3.98 GPA, 1470 SAT Chemical Engineering applicant accepted to Cornell, Michigan State, Purdue

"Focus on genuine connections with teachers and mentors. Take risks with recommendation letters that showcase character and differentiation. The French II teacher's letter was rated 10/10 but only used for one school - consider using character-focused letters more broadly rather than only stats-focused ones. Form authentic relationships in clubs and leadership roles rather than just collecting titles."