I got into Yale, Penn and Dartmouth—my college essay was about my parents' struggle with technology

The college application season starts all at once.

On Aug. 1, 2025, I woke up to more than 100 emails from colleges announcing their applications were open. I applied to 27 colleges: two I felt confident I'd get into, four where I had a realistic chance and 21 highly competitive schools — including four Ivy League schools.

I was doubtful that I had done enough to prepare. But to my surprise in early spring, I was accepted into three of the four Ivies: Yale University, University of Pennsylvania and Dartmouth College. This fall, I'll be attending Yale.  

Among my acceptances, I was also offered a full-tuition merit-based scholarship to the University of Southern California, and accepted into five of the top 10 liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

When people ask what helped me get in, my answer is simple: my parents and their struggle with technology. That's the story I told in my college essay, a key part of the application. 

College applications usually include several essay prompts, but they all aim to help students show who they are.

I grew up in an immigrant household where children take on responsibilities early. I was the family's "secretary," handling translations, bills and texts with my stronger English and tech skills.

Raised in Guatemala, my parents were pulled out of school at a young age to work for affluent families. When they came to the U.S., they worked long hours in manual labor jobs. For as long as I can remember, I've woken up to the rumbling of my father's truck heading off to a long day under the hot sun. 

In order to get paid, he needed to bill his clients, and paper invoices weren't going to cut it. His limited education didn't provide the tools he needed to understand the complexities of digital invoicing.

So I stepped in. At first, I learned to create simple invoices. Later, it grew into navigating systems I didn't fully understand at a young age, finding solutions without a roadmap. That experience shaped how I approached the entire application process.

1. I learned how to use my resources

I first used a computer in my elementary school lab. Between lessons, I opened Excel and experimented with templates using basic math, switching back to schoolwork so no one would notice.

But when my teacher caught on to my constant mouse-clicks, she offered to help. During my afterschool computer club, when I wasn't working on a project, we would go back to Excel and the invoice templates.

When I entered high school, I knew I wanted to go to a top school, so I used the skills I had already built. I met with guidance counselors to plan my freshman course schedule, making sure I'd have support as I took on a challenging course load.

I developed close relationships with my college counselors, who encouraged me to apply to summer programs that strengthened my resume. Those connections also led to more personal, detailed recommendation letters. Using the resources around me opened doors that wouldn't have been there otherwise.

2. I taught myself how to research

I became well acquainted with online forums, Reddit and Google during my application process. Figuring out technology for my dad at a young age well equipped me to surf the internet effortlessly. Years later, my research skills kicked into high gear during my college application process.

When I had finally set my goal of attending a top college, I spent hours researching what it took. My research took me to applications about summer programs that would set my resume apart. That's how I ended up in D.C. with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and how I landed a paid internship with a nationally recognized law firm the summer before my senior year.

Research has become an invaluable tool, helping me find answers to my biggest questions with ease.

3. I took advantage of every opportunity

Once I understood what was available to me, I applied it to every aspect of my life.

I filled out every application for programs supporting first-generation students, applied to every scholarship and took advantage of every free advising resource I could.

I learned to push myself outside of my comfort zone, which in turn made me more comfortable with failing. I've grown both academically and personally, which is what I tried to make clear in my admissions essay.

Having combined the previous two skills, I took advantage of fee waivers and applied to as many colleges as possible for free. Now that I've received my acceptances, I plan to use all of Yale's resources, in hopes of attending law school in the future. 

I'm not a professional college counselor, but I've learned through my own application process that admissions officers value perspective and passion.

My Penn admissions offer wrote in a note to me, "Your response to our community prompt was so powerful … I love how excited you are to continue supporting the Latino community here in Philly. It's clear you value the two-way street of building relationships with others; reaping the benefits of being surrounded by community and paying it forward by "showing up" for them, too." 

For any rising seniors, take the words of Oscar Wilde: "Be yourself, everyone else is taken."

Ohanna Carrascoza is a senior at William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills, California. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and plans to attend Yale University in the fall. 

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