Written By Andie Pinga
Expert SoFlo Tutor Anusha Nadkarni tackled the college application process without a roadmap, navigating it as the first in her family to apply to U.S. universities. Weighing affordability, academic fit, and long-term career opportunities, she strategically balanced applying to merit scholarships and different kinds of schools. Ultimately, she chose Stanford, drawn to its physical environment and student culture. In this feature, Anusha shares her insights on researching schools, maximizing early applications, crafting authentic essays, and lessons she’s learned on approaching testing.
How did you approach your college applications?
I’ll start off by saying that when I was applying to colleges, I had no idea what I was doing. My parents are first-generation immigrants with no experience in the American education system, so my sister and I were the first people in our family to navigate the U.S.’s undergraduate education system. When I started applying to schools, I considered affordability, student community, resources for my career interests (policy, law, education), and expected return on investment post-graduation. I applied predominantly to state schools (UIUC, UT Austin, UMich, UC Berkeley, UCLA), and private schools that offered significant merit-based scholarships (Emory), as well as Stanford, Yale, and Columbia. While I wanted to apply ED to Barnard College, my parents were firmly against applying ED – they wanted me to really explore my options. I was upset at the time, but now I’m grateful that I listened. I have some friends who applied ED to their schools and have no regrets – they knew that school was right for them. I, however, had considered ED only because I was insecure about my odds if I applied RD to “elite” schools.
Instead, I applied EA to every non-restrictive program that I could, which were predominantly at state schools. I was accepted into every state school program that I applied to, except for UCLA. Many schools, especially select private schools, will give you additional scholarship and honors consideration just for applying in an early round. At Emory, I received a huge merit-based scholarship that compelled me to heavily consider its liberal arts program. At UIUC, I was automatically admitted into the honors program for my desired major. At the end of the day, I heavily recommend investing time into complexly researching schools’ application policies – not just traditional factors, but also specific deadlines and scholarship opportunities available for students who just look a little harder.
Why did you choose Stanford? What factors did you consider?
Stanford had always been my dream school. I fell in love with the Richardsonian Romanesque style architecture, the temperate weather, and the unique blend of technology and art, work and play, and collaboration and curiosity that I found there on my first visit. From the beginning, I knew Stanford was the perfect environment for me, both in terms of the literal environment and in terms of the student culture.
Actually choosing Stanford was a separate challenge. For one, it was by far the most expensive school that I had been accepted into. In comparison to the financial aid and scholarships that I had gotten at other schools, Stanford would cost significantly more, even with personal scholarships. I did find, however, that Stanford offered a lot of on-campus jobs and paid research opportunities for freshmen, which made me feel more comfortable about paying for college. Also, I knew that the network and opportunities available to me with a Stanford degree would ultimately be invaluable in terms of college experience and my career post-grad.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that I am lucky to have parents who are willing to financially support my education to a significant degree, which not all students have. While my parents urged me to consider a school that was less costly and closer to home (I live in the Midwest), they ultimately supported my aspirations to attend Stanford. It helped that my sister and family friends pushed them to celebrate the fruits that their efforts in immigrating to a new country had borne – I am indebted to my community. At the end of the day, it was their backing that really pushed me to follow my dreams of attending Stanford, even though I knew that it would cause financial and emotional strains at times. This has been worth it for me, and I believe that choosing the right college is about figuring out what is worth it for you.
What was your testing journey like?
My testing journey was a disaster. For starters, I didn’t have a tutor, so I was self-studying while taking 5 AP classes and leading multiple extracurriculars. This isn’t a brag – it’s a cautionary tale. Looking back, I would have absolutely found someone to support this aspect of my college journey. I was always too stressed to study, so I didn’t hold myself accountable for doing well.
I took the SAT three times, and then decided that it wasn’t for me. Then, I took the ACT twice before getting a score that I was happy with (34). I was aiming for a 35 or 36, but I realized that I was too burnt out to really give my all to the SAT/ACT, and I was better off trusting in the process of holistic application review. At the time, schools weren’t requiring test scores, but I wanted to demonstrate drive. A 34 is a great score; still, I was insecure about the knowledge that I could have done better if I had just accepted the resources to do so.
As an SAT/ACT tutor now, I see the ways in which my students improve and grow – not just as test-takers, but also as scholars. I was too stubborn to admit I needed support, because I wanted to seem smart enough to do it on my own. The thing is, though, that standardized testing isn’t about how smart you are. It’s about how prepared you are to navigate the test strategically. I learned how to do this before my final attempt using the SAT Prep Black Book, and now I use that perspective to guide my students too. Now that schools are back to requiring test scores, I encourage students to use all the resources at their disposal to really supplement the rest of their application with an SAT/ACT score that you’re proud of.
What did you write about in your college application essays?
Before I had even heard about using themes in college applications, one began to form: the theme of community. I wrote a lot about the distinct communities I belonged to and how they shaped me as a person, as well as my interests. I let my experiences with community work and identity demonstrate the kind of student that I would be and the ways I would contribute to university culture.
Beyond that theme, I also leaned into who I was as an individual. I was very honest about my characteristics, and why I held the values that I do. I found the whole process to be really transformative from a personal level, and I think that my transparency was a key factor in showing how complex I was. I would not just be a student on the university campus – I would be a roommate, a classmate, a friend. By allowing application officers to see who I was relationally, I also showed them that I had nothing to hide – I presented myself as I am, and I’m confident that that decision played a key role in making my application shine.
Finally, I worked really hard to investigate the root of my academic curiosities. I had an urge to highlight for colleges the side of my academic career that I thought they wanted to see: I got straight As, many things came naturally to me in high school, and I like to ask a lot of questions. But I knew that in college, I would not always get straight As. Things would not come naturally to me. I wouldn’t know what questions to ask or to whom. So, I instead focused on the intrinsic motivation behind my academic career; the same thing that would propel me in college despite adversity.
I talked about my love for storytelling, and how my passion for peoples’ voices and needs moved me to pursue policy work. I talked about belonging, and how my relationship with education equity has been shaped by the notion that students need to find community in the classroom to become the best students they can be. I talked about culture, and how my upbringing has shaped my perspective that everyone is responsible for creating a better future – something I found doable through political and legal mobilization. What made me stand out wasn’t telling admissions officers what they wanted to hear; rather, it was reminding myself why I wanted to pursue my career in the first place. Anyone can succeed anywhere – it is your intentions and values that set you apart.
Did you apply to any scholarship programs?
I participated in the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP, IL-2023), which is a $10,000 scholarship for high school juniors and seniors interested in public service. I met the best friends of my life there; it is truly a week that will change your life. I would recommend it to anyone interested in learning about civic engagement and our country’s inner workings – I met people with diverse career interests, life goals, and backgrounds whose political perspectives I never would have encountered otherwise. I also applied to local scholarships, which have really eased my financial burden. I wasn’t aware of larger scholarships (Taco Bell, Coke Scholars, etc.) until way later, but I think it’s important for students to also remember how valuable and more accessible smaller, local scholarships can be! I didn’t apply for any special programs at Stanford, because it’s very flexible once you’ve matriculated, but I know a lot of people in special programs at their universities who love them. Just make sure to do your research so that your experience at your university is financially stable and dense with relevant opportunities for you.
Do you have any advice for students applying to colleges? Any advice for students taking the SAT/ACT?
Other than what I’ve said above – just breathe. The college and testing processes are a high-pressure time, and it’s easy to lose sight of what you want from it. No matter where you end up, you will thrive. I know students who turned down Harvard for state schools and are the most successful people I know. I know people who chose Ivy Leagues, and people who chose community college, too. The people who are happiest at those schools are the ones who know who they are and haven’t let anyone else tell them what was best for them. You will end up where you belong, and you will do amazing there.
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