From Cupertino Vision to Columbia Reality
How Crimson’s Strategic Mentorship Forged Derek's Path to the Ivy League
Derek Q.
Accepted to
Columbia University
A Silicon Valley Talent Seeking Direction
The Starting Point
Accepted to
Columbia University
Target Field
Economics-Political Science
Academics
- 3.94 / 4.0 Unweighted GPA
- 36 ACT
- 5 AP scores
Activities
- Political Activism
- Community Service
- Debate / Forensics
Location
California, USA
Future Plans
Policymaker/Government
From Cupertino Vision to Columbia Reality
How Crimson’s Strategic Mentorship Forged Derek's Path to the Ivy League
Derek Q.
Accepted to
Columbia University
Target Field
Economics-Political Science
Academics
- 3.94 / 4.0 Unweighted GPA
- 36 ACT
- 5 AP scores
Activities
- Political Activism
- Community Service
- Debate / Forensics
Location
California, USA
Future Plans
Policymaker/Government
A Silicon Valley Talent Seeking Direction
The Starting Point
The Solution
Finding His True Voice
Crimson’s approach isn’t to reshape students, but to help them uncover and express their genuine interests. From early in the process, Derek worked closely with his mentor, Jordan to explore a passion for economics and political science. Together, they developed a unique personal angle—a profile that combined data-driven thinking with real-world impact. By understanding what admissions officers are truly looking for, the student was able to present themselves as an intellectually curious and socially engaged future leader.
“The biggest turning point was guiding Derek to choose activities not just for his own interests, but to strategically strengthen his college applications”
How Crimson Helped
Weaving The Winning Narrative
At Crimson, we provide end-to-end support—combining strategic coaching, hands-on labs, and targeted follow-up tactics. For Derek, that meant alumni-led interview training to perfect his delivery and a custom-crafted Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) after his Columbia deferral, ensuring his renewed passion and new achievements shone through.
Academics at a Glance
Crimson helped Derek target his coursework and prep toward Economics-Political Science—guiding his AP choices and ACT strategy to deliver a 36 ACT score and five 5-score AP exams that perfectly underscored his academic passions. With the right programs presented in a polished application that caught his dream school’s eye
5
Calculus AB
5
United States History
5
Biology
5
English Lit & Composition
4
Chemistry
5
Economics: Microeconomics
European History
Computer Science A
Spanish & Culture
Extracurriculars Amplified
Derek had the grades but needed a plan. With Crimson’s help, Derek transformed his passion into impact—scaling EduGrant into a statewide nonprofit through Cal-SOAP partnerships and public seminars, securing policy-focused roles as a legislative intern and advisory board member, and showcasing his leadership as captain of the #1 national debate team.
Top Highlights
Crimson coached Derek on pitching ideas and networking with professors, leading to two published projects: a USC collaboration with Prof. Juan Gonzalez on state tax policy (featured in the Scholarly Review Online Showcase) and an Oberlin-accredited Pioneer Academics study with Emory’s Prof. Jong Kim on public debt in developing nations.
Ranked #5 Nationally NSDA US Policy Debate
Top-32 (out of 311) NYU Int’l Public Policy Forum Debate Tournament
California Legislative Assembly Recognition of Distinguished Service
Profile Transformation
From “Wonky Activist” to “Social Thought-leader”
Crimson Education's comprehensive and personalized support system transformed Derek from a student with strong potential but unclear direction into a focused, compelling applicant who knew how to articulate his unique strengths and passions.
Before
After
Academically strong, interested in humanities and debate, but "lacked direction"
Profile & Narrative
Academically strong, interested in humanities and debate, but "lacked direction"
Crafted a clear, authentic social activist narrative and mastered how to pitch his profile to elite schools
General interest in top schools; limited knowledge of specific institutional values.
Strategy & School Fit
General interest in top schools; limited knowledge of specific institutional values.
Targeted application to Columbia, plus customized strategies for other top schools.
Initial ideas lacked connection to personal growth and university fit.
Essays
Initial ideas lacked connection to personal growth and university fit.
Crafted a personal statement showing personal growth to nail the “Why Columbia” story.
Involved in debate and local volunteering.
Extracurriculars
Involved in debate and local volunteering.
Scaled extracurriculars—founded statewide nonprofit EduGrant, secured legislative internships, and led the #1 national debate team.
Academically strong, interested in humanities and debate, but "lacked direction"
Research Experience
Academically strong, interested in humanities and debate, but "lacked direction"
Completed two mentored research projects on economic inequality and public policy.
“I was ecstatic—my entire family was around me... and that opportunity was incredibly, incredibly happy... I felt like a gigantic burden was lifted off my shoulders and that I was dreaming.”
Derek was accepted to Columbia University to study Economics-Political Science. He was initially deferred and then accepted on Ivy Day.
Results
How Derek Won Columbia’s Heart
Columbia saw in Derek exactly what they look for in their best students - genuine political passion backed by real action.
01
Strong Essay
His essays didn’t just mention activism—they showed it through his work with local politicians and the financial aid nonprofit he built from the ground up.
02
Showcasing Personality
With his Crimson strategist, Derek highlighted both sides of himself: a policy wonk diving into economic research, and a community organizer helping real people on the ground.
03
Right-fit for Columbia
His application showed a genuine alignment with Columbia—from the Core Curriculum’s intellectual rigor to its pulse at the center of social movements.
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