Learn how we’ve launched so many success stories for students passionate about computing, data, mathematics, engineering, and more.

See our framework-building approach in action—which helps students to create content more effectively, stand out in selective admissions pools, and unite every achievement with authenticity.

Discover how we help students uplift missions and messages across application components—because that’s the magic that creates futures.

See how we’ve helped our recent admits stand out, starting with the component central to every application, the 650-Word Personal Statement.

We’ll start with a successful example from one of our own UNC Chapel Hill Admits. This Innovator’s most-preferred major was Computer Science.

With our approach, this student was able to unite a variety of robotics experiences with meaningful values—and tie together the entire story through bold and innovative creativity.

This Innovator’s Personal Statement was submitted as a response to a selected Common Application Essay Prompt:

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.


My first-ever team assignment: Project Chicken Nugget.

That Monday morning, dad and I exchanged a knowing glance about our shared mission: breaded, fried, and delicious. With whispers in the hallway, we addressed the main problem to solve: not wanting to make mom feel left out. We assessed the crucial project constraints: (A) mom’s vegetarianism and (B) her painstaking efforts to balance our family dinner ritual with her demanding work schedule.

I relayed the plan, and its elegant design, to my little brother, my 2-years-younger accomplice in my childhood schemes.

As soon as dad picked us up from school, we would make our way to our local McDonald’s drive-through. My brother and I would need to ensure there were no signs of fried chicken grease staining our t-shirts, and we would have to keep our knowing glances and giggles to a minimum at the dinner table.

We refined the plan as the weeks progressed, adjusting as needed when mom became suspicious.

Even in our family move to a new town, Project Chicken Nugget persisted—and I valued not just our creative approach and exciting execution. I valued the conversations with my dad. I learned stories about his new clients, creative ideas from his colleagues, and more about his perspectives and values.

However, as the “new kid” in my town at the time, I was still an outsider, especially on my new middle school robotics team. I couldn’t connect with my teammates over inside jokes, so I tried to become the guy who had all the answers. I put more pressure on myself as the stakes grew higher.

During my sophomore year, as the youngest on my robotics competition team, I aimed to be the team member who knew how to do and fix anything. I spent my Saturday nights devouring YouTube videos, gathering skills and knowledge that I could bring to help my older teammates. We progressed far in the [Redacted] World Championships that year, but our team members had become distant from one another.

As I questioned my identity within my team, I gained understanding from hearing more of my dad’s stories.

He had grown up in an environment where he needed to take every opportunity possible to achieve, but he learned more with every new environment. As he became more comfortable relying on others, he learned impactful lessons and the value of support.

His stories made me more patient in my own learning process, and more comfortable with just being myself. I took this awareness to new spaces with my peers, and I realized that being more authentic helped me to foster friendships and to grow as a mentor.

Instead of working only toward perfection, being more authentic in conversations with my teammates helped us to develop new skills together, even if we didn’t place as high in competitions. Laughing at myself helped me get elected for student government, being humorous with my peers through the campaign. Admitting my flaws helped me to become a better mentor for newer tennis teammates and younger runners.

While there are still inside jokes my mom might not know about, both of my parents’ influences gave me determination to pursue opportunities as they come, along with the appreciation for the less-controllable elements of learning.

My parents’ blended perspectives, collaborative teams, and many informal families continue to show me the value of embracing the process rather than just the outcome. With each new project, I’m reminded that the path always makes the goal more fulfilling. I notice that we learn more not only by working toward a common goal, but also by sharing our uncertainties and hopes along the way.

And, with every new learning curve, I’m reminded of an important lesson from my first-ever team assignment.

When picked from the box resting precariously on the dashboard—sneaking bites between brainstorms and inside jokes—the chicken nugget always tastes better.


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Our framework-building approach helps students build stronger applications start to finish, but we’ll start the summer with a core creative component—the Personal Statement.

With a Class of 2025 Inspiration Upgrade we’ve curated just for Future Innovators, see more successful personal statement examples from our students admitted to Johns Hopkins, UIUC, Michigan, Georgia Tech, and more.

Refine your primary college essay or reimagine your entire creative approach—-with targeted inspiration made memorable by design.