“HELLO EVERYONE - IT’S JENNY HERREEEEE!”

You’ve probably heard this line so many times it’s ingrained in your memory, hehe (though this might be the first time I’ve written it down). But I’m overjoyed and proud to share that I’ve been admitted to Stanford, Rice, Smith, UCI, and many other amazing universities!

To prepare for my college applications, I joined the CoCoon group. Through this group, I connected with peers who each had their unique “flair and coolness,” and, of course, there were the fabulous Ms. Tuyết and Mr. Khoa! Together, my CoCoon team and I spent over a year crafting a plan to conquer Stanford.

When we first met, Mr. Khoa explained Stanford’s admissions criteria and shared examples of successful Ivy League and top-tier university applicants to give us reference points. From there, we worked together to bring extracurricular activities to life—participating in research projects on social enterprises, organizing fundraisers, hosting competitions, and, most importantly, telling my story in a way that would captivate admissions officers—my personal "WOW factor."

I began drafting my Common App essay in early June 2022, revising it dozens of times before submitting it for the Regular Decision round in January. Applying to 23 universities meant I had to write a staggering 43 essays.

The challenge wasn’t coming up with ideas—it was cutting down words because I had so many thoughts! My mentors helped me identify and remove unnecessary parts. While the editing process was painstakingly difficult, the final results fit perfectly within the word limits, hehe.

Ms. Tuyết, Mr. Khoa, and my fellow CoCoon peers are spread across the globe, so I always received swift feedback whenever I had questions.

During group meetings, I listened to other CoCoon members share their study-abroad journeys. From these discussions, I noticed some common traits among my peers from CoCoon Gen 2, who earned scholarships from institutions like Duke University, New York University, and the University of Miami.

If you ask me how to create a strong application for top universities, my advice would be: be unique and true to yourself. Write what’s genuinely on your mind. Don’t overthink—universities want to see your personality shine through your writing.

For extracurriculars, focus on whether your activities have a positive impact on those around you and society. Universities seek students who excel academically and have the potential to contribute meaningfully to the world.

To stand out in a sea of competitive applications—considering there are over 42,000 high schools in the U.S. alone with 42,000 valedictorians—it’s essential to transform your passions into social projects. These not only enhance your skills but also demonstrate your commitment to activities that create a positive impact. Remember to pour your heart into every project.

And that’s it! I want to extend my deepest thanks to Ms. Tuyết, Mr. Khoa, and my CoCoon peers for supporting me through this challenging process.

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