is tailored for digital education. We're also on TikTok and Instagram, where we share tips and host live workshops.

Additionally, I engaged in several research projects in high school. My school emphasizes research and offers scholarships for it, and I was able to secure a few. First, during the pandemic, I coded an app that helps people verify whether news is true or not. I took this project to Brazil's largest scientific fair and won first place, so it served as both an extracurricular activity and an honor.

I also worked on a project for a national park near my area, which often suffers from wildfires. I created a fire detection system that automatically alerts the authorities, thus helping to speed up firefighting. This project was presented at Latin America's biggest scientific fair, and I ended up winning second place.

Another project I am proud of is on quantum physics. Around our national park, there's a lot of tourism, and some people mislead tourists with quantum healing and quantum coaching claims. I researched this topic and it got published in one of Brazil's largest physics teaching journals.

Lastly, I have some international experience; I participated in an exchange program to Japan called Sakura Science High School and was selected by the U.S. Embassy for the Youth Ambassadors Program to visit the U.S.

Stats: GPA, TOEFL, ACT

Starting with the TOEFL, I took it just once and scored 111 out of 120. I knew this score would be sufficient, as most schools only require a minimum of 100.

Regarding standardized tests, I opted for the ACT and took it twice. The first time, I scored a 32, and the second time, I scored another 32. I applied to Harvard test-optional because they do not allow superscoring for the ACT. When I superscore my ACT, I achieve a 34, which is quite strong, but a 32 did not feel sufficient for Harvard. However, MIT allows superscores, so I sent my ACT scores there.

About my GPA, in Brazil, we use a 0 to 10 system, and I didn't convert it to the standard 4.0 scale. My GPA is 9.86/10.

How I approached my Personal Statement

To be very honest, I'm not much of a writer, and I don't particularly enjoy the writing process, whether it's in English or Portuguese. The Common App essay was definitely a significant challenge. However, I did a lot of reading online, looking at other people's Common App essays, and noticed a certain pattern: most start with a background or childhood story, then delve into something deeper, and eventually tie it to their learnings or intended major.

For my Personal Statement, I decided to discuss toxic masculinity and how it has impacted me from my childhood to now. I shared the story of how my father had certain expectations and how I've grown from that experience. It's quite personal and isn’t directly connected to my major – it's just about me and who I am. I tried to keep it light, and even though I did mention my challenges, I focused more on how I overcame them, highlighting my resilience.