How Ivy Brothers Helped Top Boarding School Student to Princeton

Accepted to Princeton!

Ivy Brothers Success Story

We had a student, Xavier, from a top boarding school who was deeply passionate about pursuing political science. At Ivy Brothers, our counselors have decades of experience working with students from top boarding schools, offering unmatched expertise to help those who are already outstanding take their achievements to the next level. Iwe are often boarding school students’ agency of choice, as we avoid the sort of cookie cutter advice spewed by other agencies. 

Xavier’s interest in politics was sparked after taking the school’s highly regarded U.S. history course, HSS 300, where he became captivated by the study of historiography and the clash of differing perspectives on pivotal events in American history. His intellectual curiosity led him to be inducted into his prestigious {redacted} Independent Scholars Program, which afforded him the opportunity to conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. For his project, Xavier developed a nuanced research plan that grew into a theme paralleling much of his application describing a mesh of politics and technology, as he sought to research the impact of technology and automation on jobs and the political responses in the US. 

Before attending his boarding school, Xavier was a student at the Trinity School in Manhattan. Growing up in New York City, he was fully aware that he would be applying from one of the most competitive applicant pools, unhooked, with a high-income background, and having attended two of the world’s most prestigious schools.

At Ivy Brothers, we’ve worked with numerous students from top boarding schools, including Lawrenceville, Exeter, Deerfield Academy, Kent, Groton, Choate, St. Paul’s, Taft, and Loomis, among others.

Let's dive into this student's profile and how we helped!

Student's Profile

Academics:

Top 10% Class Rank

1570 SAT

Extracurricular Activities:

• Winner of National Debate Tournaments: Achieved top ranks in competitions such as the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Nationals, Harvard Debate Tournament, or Tocqueville Debate Series.
• Debate Team Mentor: Led the school's competitive debate team, organizing practices, mentoring younger debaters, and representing the school in national and international competitions.
• Ranked top 100 in US for LD Debate according to NFS
• Finalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Reached the finals in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, known for its focus on philosophy, morality, and public policy debates.
• Model United Nations (MUN) Leader: Head delegate or secretary-general of the school's MUN team, organizing school-wide conferences and winning Best Delegate awards at prestigious MUN conference Yale MUN.
• Top 10 in National History Day Competition: Competed in and placed at the national level for creating an award-winning research project related to political history.
• Published Political Science Research: Authored a research paper on the intersection of technology and politics (impact of AI and misinformation on political polarization) published in a high school or undergraduate political science journal.
• John Locke Institute Essay Competition Winner: Won or placed in a globally recognized essay competition with essays on political philosophy or international relations.
• Internship with Political Think Tank: Completed a summer internship at a respected policy think tank, contributing to research on contemporary issues like climate policy, electoral reform, or international diplomacy.
• Political Podcast Host: Created and hosted a political podcast or YouTube channel, interviewing local politicians, activists, and political analysts on pressing current events and youth civic engagement. Received recognition from city governmental officials and a Senator. 
• Youth Delegate for United Nations Youth Assembly: Selected as a youth delegate for the UN Youth Assembly, participating in international discussions on global governance and sustainability.

How Ivy Brothers Helped Xavier Get Accepted to Princeton

With a passion for political science that started during his time at his boarding school, Xavier sought out Ivy Brothers for expert guidance in crafting an application that would stand out among the highly competitive pool of applicants. Paired with Jonathan, a seasoned advisor and former political science major, Xavier was able to refine his academic narrative and highlight his exceptional achievements.

“Working with Jonathan was like having a strategist in my corner,” Xavier recalls. “People told me my application was competitive, so it really came down to the story that I tell. Jonathan helped me find that story.” Xavier explained, “Jonathan helped me see how my two passions—political science and technology—could come together in ways that align with these schools’ interdisciplinary approach. He helped me frame my experiences and projects in a way that showed how I want to use technology to solve political and societal issues.”

Building Xavier’s Strategy for Princeton

From the outset, Jonathan and the Ivy Brothers team recognized that Xavier’s application would need to demonstrate not only his deep interest in political science but also his innovative approach to solving global issues through technology. Princeton’s emphasis on interdisciplinary study and its focus on tackling complex global challenges made it the perfect fit for Xavier’s blend of AI and political interests. Ivy Brothers was able to help him create a project that would help him stand out from other boarding school students interested in political science. 

“We knew that Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) would be particularly drawn to a student who could marry political science with technology in innovative ways,” Jonathan explains. “We worked closely with Xavier to ensure that his application highlighted this unique combination.” Jonathan helped him articulate how the application of AI could transform political decision-making processes, especially in areas like voter behavior analysis, cybersecurity, and misinformation prevention. 

Ivy Brothers was able to connect him with the CEO of a cybersecurity company that uses AI to neutralize threats to help him complete a project: CyberSafe Democracy: A Platform for Safeguarding Elections through Cybersecurity Awareness, as he conducted original research on how past elections were impacted by cyberattacks and misinformation, examining case studies from the U.S. elections and international incidents. This research would later be published as a white paper with recognition from a US Senator. 

Ivy Brother was able to help the student to build out this project from A to Z: creating awareness and creating solutions to protect democratic election systems from cyber threats. Through educational workshops, cybersecurity toolkits for political campaigns, and collaborations with experts, the project aims to equip voters, candidates, and election officials with the knowledge and tools to safeguard elections from cyberattacks and misinformation

“Jonathan showed me how to tie my technical skills in AI to broader political questions,” Xavier says. “That guidance was invaluable in presenting myself as someone who could contribute to Princeton’s intellectual community in a unique way. I went from being a generic, national-level debater, of which there are many in the applicant pool, to a student working on something very relevant and interesting to the admission committee while tying it back to this interest of integrity of democratic processes in the digital age.”

Collaboration with a Dartmouth PhD for Research Excellence

To further elevate Xavier’s application, Ivy Brothers paired him with Dr. Emily, a PhD in Government at Dartmouth with a specialization in technology’s impact on global politics. Under her mentorship, Xavier undertook a sophisticated research project titled "The Global Chip Shortage: Its Political Implications for U.S.-China Relations and the Role of AI in Policy Forecasting.” This project allowed Xavier to delve into the intersection of geopolitical conflict and technological advancement, exploring how AI could be used to forecast economic and political outcomes related to semiconductor shortages.

“Working with Dr. Emily was a game-changer,” Xavier shares. “She pushed me to think critically about how AI can not only solve problems but also predict and influence political behavior in global contexts.”

Xavier’s research explored how AI-driven models could analyze supply chain data, predict future shortages, and offer solutions for mitigating political tension between the U.S. and China. This project demonstrated Xavier’s ability to engage in cutting-edge research that bridged political science and technology—an approach that appealed directly to Princeton’s interdisciplinary philosophy.

The research, which Xavier submitted as part of his application, was not just an academic exercise but a practical investigation into real-world issues. It showcased his ability to think beyond the classroom and address global challenges through innovative, tech-driven solutions.

Through the Admissions Roundtable at Ivy Brothers where we have former admission officers give feedback to students, one former Princeton Admission Officer remarked, “Xavier was willing to get very quantitative, which isn’t as common among political types; this alone is something that will help him stand out in a pool of students who stay more in their academic comfort zones.” Hence, Ivy Brothers was able to communicate an idea on the application that this was a student who would, if accepted to his desired school, was ready to bend and stretch his brain pursuing new challenges.

Polishing Princeton Essays with Technology and Politics in Mind

Ivy Brothers worked closely with Xavier to refine his Princeton supplemental essays, ensuring they aligned with the university’s values. Jonathan encouraged Xavier to focus on Princeton’s SPIA and how the school’s commitment to public service, ethics, and innovation resonated with his desire to use AI to solve political problems.

“We crafted his essays to show how Xavier planned to leverage technology to foster better political outcomes, like reducing misinformation and improving transparency in government processes,” Jonathan explains. “We wanted Princeton’s admissions officers to see how his academic interests in AI and politics intersected perfectly with the university’s mission. Ivy Brothers has trained all counselors to help students write supplemental essays that have laser-like relevance to the school they are applying to.” 

One essay, for example, explored the ethical challenges of using AI in policy-making, showing Xavier’s ability to engage with both the technical and philosophical aspects of political science.

Leadership and Extracurriculars: Demonstrating Depth in Both Fields

Xavier’s extracurricular activities were another crucial aspect of his application, and Ivy Brothers helped him frame these experiences to show leadership in both AI and political science. Before he came to us, his application appeared as a generalist, in terms of his interest in government.

Hence, Ivy Brothers gave him guidance on weaving this relevant theme throughout the application. As captain of his school's debate team, Xavier led discussions on the ethical implications of AI in governance, and his role in Model UN—where he won Best Delegate at the Princeton MUN conference—demonstrated his aptitude for international relations and policy.

Additionally, Xavier founded a student group at his school focused on exploring the intersection of AI and politics. The group organized panels, debates, and guest speakers, further illustrating his leadership and commitment to this interdisciplinary field. We helped him organize a conference for this new student group, garnering over several hundred attendees. 

“We worked to show Princeton that Xavier was actively working to merge his interests in a way that could have real-world impact,” Jonathan notes.

The Result: Princeton Acceptance

The combination of cutting-edge research and a stand-out strategy led to Xavier’s acceptance at Princeton University. His passion for both AI and political science, supported by his research project with Dr. Emily and his leadership in extracurriculars, made him a standout candidate.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the guidance I received from Jonathan and Ivy Brothers,” Xavier reflects. “They helped me take two seemingly separate interests and merge them into a cohesive story that resonated with Princeton. Moreover, their resources allowed me to make my application stand out, as they connected me for research with PhDs and helped me spearhead a project with a cybersecurity CEO.” 

Words of Wisdom from Xavier

For students navigating the college admissions process, Xavier offers this advice: “Don’t be afraid to combine different passions. Whether it’s technology and politics or something else, showing how you can merge disciplines to tackle big problems is what sets you apart. Ivy Brothers helped me do that, and I couldn’t have asked for better support.”

Xavier’s Team at Ivy Brothers

Xavier’s success was the result of a collaborative effort at Ivy Brothers. Jonathan, his lead advisor, helped shape his overall strategy, while a research expert at Dartmouth provided essential mentorship on his AI and political science research. Together, they crafted an application that showcased Xavier’s unique ability to merge technology with political theory, ensuring his acceptance to Princeton University.

Ivy Brothers