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.

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Getting into Harvard on his own was not easy.

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I worry I got into Yale only because I'm Black. I now do everything I can to prove I belong.

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The author.

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I'm a college admissions expert. Here's my advice on what you should and shouldn't do on your applications.

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I'm a college-admissions expert. Don't join extracurriculars just so you have an impressive résumé — schools will see right through it.

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a student holding up all her acceptance letters
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