Brianna built her application around a clear spike: four years of cancer metabolism research at the University of Chicago. Her path started at UChicago Laboratory Schools, where students often took advantage of the university next door. But Brianna’s placement in a lab was more than just luck. She proved herself by working under a PI (Principal Investigator) who trusted a high-schooler with real and impactful projects.

That persistence set her apart. Alongside lab work, she added experiences at Argonne National Laboratory, Women in STEM, and Girls Who Code. But the through-line was always research: digging deep, showing up, and refusing to be boxed in by age. When peers asked how to break into labs, her advice was simple: cold email until someone says yes.

Brianna knew her essays needed to be strong, but she also understood a subtler truth: admissions decisions are made by people. So she made it her job to connect with them.

That phrase is particularly important because it demonstrated interest, the kind that kept her name top of mind when decisions were made. She even reached out to a Dartmouth professor to ask about joining his research group, then wove his positive response into her essays. Sometimes the searches weren’t easy.

What might look like persistence on paper was, in practice, a willingness to do the digging, send the message, and risk being ignored. That mindset defined her application.

Brianna’s impact spanned research, leadership, outreach, and athletics: • UChicago Medicine — Research Assistant (3 years) Contributing author on a Cancer Discovery paper and abstracts; researched metabolic pathways in lung cancer and chemo-resistance in leukemia. Trained in CRISPR, 13C stable isotope tracing, in vivo imaging, and advanced lab techniques. • Ariel Investments — Sustainable Investment Research Analyst (Summer 2025) Explored sustainable finance research, connecting STEM skills with broader social impact. • University of Chicago Laboratory Schools — Student Leader (3+ years) Co-Chair of Maroon Key Society: Organized alumni events, tours, and fundraising initiatives. Co-President of Women in STEM: Invited speakers, arranged lab visits, built peer mentoring pipelines, and partnered with national organizations. • Varsity Science Olympiad — Competitor (3 years) Two-time state medalist in Illinois, representing her school at high-level competitions. • Argonne National Laboratory — Teen Advisory Council (2+ years) Designed curriculum for major outreach events; recruited 20+ scientists for annual teen summits; created interactive workshops and climate change programming for audiences of 200+. • Chicago Youth Foundation — On Ice Program Director (7+ years) Coached 500+ kids through Learn to Skate, developing lesson plans and assessments to expand access to ice sports in Chicago. • United States Figure Skating — Competitive Skater (11 years) Team USA Theater on Ice Nations Cup competitor; U.S. Figure Skating Quadruple Gold Medalist; National Champion in Solo Dance; consistent top finishes at regional and national competitions. Each step reflected the same core instinct: find the door, knock on it, and if no one answers? Knock again.

🔬 The Researcher Researchers are defined by intellectual curiosity and the drive to push past classroom boundaries. For research universities, these “pre-professional” applicants are golden — ready to contribute to labs and faculty projects from day one. Colleges love them because they’re not just learning answers in class; they’re asking their own questions and chasing down solutions in the real world. Brianna embodies this archetype fully. She spent four years in a cancer metabolism lab at UChicago, mastering techniques like CRISPR editing, stable isotope tracing, and in vivo imaging. By senior year, she was a contributing author in Cancer Discovery — an accomplishment few high school students can claim. Even outside the lab, she lived the Researcher mindset: sending dozens of cold emails, following up until she got a “yes,” and turning rejection into fuel. For her, inquiry wasn’t an extracurricular; it was her identity. 💙 The Healer Healers are drawn to helping professions and communities — medicine, teaching, counseling, care. What defines them isn’t just academic rigor, but the motivation behind it: the desire to use knowledge for the good of others. Admissions officers value Healers because they connect human impact to intellectual pursuit. That instinct is what powered Brianna’s research. She extended this same mindset outside the lab, mentoring peers in Women in STEM, guiding younger skaters through Learn to Skate programs, and designing outreach events at Argonne national lab to bring science to wider audiences. Together, these archetypes made Brianna’s application stand out. Dartmouth didn’t just see a strong student; they saw a future biomedical engineer already operating at the level of a young scientist, with the discipline and focus to keep climbing higher. Whether editing genes or teaching kids to skate, Brianna proved that science and service can move together in stride.

Q: If you could go back to the very start of the college process, what advice would you give yourself?

• Persistence Through Outreach — From cold emails to professors and admissions officers, Brianna created her own doors to walk through. • Science as a Spike — Years of cancer research at UChicago anchored her identity and gave her application a clear edge. • Choosing True Fit — She blocked out the noise, trusting her instincts that Dartmouth’s D-Plan, community, and setting were right for her.

Q: One of the first questions I like to ask is: Why Dartmouth? A: I went on an in-person tour of Dartmouth, and during and after that visit I realized more and more it was the place for me. Everything felt unique—community, traditions, even their academic calendar with the D-Plan. It just really fit everything I was looking for in a college. It ended up being my top choice. Q: You mentioned the D-Plan. Could you explain what that is and why it appealed to you? A: Dartmouth runs on the quarter system. The D-Plan lets students choose which quarters they’re on campus and which they’re off. For example, if you don’t want to take classes spring quarter of sophomore year, you can do something else and then come back another quarter to take those classes. At first it sounds odd, but then you hear stories of students landing incredible internships because they apply off-cycle—when other college students are in school. A Dartmouth student told me she worked at a law firm and went into court every day. If she’d done it in the summer, she would’ve had to rotate with all the other interns. Opportunities like that made me realize how valuable the D-Plan could be. Q: Have you already identified any specific opportunities you want to pursue, or will you figure it out once you arrive? A: I know Dartmouth has many connections through its alumni network. I’ll learn more once I’m on campus, but it seems like the reach is broad. Q: Dartmouth is also known for being remote. Coming from Chicago, did that feel daunting or appealing? A: At first I was worried—it’s a big adjustment from a city. But once you’re there, you see how much there is to do. I actually value the remoteness and connection to nature. At Admitted Students Day, I kept running into the same people, which really builds community. A lot of students say, “When else in your life will you get four years in the mountains and woods?” For me, that became a definite pro. Q: Let’s talk about your application. Were there ways you tried to stand out or emphasize a unique aspect of yourself for Dartmouth or other schools? A: I applied everywhere as a biomedical engineering major. The most distinctive part of my application was my research. I worked at UChicago in a cancer metabolism lab throughout high school, and that was the spike of my application. I also had STEM clubs, some work at Argonne National Lab, and involvement in Women in STEM and Girls Who Code. But the research was central. Q: Wait, so you were doing research at UChicago as a high school student? A: Yes. I went to the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools for high school, so many of us take classes or do research at UChicago. Q: Is that something you had to apply for? A: Yes. I just randomly got placed into the lab I’m in, and got really lucky with a PI who had faith in a high schooler. He gave me meaningful work, and I’ve been here ever since. Q: That’s incredible. So this is your last week there? A: Yes, it’s bittersweet. I’m grateful—it changed my whole career trajectory. Q: For a high schooler trying to find similar opportunities in their community, what advice would you give? A: So many people around me just cold emailed PIs. They’re very receptive. If they’re too busy, there’s usually an undergrad or PhD student you can shadow. If you send enough emails, one of them’s gonna hit. Q: That’s great advice. I’ve actually been hearing “cold emailing” a lot from successful applicants. Is there anything you learned about getting over the fear of rejection? A: Exactly—don’t fear rejection. Worst case, you’re in the same place you started. Best case, you get a yes. So why not try? Q: Shifting to essays: we’ve heard more students talking about ways to stand out beyond listing accomplishments. Was there an essay or strategy you used that you think helped? A: I think one thing that helped, it wasn't a technique or anything I wrote about. I really tried to form a good relationship with the admissions reader for my area. They’re the one that advocates for your application. If they didn’t visit my school, I found them online and emailed them. It shows demonstrated interest and keeps you on their radar. Q: That’s smart. You also mentioned professors? A: Yes, I emailed a Dartmouth professor to ask if I’d be able to research with him. He was receptive, and I wrote about that in my application. Q: How did you track down your regional admissions officer? A: Usually I’d Google “[College] Chicago area admissions officer.” Sometimes the info was outdated and sometimes you really gotta dig. For one school, the page was last updated in 2018—but I emailed anyway—and she still responded. It actually worked out.” Q: That’s persistence. Last question: you got into Dartmouth. If you could go back to the beginning of the college process, what one piece of advice would you give yourself? A: First, remember everything happens for a reason. The process is random at the margins—so many applicants are amazing—so don’t take rejections personally. Second, tune everyone else out when making your final decision. I had so many opinions coming at me, but you need to protect your own perception of each school.