Guoyao M.
Tell us about yourself, Guoyao!
What is your anticipated school and intended major? Economics/Math at Princeton University, class of 2029
What did you do in the military? I was an artilleryman and section chief stationed in 2/11 Las Pulgas, Camp Pendleton.
Tell us about your experience applying to college. Applying to college was a different beast. In 6 months, from September to March, I've brainstormed a hundred ideas, drafted fifty, abandoned a dozen essays and spent nearly a hundred hours to craft 5 "perfect" applications.
After submitting the application, the anticipation was another challenge, anxiety creeping in as my mind constantly bounced between "I got this" to "no one will accept me."
What was the biggest benefit to using Service to School throughout the application process? Service to School provided me with everything I needed to be successful. I was paired with incredible mentors who walked my path and understood me to ensure I put forth the best version of myself in my applications. I benefited the most from the essay writing process, having a mentor to share past experiences and insights was instrumental to my application success.
How was peer-to-peer mentorship helped you in your journey to higher education? Having someone who understood me as a veteran pursing education is Service 2 School's greatest asset that I could not have gotten from any other application assisting organizations. I wholeheartedly recommend peer-to-peer mentorship to all the service members and veterans.
What are you most excited about in regards to starting school? What’s your favorite part about the school you chose to matriculate at? I am most excited to be challenged intellectually. Princeton's philosophy of teaching focuses on understanding the material rather than rote learning, which aligns with my desire to pursue knowledge.
Guoyao’s advice for veterans who are applying to college:
1. Plan early, give yourself plenty of time to write(rewrite) essays.
2. Do your research on the schools, ask yourself if you see yourself going to these schools if admitted, if the answer is no, do not waste time on their essays.
3. Go to every info session if you can, every school is different, having a comprehensive understanding of your schools would be a great asset that can be beneficial to finding the school that fits you.
Congrats again Guoyao on your acceptance to Princeton University!
