It all started 10 months ago when I decided to apply to university in the United States. A decision usually preceded by a long and thoroughly thought process, yet a rather impulsive one for me.

I knew that I was running out of time and that everybody else had already started the process. Nonetheless, I was determined to give my absolute best to make this happen and, knowing that I could not do it well on my own, I decided to call Upgrade Education. I was afraid the initial meeting would only be an acknowledgement of my unfortunate situation, instead, I was greeted by a mentor with the most enthusiastic and optimistic mindset, already thinking of the next steps to take and supporting me in trusting the process.

The next 6 months were probably the period in my life when I created a life-changing college application and I developed the most as an individual, as a person.

It was the period when, thanks to my mentor and his close and constant support, I got in a position where I could fully embrace myself. I understood where I stand and what I seek to do in my life, ultimately finding the perfect words to describe my complex persona to the Admission Committee, in just a few essays.

Apart from the direct, organized and effective admission coaching process Upgrade Education offered me, the team made sure that I documented my university choices and that I was aware of all the aspects regarding my next 4 years as a student: from a social and academic perspective to the courses offered and the future career options. Moreover, my mentor emotionally prepared me for all the potential drawbacks that I might encounter and supported me throughout the whole application process and the post-admission period.

From the slightest details in my Common App to the successful interview, I owe Upgrade Education a considerable share of my admission, as they taught me how to take all the “sand granules” that represent my life in the past years and turn these into a shiny “diamond” that showcases the best version of myself, a version that thanks to them, I learned to fully embrace and be proud of.

My journey with Upgrade Education began after a call and a one-on-one free session, where we established what parts of my then-nonexisting application had to be constructed, enforced and insisted upon. I first took part in the Creative Writing course, which managed to undo years and years of writing anxiety. Although in the beginning I doubted myself when it came to my essay-writing skills, I emerged out of the program with a newfound interest in expressing my thoughts, experiences, and aspirations through prose. Through this course I was able to carry out profound introspection that was later of fundamental use in my supplementals, all the while creating multiple solid drafts for my CommonApp essay. I had now gained a better perspective on what is relevant for admission officers when it comes to written pieces, and I understood how to efficiently convey useful information about myself in anywhere from 100 to 650 words. Furthermore, I am convinced that the three-month-long individual collaboration with Upgrade Education was crucial to the smooth flow of my application process. During the personalized mentoring sessions, I was motivated not only by the fact that a highly experienced mentor would give me suggestions on how to strengthen my essays but also by the determination and courage that Upgrade Education’s mentor instilled in me during the most demanding and difficult application cycle in recent history. With his help, I constructed an extensive personal narrative that best revealed my values and identity. Having started out as a stereotypical participant in STEM olympiads with written self-expression abilities which were close to nonexistent, I was aided by Upgrade Education in showing my true, nuanced colors to the offices of admission all around the USA. I can thus assuredly attest that Upgrade Education has played an essential, pivotal role in the acceptances I received, which that from MIT, an institution I will call home for the next four years.

I can still recall the overwhelming feeling of breathless panic when I first decided to sit down and write my college essay drafts. I would look at the prompts and hundreds of small ideas would instantly pop into my head, but when my fingers touched the keys of my laptop no word felt right. My sentences sounded artificial, my experiences came across as superficial and vague, and my voice got lost among the cliches of high school writing. How could I distill who I was, what drove me and defined me, what made me an ideal candidate, an interesting scholar and a curious mind? I tried for days to crack this code, but I quickly found I couldn’t do it alone. That was the moment I decided to work with Upgrade Education It wasn’t an instant change. I didn’t suddenly become a wordsmith, but after each session with my mentor, my ideas and what I wanted to say about myself became clearer and clearer, not only for the unattached and unfamiliar readers but also for myself. I had difficulties with brevity, each draft coming out 1000 words over the limit, but after my discussions with my mentor, I would always come out knowing how to separate the meaningful content from the fluff in my writing. We didn’t stop at what my essays should be like, but instead, we explored what they could be. Introspection may sound like a simple buzzword, but it truly was the name of the game and what I believe truly separated my applications from all the others. I was encouraged to experiment with my writing and apply absolute honesty, to not be afraid to delve into topics deemed “off-limits” by popular admissions websites, to express myself in the same ways that make me who I am. The sessions not only helped me prepare for the unpredictable admissions cycle in the US, but they pushed me into creating applications that I was truly proud of, which represented me together with all of my experiences. For me, Upgrade Education isn’t just a service: it’s a community perfectly equipped to help with and to ease the overwhelming nature of applying to college, a community willing to provide words of encouragement and constructive criticism and capable of inspiring students to be more thoughtful and introspective. I would have never thought that my dream of studying at MIT would come true. Nevertheless, through my collaboration with Upgrade Education, the panic and fear I once felt towards college were gradually replaced by newfound confidence. My profound gratitude towards them is a feeling that is impossible to express. I wholeheartedly believe that the work we’ve done together, all the hours we spent deliberating over my essays, their content and structure, and even my choice of words, were crucial to my success.

Upgrade Education is a community of passionate people, truly eager to help, who enjoy the successes of their students and are saddened by their failures almost as much as the students themselves. Nothing in the Upgrade Education experience seems impersonal, artificial, or ordinary. Working with my mentors, I realized one crucial thing: they were people from Harvard, Yale, and Oxbridge. They were flesh and blood in front of me, deeply human, wonderfully imperfect, and amazingly like me. And more than that, they believed in me and my ability to succeed. As soon as I realized that, quite late in the process, I really felt that I was moving towards a tangible goal. I embarked on this journey knowing exactly where I wanted to get, and I’m now disembarking knowing also that, once I get there, I’ll manage to adapt myself to it, to integrate myself, and to get by really well. Because I know it is something I truly deserve, but also because I know what I should expect, thanks to the Upgrade Education community. The mentors I had been working with always helped me put things in perspective, perfect my essays or improve my exam techniques. I knew I could always rely on them: when they applauded, as well as when they criticized me. And they encouraged me to permanently challenge my boundaries. I am quite different from the person//Ana who started to prepare for the admission more than one year ago, and I can tell I am more confident and I have somehow overcome many of my irrational fears. However, the things I learned at Upgrade Education go far beyond the aspects regarding the admission process. These are things I will practice and apply my entire life, and for which I will always be grateful to Upgrade Education.

At Upgrade Education, I found exactly the support I needed. The mentors’ teaching style catered to my specific needs and motivated me to continue pursuing my objective even when I ran into difficult situations. Here, I found a very dedicated and enthusiastic team, devoted to helping me accomplish my dream, who stood by my side the entire time.

My experience with Upgrade Education has been a very enjoyable one and I owe most of that to my mentor. She’s an incredible mentor and an amazing person from whom I’ve learned a ton of things. We communicated well and had great synergy. I could share with her all the anxiety, hope and joy that comes with applying for US Universities and she’s been nothing but supportive.