Growing up in Uruguay, I thought college was a pipe dream. But I was accepted into Harvard with no help from consultants or private tutors.

• I grew up in Uruguay; my family couldn't afford tutors or consultants to help get me into Harvard.
• After hours of research, I taught myself about the college essay and Common App.
• Thanks to my own hard work and research, I got into Harvard.

When the pandemic was at its peak, the idea of studying seemed impossible for me. At that time I was living in a small town in the south of Uruguay, and I was working to financially support my parents, who had no income because of the quarantine.