Ava

We first met Ava through her older brother, a charismatic music lover who went on to perform in his college marching band. Ava, however, was determined to carve out her own identity and path.

By the end of sophomore year, Ava was a strong student, varsity tennis player, and active leader in her school community. To build confidence before enrolling in her school’s IB program, she joined a 28-day National Outdoor Leadership School expedition in the Pacific Northwest. As a student raised in Manila, she initially felt overwhelmed and out of place among younger but more experienced campers. But, as fellow campers began seeking her advice on academics, leadership, and high school life, Ava discovered that her greatest strength was not surviving alone but building community.

When she returned home to Manila, her confidence and leadership grew. By senior year, she was organizing major school events, leading service initiatives, performing bass guitar with her student rock band, and rallying classmates during Battle of the Bearcats.

As we explored colleges together, Ava was most energized by the idea of joining an intellectually vibrant, collaborative campus. We recommended Dartmouth for its close-knit culture, distinctive D-Plan, and emphasis on relationships, reflected in its unique peer recommendation requirement.

She loved what she discovered, so we encouraged her to apply through Dartmouth’s binding Early Decision program and helped shape an application that highlighted her ability to build connection wherever she went.

On decision night, Ava opened her admissions portal. Moments later, confetti filled the screen: Dartmouth had welcomed her into its community.