A Korean-American girl, accepted to all eight Ivy League universities, which collectively receive more than 370,000 applications a year, is currently in the spotlight.
Leah Choi, an 18-year-old senior at North Hollywood STEM Magnet, one of Southern California’s top high schools, achieved the remarkable feat of gaining admission to all eight Ivy League schools.
On March 28, the day Ivy League schools announced their admissions decisions, Choi received acceptance letters from all eight universities.
“I thought it would be one or two Ivy League schools, but I wasn’t expecting Harvard,” Choi said to the Korea Daily on April 2. “When I opened my email, I saw one acceptance message after another, and I thought my heart stopped beating.” Overwhelmed with emotion, she added, “I went out of the room and told my mom and dad while crying.”
Choi’s academic success extends beyond the Ivy League; she has received acceptance letters from 24 universities, including prestigious institutions like Duke, the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Vanderbilt, Emory, and Georgetown, alongside UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Cal State Long Beach.
Describing the moment she heard the news, Choi’s mother, Junghee An, stated, “I came out of the room crying, and as soon as I heard the news, my husband and I hugged each other and cried as a family.” She reflected on her daughter’s dedication: “It reminded me of all the hard work she put into her studies, and I felt like she had done her lifelong duty of filial piety (Taking good care of one’s parents).”
An commended her daughter’s authentic approach: “My daughter focused on what she liked to do rather than doing activities to show off to others. She also had a clear goal and sought out related fields to pursue it, and the universities seemed to recognize that.”
Leah Choi, who aspires to be a nurse, has already taken and passed the state certification exam for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) while still in high school. She has volunteered at American Medical Careers School and Burlington Convalescent Hospital and has been a research assistant or intern at prestigious institutions like MIT, Texas A&M, and Stanford University.
At her school, Choi has consistently been at the top of her class for all four years. She has been active in her community, serving in leadership roles in the Science Research Club, the STEM Club, and the Medical Club Founders, and volunteering to assist Mexican children and North Korean escapees.
Choi emphasized the sincerity of her application essays: “I expressed myself honestly in the essays I submitted to the university and let them know who I am.” She advises future college applicants to “challenge yourself to do what you love and want to do.”
Looking ahead, Choi, interested in double majoring in business and pursuing a career in medical research or administration, said, “I haven’t played sports since I was in high school, but when I go to college, I want to play sports and continue my art, which I love.”
Recently, Choi visited the East Coast at the invitation of Georgetown University, where she was accepted into the early action program. She shared her excitement about traveling by airplane for the first time and visiting other universities like Yale and the University of Chicago. While leaning towards Harvard, she remains focused on her current academic commitments: “My goal right now is to finish my physics course well. And I will study hard until I graduate.”
BY NICOLE CHANG, JUNHAN PARK [chang.nicole@koreadaily.com]
