Written By Andie Pinga
Navigating the college application process can feel like an overwhelming journey, especially for first-generation students. For Liubys Soler, a current pre-med student at Johns Hopkins University, this journey was filled with unique challenges and opportunities. From applying to top-tier schools with little prior knowledge to discovering new academic passions, Liubys’ story is one of dreaming big and exploration. Read on to hear Maria’s insights into the application process, her experience as a first-generation college student, and the surprising path that led her to study Hindi abroad—all while preparing for a future in medicine.
How did you approach your college applications?
Honestly, no one in my family had gone to college, so all I knew about college was that the Ivy League was a thing. When I made my college list, thinking back, I should have had some safety schools, but I only applied to Ivy Leagues, Johns Hopkins, and a couple of schools in Florida like the University of Miami. But mainly, I wanted to go to Hopkins because I knew I wanted to be pre-med.
There were so many essays! I remember that, even though I wanted to go to Hopkins, I almost didn’t finish my application because having to write so many was exhausting. As for my test scores, I studied for the SAT for about two months, dedicating a lot of hours, but it was also during the start of COVID, so I only got to take the test once at the end of the summer. I wish I had more time to prepare for it. However, I really enjoyed writing my personal essay. It wasn’t the typical “personal story” essay; I wrote about history, which is something I’m passionate about.
Could you tell me more about what you wrote about in your essay?
Sure! My personal essay started with a moment in my history class when my teacher asked, “Who invented language?” Most people immediately thought of men, but my teacher pointed out that it would have likely been the people who were around children the most, which historically would be women. From there, I wrote about other moments in history that are often depicted as male-centered but where women were actually pulling the strings. For example, in the War of the Roses, the men were often young or just figureheads, while women were making decisions behind the scenes. Similarly, with the Protestant Reformation, it’s often attributed to King Henry VIII, but he was heavily influenced by Anne Boleyn. I explored these concepts throughout my essay. I wanted to show that women have had a significant role in shaping world events, even if they’re not always given credit.
Why did you choose to attend Johns Hopkins?
To be honest, I didn’t know much about Hopkins when I applied. No one in my family or even my cousins had gone to college, so I didn’t have much to go on. But I knew Hopkins was the place to go for pre-med. Plus, I got a full ride, so it was an obvious choice.
What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student?
It was really hard at the beginning because I had no idea what to expect going into college. But I think it made me appreciate the opportunities a lot more. I’ve done things I never imagined I’d be able to do. I never thought I could be trilingual, for one. I always thought you had to learn languages as a kid to be fluent. But I started learning Hindi at school and got grants to continue studying it in India next semester. That’s something I feel I would never have had the opportunity to do if I hadn’t gone to a school like Hopkins.
What are the three languages you speak?
I’m a native Spanish speaker, so Spanish is my first language, and I’ve learned Hindi. I’ve always wanted to visit India, and a lot of my friends speak Hindi. Plus, I love Bollywood!
Did you apply for scholarships during the application process?
Not really. The reason I focused on Ivy League schools is because they offer financial aid that covers the full cost if your family’s income is below a certain threshold. So I figured if I got into an Ivy League, they’d cover it, and if I stayed in Florida, I’d have Bright Futures. I put most of my energy into the actual application process rather than applying for external scholarships.
Do you have any advice for high schoolers applying to college?
I’d say go bigger than you think. If you close the door for yourself, it’s closed, but there’s always a chance you’ll get into a great school, even an Ivy League. Just apply, be genuine, and trust that it’ll work out. Also, preparing for tests like the SAT takes a lot of time—don’t underestimate how much effort is needed.
It’s interesting because I applied to Hopkins for pre-med, but I didn’t have an advanced science background. I only took AP Environmental Science in my last year of high school. Most of my classes were history-related, and I wrote my personal essay on history. That’s why I think you should just apply anyway, even if you don’t fit the “typical” profile for a program.
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