Crafting the Application StoryBenjamin knew his GPA, class rank, and test scores formed only the “bottom layer” of the admissions pyramid. What would set him apart was a story of curiosity, adaptability, and stepping outside his comfort zone. He made sure to highlight: • Serving as captain of the varsity swim team while competing in two varsity sports. • A month in Taiwan teaching English—his first time living away from home. • Weightlifting, which introduced him to new communities. • Aviation connections, including weekly breakfasts with ex–fighter pilots, one a former Thunderbird.

When asked how he researched schools, Benjamin compared it to learning a language—you have to immerse yourself to really understand. “Anyone can go on Google and read why Yale is what it is, but it really only takes being there to convince yourself,” he said. The Air Force Academy summer seminar had helped him visualize life there; visiting Yale let him picture a new future.

Benjamin’s high school and early college experiences blended leadership, service, aviation, and global exposure: • Volusia County School District – SALT Committee Student Advisor • Served on the advisory team to the Superintendent, voicing concerns of ~2,500 students directly to district leadership. • 2024 Florida Boy’s State Delegate – The American Legion • Gubernatorial Nominee, Americanism Winner, Senator, and County Commissioner. • Overseas Community Affairs Council, Taiwan (R.O.C.) – Volunteer English Teacher/Counselor • Trained at Chientan Youth Center; taught English in Chiayi City, led and designed lessons, and mentored younger students while immersed in local culture. • Letter of Assurance to the U.S. Air Force Academy Recognized early commitment and qualification for admission. • Private Pilot’s License • Built strong aviation connections, including networking with ex–fighter pilots and a former Thunderbird. • Captain of Varsity Swim Team • Competed in two varsity sports, demonstrating leadership and athletic commitment. • Weightlifting & Athletics • Pursued physical training and discipline outside of organized school sports.

Braini-ock – You are a true student-athlete, excelling in both academics and athletics without letting one come at the cost of the other. Colleges value Braini-ocks because they bring discipline, resilience, and teamwork from the field into the classroom — and vice versa. Benjamin embodied this balance as captain of the varsity swim team while also competing in two varsity sports, all while keeping his academics strong enough for Yale. His weightlifting journey and aviation training added even more layers of discipline. For admissions officers, that combination of scholar and athlete made him stand out as someone capable of working hard, balancing priorities, and excelling in multiple arenas at once. Genuine Article – You are unapologetically you. Rather than edit your essay over and over again, you’ve been vulnerable to show your true self, even if it’s raw and messy. Admissions no longer sees a piece of paper when they look at your application — they see a human being. Benjamin’s application embodied the Genuine Article mindset. He didn’t rely on perfect numbers or overly polished branding to define him. Instead, he told a clear, honest story: his scores were “good but not perfect,” and his true edge came from embracing discomfort and seeking growth. He rejected the admissions “checklist” approach, focusing instead on experiences that held real meaning for him and his community. His voice in interviews and essays reflected the same no-nonsense clarity — the reader gets to meet Benjamin exactly as he is. Globetrotter – You are worldly, bold, and independent. You’ve experienced a lot in your life already, and you show how that informs your unique wisdom. Colleges want you for their abroad programs and global reach. Benjamin’s month-long teaching program in Taiwan was his first extended time away from home — and a formative turning point. Immersed in a new culture, he taught English, mentored students, and adapted quickly to unfamiliar surroundings. The experience matured him, sharpened his independence, and broadened his perspective on leadership. It proved he could not only thrive in new environments, but also bring those lessons home.

Benjamin is clear: you don’t have to be the smartest, the fastest, or the most decorated to end up at a place like Yale. What you do need is the courage to put yourself in the game over and over again. For Benjamin, that meant stepping into unfamiliar roles, testing himself in new environments, and refusing to let “I wish” be the last words on any opportunity.

Immersion Wins Over Research – You can’t fully understand a school until you walk its campus, meet its people, and feel the culture. Growth Through Discomfort – The biggest leaps happen when you take on challenges that push you beyond your comfort zone. Authenticity Over Optics – Real passion leaves a bigger mark than resume fillers.

Q: Why Yale? I think that’s a question you’ve probably been asked before, maybe even wrote an essay about. But what did that process look like? How did Yale rise to the forefront? How did you get started, and how did it end up here? A: I never thought of myself as an Ivy League applicant. For the longest time, I wanted to go to the Air Force Academy, and I actually got a Letter of Assurance to the Academy in November of my senior year. For about six months I thought, “Okay, this is it.” Before that, for three or four months, I really believed I was going to the Air Force Academy. Then Ivy Day came on March 27th — you open up the decision, and yeah, it’s right in your face. That was really the first time I started to consider Yale. You know, after you watch Top Gun, you want to be a pilot, and that was my dream for two or three years. I got my private pilot’s license, but in the back of my mind, I’ve always had bad eyesight, so I knew it was going to be an uphill battle. When the Yale door opened, I started thinking: do I really see myself jumping over all the hurdles at the Air Force Academy when I could go to Yale, do Air Force ROTC there, and still have the opportunity to serve my country? Plus, you get the prestige of an Ivy League education. That idea started to stick with me. Then you start looking into the school — residential colleges, research opportunities, professors who wrote the textbooks used at the Air Force Academy — and you realize you can have one-on-one classes with them. I really started to fall in love. I went to Bulldog Days, met some of the nicest people I’ve ever met — people I’d never spoken to before — and it just felt like home, even though I’d had this other dream for so long.

Q: You mentioned earlier you never thought you’d be an Ivy League applicant, but obviously you applied. Was there anything you put in your application that you felt was particularly important? Any strategy you used to communicate who you are? A: The college application is multifaceted. You’ve got your base — test scores, GPA, class rank — and mine were good, but not perfect. That’s the bottom layer of the pyramid. Above that, you have to make yourself stand out by telling your story. For me, that meant showing I never limited myself in terms of experiences. I played two varsity sports, was captain of the swim team, did weightlifting one summer, and spent a month in Taiwan teaching English — my first time really away from home. Flying has also been a big part of my life. I’ve met amazing people through it, and I still have those connections. Every Saturday I go to the local airfield and have breakfast with ex–fighter pilots, including a former Thunderbird. I felt the most growth when I was the most uncomfortable and I’m okay with being a smaller fish in a bigger pond.

Q: Why Yale? I think that’s a question you’ve probably been asked before, maybe even wrote an essay about. But what did that process look like? How did Yale rise to the forefront? How did you get started, and how did it end up here? A: I never thought of myself as an Ivy League applicant. For the longest time, I wanted to go to the Air Force Academy, and I actually got a Letter of Assurance to the Academy in November of my senior year. For about six months I thought, “Okay, this is it.” Before that, for three or four months, I really believed I was going to the Air Force Academy. Then Ivy Day came on March 27th — you open up the decision, and yeah, it’s right in your face. That was really the first time I started to consider Yale. You know, after you watch Top Gun, you want to be a pilot, and that was my dream for two or three years. I got my private pilot’s license, but in the back of my mind, I’ve always had bad eyesight, so I knew it was going to be an uphill battle. When the Yale door opened, I started thinking: do I really see myself jumping over all the hurdles at the Air Force Academy when I could go to Yale, do Air Force ROTC there, and still have the opportunity to serve my country? Plus, you get the prestige of an Ivy League education. That idea started to stick with me. Then you start looking into the school — residential colleges, research opportunities, professors who wrote the textbooks used at the Air Force Academy — and you realize you can have one-on-one classes with them. I really started to fall in love. I went to Bulldog Days, met some of the nicest people I’ve ever met — people I’d never spoken to before — and it just felt like home, even though I’d had this other dream for so long. Q: That’s awesome. That must take a lot of courage to switch gears like that. You touched on this briefly, but I’d love to hear more about the mechanisms you used to figure out Yale was the right fit. How did you research and paint that picture of which school actually felt right? A: The most important part is immersion — like learning a language, you have to put yourself in it. I visited the Air Force Academy the year prior for their summer seminar program, and I really enjoyed it. I could actually see myself there, and I visualized being there for over a year. But it only took visiting Yale once — going on all the tours, seeing the facilities — to realize it’s living history. That’s something you can’t replicate unless you’re on campus. You start talking to professors and students. Anyone can go on Google and read why Yale is what it is, but it really only takes being there to convince yourself. Q: So the visit was pretty important? A: Yeah, it was. Q: You mentioned earlier you never thought you’d be an Ivy League applicant, but obviously you applied. Was there anything you put in your application that you felt was particularly important? Any strategy you used to communicate who you are? A: The college application is multifaceted. You’ve got your base — test scores, GPA, class rank — and mine were good, but not perfect. That’s the bottom layer of the pyramid. Above that, you have to make yourself stand out by telling your story. For me, that meant showing I never limited myself in terms of experiences. I played two varsity sports, was captain of the swim team, did weightlifting one summer, and spent a month in Taiwan teaching English — my first time really away from home. Flying has also been a big part of my life. I’ve met amazing people through it, and I still have those connections. Every Saturday I go to the local airfield and have breakfast with ex–fighter pilots, including a former Thunderbird. I felt the most growth when I was the most uncomfortable and I’m okay with being a smaller fish in a bigger pond. Q: A lot of high schoolers don’t see opportunities around them. How would you advise them to find and turn those into something real? A: As cliché as it sounds, if there’s a will, there’s a way. You don’t have to find the “perfect” opportunity to make an impact. I didn’t start a nonprofit, I didn’t write a book, I wasn’t part of a huge national organization. I started with volunteering, joined student government, and tried a bunch of different clubs. Once you find something you’re passionate about, you can make a real impact. It doesn’t have to be global — it just has to matter to you. I think too many people treat college applications like a checklist, doing things that look good on paper but don’t have real impact. Start with one step. Try a lot of different things, and you’ll eventually find something you’re truly passionate about. Q: And doing that authentically is more important? A: Absolutely. Q: Having gone through the process, made your mistakes and your successes, what advice would you give your younger self if you had to do it all over again? A: I’d tell myself: never say “I wish.” Experience everything you can. Don’t limit yourself just because you think you might not like something — you never know where it will take you. I was never the best at anything — not in sports, not in academics. I had to study for tests, I never got a perfect SAT or ACT score. There are plenty of people I know who are smarter than me but didn’t have the same admissions outcomes. The difference was that I never shied away from trying something new. I put myself out there. That’s the advice I’d give: don’t hold back, and don’t give yourself a reason to say “I wish.”