Lila

12th Grade Package | Cornell

Lila arrived in the summer before 12th grade—late in the process and eager for focused application support. A student at Walter Johnson High School with stellar grades and rigorous coursework, she had devoted thousands of hours to pre-professional ballet but recently decided against a performance career. Our mandate: transform her existing achievements into a crisp, persuasive narrative in time for Early Decision deadlines.

Insight

Two strands emerged quickly:

1. Personal growth through ballet. Years of disciplined training had shaped Lila’s identity and resilience, especially after a recent family tragedy.

2. Quiet fascination with economic justice. Class debates and extracurricular snippets (DECA, Girls for Business) revealed a budding interest in how markets intersect with equity—an ideal match for Cornell’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR).

Strategy & Execution

Compelling personal statement. We framed ballet as the crucible in which Lila processed loss, developed self-awareness, and translated artistry into grit—showcasing maturity and ambition without lingering on the setback.

Intellectual positioning for ILR. To demonstrate depth, we:

  • Curated anecdotes from DECA competitions and Girls for Business workshops where Lila questioned profit-only models.

  • Recalled class debates on neoliberal policy, prompting Lila to articulate tensions between market efficiency and social welfare.

  • Drafted a Cornell-specific supplement that wove those moments into a cohesive argument for studying labor markets, policy, and economics through an equity lens.

Narrative coherence. Every essay, résumé bullet, and recommendation request reinforced the theme: a dancer’s discipline redirected toward economic justice and labor equity.

Outcome

By deadline day, Lila’s application read like a single, well-scored performance—technical excellence, emotional resonance, and a clear future direction. Cornell agreed: she earned Early Decision admission to the ILR School.