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USA Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
'Unicorn': Meet the high school senior accepted into 5 Ivy League schools
'Unicorn': Meet the high school senior accepted into 5 Ivy League schools - live on TikTok The odds of any high school senior being accepted into an Ivy League school are small. Meet one senior who got into five of them. "She is a unicorn," her guidance counselor said. Show Caption Hide Caption Bensalem High School senior gets accepted by five Ivy League schools Victoria Mathieu talks about what it's like to be the first Bensalem High School student to be accepted into five different Ivy League schools. A TikTok video of Victoria Mathieu opening her college acceptance letters went viral. The teen credits her success to hard work and dedication. She hopes to inspire other young Black girls to pursue higher education. High school student Victoria Mathieu applied to 17 colleges this year. Her dream school was an Ivy in her home state: the University of Pennsylvania. The 18-year-old senior at Bensalem High School, who also goes by Tori, hoped her weighted 4.36 GPA, extensive afterschool activities list, summer legal internship and outside advocacy work would be enough to attract interest from the prestigious college. But she was also realistic, she said. The odds of being accepted into an Ivy League school are slim for even the brightest and most well-rounded of the high achievers. Penn admits only approximately 5% of those who apply for its undergraduate programs. Imagine her surprise — shock is a better word — when she learned that she was accepted into Penn. There were 14 other schools that accepted her as well, including four other Ivy League universities, two of them with even lower acceptance rates. "It's a blessing. I'm above the moon right now,' she said. 'I almost feel like it's still not real because it's something I never expected to happen.' Viral TikTok video: What Ivy League schools did Tori Mathieu get into? The teen's reaction to learning of her windfall was captured in what has become a viral TikTok video generating more than 5 million views since it was posted March 27, known to some as 'Ivy Day.' The nearly four-minute video shows Victoria and her family crowded around the laptop on the kitchen island as she opened each letter in her college portal. First, she learned she was accepted into Columbia University, which wasn't a total surprise. She received a letter notifying her that she was likely accepted into their prestigious legal scholars program. Dartmouth University was next, where she was waitlisted. 'That's not bad,' she said. Cornell University and Brown University were her second and third acceptances, generating screams and whoops. 'I got into ... Oh my God. This is not real," she said as the acceptances came in. Now Yale University. 'You're lying. You're lying. Oh my God," she said, "I got into Yale. I got into Yale. I got into Yale. Go Bulldogs.' Next up, Penn. Another yes. Bensalem High School senior accepted by five Ivy League schools Tina and Pierre Mathieu talk about their daughter being the first Bensalem High School student to be accepted into five Ivy League schools. 'What. Is. Happening?' Tori said. Last, Harvard University, where she was waitlisted. The only Ivy League school that Victoria neglected was Princeton University (sorry, Tigers). She said she ran out of time to submit an application. Her parents said they suspected another reason. 'We think it's because it's too close to home,' Pierre Mathieu said. Guidance counselor on what makes Tori Mathieu unique Victoria is one of five of Bensalem seniors this year accepted into one of the eight Ivy League colleges, a new school record, guidance counselor Dayna Harrison said. But Victoria is the first student to be accepted into five and waitlisted for two others. 'She is unheard of. She is a unicorn,' Harrison said. 'It's one of the greatest achievements I've seen in my career.' Harrison described Victoria, who ranks seventh in her class of 611, as a fiery spirit, a go-getter with a work ethic that few her age possess. In addition to a flawless GPA, she sits on the high school's mock trial team. During her junior year Victoria founded a local chapter of a global high school honors legal society at the high school. Last summer she interned for Legal Aid Southeastern Pennsylvania. She serves as a Bensalem School Board student representative, as well as captain of the Step Dance Team she founded, and the Reading Olympics team at the high school. She is a Pennsylvania global ambassador for ReSoap Foundation, a youth-led nonprofit fighting hygiene poverty and climate change. She is a member of the high school's DECA chapter, which is dedicated to preparing students for business careers. In her spare time, she also founded Still I Shine, a virtual community support group for Black high school-age girls dealing with 'colorism' — discrimination against people with a dark skin tone within the same ethnic or racial groups. 'She is going to change the world,' Harrison said. 'I keep telling her mom, I want her to run the world.' Victoria Mathieu hopes her college story can inspire other girls The oldest of four, Victoria takes her studies seriously — maybe a bit too seriously, said her mother, Tina. 'We didn't push Victoria. She pushed herself,' Tina said. 'If she gets a B, she is crying. It's like the end of the world. She'll be crying for an A-.' She and her husband instill in their children the importance of a good education. Pierre came to the United States from his native Haiti at age 18. Tina immigrated with her family from Nigeria when she was 10. The couple met at Philadelphia Community College, where Pierre was Tina's math tutor. He later graduated from Bucknell University, and she from Temple University. They both believe that education is the best way for immigrants like themselves to improve their lives and financial stability, Tina said. Added Pierre: 'Our belief is that education opens doors." With so many doors opened wide for her now, Victoria picked Yale University over Penn, specifically for its law school. She has aspiration for a legal career. At a visit for incoming Yale freshman in April, when Victoria introduced herself, the admissions officer hugged her. The woman told Victoria her essay left a deep impression on her. While they could not be more proud of their daughter and her accomplishments, her parents know there is more hard work ahead for her. 'This is only the beginning,' Pierre said. Victoria said to see her years of dedication and hard work pay off in such abundance has been rewarding. It's inspired her to find a way to pay it forward by helping to empower others. 'When I got my acceptance, one of the first things I thought about is, 'Wow, because I did it, I can tell the people it's possible,'' she said. 'A lot of girls, particularly Black girls I know, who don't think that it's possible for them, to have them get into one. I feel like I can kind of be that light for them.' #fyp ♬ original sound - victoria @ i'm sorry if this video is all over the place i just love to talk and i'm not an influencer😞😞 but also i may do an advice video cause i feel like that would be more beneficial tbhhh #ivyleague Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bensalem High School senior goes viral after receiving 5 Ivy League acceptance letters
The Brief A video is going viral on TikTok, with millions of views about a Pennsylvania high school senior who got accepted into five Ivy League universities. She's hoping to inspire other young girls. FOX 29's JoAnn Pileggi got a chance to meet her. BENSALEM, Pa. - Reaching the Ivy League is for the best and brightest and well-rounded students, and for the tens of thousands who apply, only a fraction get in. Here, though, one student has five Ivy offers! What we know "I applied to, yes, seven. I was expecting zero in all reality. I was not expected to get into any," said Victoria Mathieu, who received five Ivy acceptances. Victoria Mathieu, an 18-year-old Bensalem High School senior, aimed high by applying to seven of the eight Ivy League universities, where acceptance rates are in the single digits. The straight-A student had an impressive activities list and was captain of the step team. "Brilliant, self-sufficient, she's someone who speaks for herself. She's confident, someone I think if I had a daughter, I'd want them to look up to," said Dana Harrison, her high school guidance counselor. Victoria was awestruck when she opened her college portals on Ivy Day last month, and her TikTok went viral. She opened Columbia first because she'd received a likely letter. Second was Dartmouth, where she was waitlisted. And then the next four! "It was Cornell, Brown, Yale, and UPenn, four in a row. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack," Victoria said. "I was always encouraging her to push yourself and see where it leads," said Pierre Mathieu, Victoria's father. Victoria's role models are her parents, both super proud of their daughter. Both immigrants who lived the American dream, went to college, and instilled a serious work ethic and empathy for the world around her, volunteering and getting involved in social impact clubs. "It's not like I could've worked harder. I laid everything out on the table. I was proud of the work I submitted," Victoria added. Victoria had no rejections! She is waitlisted at Harvard and Dartmouth. What's next Decision day is Thursday, and she's leaning towards Yale. She eventually wants to go to law school and plans to mentor middle school students this summer to help them achieve their academic goals.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Why high school seniors' 'rejection cake' trend is going viral on TikTok
Why high school seniors' 'rejection cake' trend is going viral on TikTok Show Caption Hide Caption Watch student's elated Ivy Day reaction to college acceptances As Tinaye Ngorima anxiously awaits college admission results in Ontario, Canada, his family rejoices after he's accepted to Harvard, Brown and Penn. Humankind, USA TODAY As videos of emotional college acceptances and elaborate school-themed bed parties fill high schoolers' social media feeds, some seniors are putting a humorous spin on the emotional let down of getting denied from colleges with rejection one TikTok with more than 5 million views, Needham, Massachusetts high school senior Ceci Skala and her friends cheer 'This is our rejection cake!' as they present a cake decorated with miniature flags from top schools that rejected them. Skala, who applied to 12 colleges and was waitlisted from her top choice, says the trend is a way to make fun of the daunting, stressful college admissions process. In the video, her friends placed rejection pins from schools like Yale University, University of Southern California, Harvard University, University of Virginia, Dartmouth College, the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University and Boston College.'If you're applying to a hard college and you're seeing all these acceptance videos, it's going hurt, because it's like, 'Am I the only one rejected? Am I not good enough?' " Skala says. 'You don't see all the videos of everybody else getting rejected.' College acceptance videos have heightened the stakes College consultant Brooke Hanson, who is the CEO and founder of SupertutorTV, says social media has made the college admissions process more stressful. Twenty years ago, students showed their excitement for college with a sweatshirt or yard sign. Now, Hanson and Norman say, that display has moved onto social media, where teens' For You Pages are flooded with acceptance videos featuring screams of joy and tears. 'That can contribute to the stress or feeling that you're not good enough,' Hanson says. 'They're feeling like everybody's getting into all these great schools.' The opposite is true — when it comes to elite colleges that operate with acceptance rates of 10% or lower, 90% of applicants face rejection. 'College admissions feels like, 'Oh my goodness. This is rejection. This is so terrible. But in life as adults, you're going to fail, you're going to get rejected,' Hanson says. When Co-Founder of Counseling at Expert Admissions Bari Norman saw the rejection cake videos, she thought, 'finally, some reality.' She says students should remember that the videos of students celebrating might not tell the full story – for every video posted, there are more that were deleted. 'Plenty of people will tell me, 'Oh, we videoed it, and she was in hysterics. We deleted it right away,' ' Norman says. In the elaborate decorated bed party celebration videos, the school being celebrated may have been someone's third or fourth choice. Skala says social media distorts students' perception of the admissions process. On days when school decisions come out, news about acceptances spreads like wildfire. 'News spread very, very quickly on everyone's decisions in my school, even people I'm not friends with. I heard what colleges they got into and didn't get into,' Skala says. Gen Z uses humor to cope Platforms like YouTube and TikTok have changed the way teens talk about their mental health. And whereas the cultural norm on Instagram is a more polished aesthetic, TikTok's trend-driven community feels more informal and prioritizes user engagement, creating a fertile environment for personal moments to go viral. When the comment sections on users' rejection videos are filled with support, it builds a sense of solidarity and peer connection. Humor is an extremely useful and common coping strategy that can help some process heavy events, according to Marni Amsellem, a licensed psychologist. For others, it can lighten the emotional severity of a situation as well. Plus, Gen Z is more pessimistic than millennials, which might explain their inclination toward dark humor, explains Jean Twenge, author of "iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy − and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood." How the trend is helping students with redirection Hanson says it's healthy for teens to acknowledge the hardships of college rejections and to find community in commiserating over the experience together. But ultimately, they should remind themselves that college is what they make of it.'The point is not necessarily just to get a brand name stamped on your sweatshirt,' Hanson says. 'It's to have an experience, and above all, learn how to gain skills that are going to benefit you.'Norman says thinking of college as an end point is a miscalculation, and that rejection can be redirection. What students do once they get to college is what matters.'You're about to just get started in your life and your career. This is not the end point, you've just reached the starting line,' Norman says. Skala and her friends, at least, were determined to put a positive spin on their application process. In an April 14 video, the girls posted a commitment cake, with each student showing the school they'll be attending in the fall. Skala, who is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison and plans to study kinesiology, says things worked out in the end. 'Sometimes admission processes are just a gamble, and your self worth shouldn't be defined by a school or a decision,' Skala says. 'Having other people relate to it makes it easier.' Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X. Jenna Ryu contributed reporting.
Forbes
04-04-2025
- General
- Forbes
3 Red Flags To Avoid In Your Letter Of Continued Interest
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - July 18, 2023: Lehman Hall is a Georgian-revival building by Charles ... More Coolidge completed in 1925. Lehman Hall, located in Harvard Yard, is the student center of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). After Ivy Day's college admissions results were released last week, many students found themselves navigating the uncertainty and stress of the waitlist. While a waitlist notification represents a frustrating delay, it does not necessarily mean that a student must forgo their dreams of attending that college. However, applicants should adjust their expectations and their strategy to align with the school's admissions trends. Even if the odds of acceptance off a waitlist are slim, students who still want to attend the institution by which they have been waitlisted have one final recourse: a letter of continued interest. A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a brief note to admissions officers expressing an applicant's desire to attend should they be accepted and offering concise updates to inform the admissions committee's secondary evaluation of their materials. This letter is critical, as it is a student's final opportunity to convey information to admissions officers in their own words. They should therefore approach it with thoughtfulness, strategy, and intentionality. While an eye-catching letter could tip the scales in your favor, it is important to remember that admissions officers are inundated with these letters in March and April, and the wrong approach can result in a forgettable message—or worse, poorer chances of admission. In order to write a letter that elevates your application, it is imperative to avoid these three red flags: A LOCI should provide admissions officers with new and relevant information. A student should not rehash their entire résumé and application in their LOCI, nor is it appropriate for them to list every minor activity they have participated in since applying. Depending on the school, admissions officers may receive hundreds of letters. So, students should keep theirs brief to show respect for the committee's time and to ensure that they convey their key points effectively. Applicants should therefore focus on providing concise updates that directly impact the reassessment of their application. Have you received any new awards, honors, or leadership positions? Have you started a meaningful project or initiative? Have you improved upon a weakness in your application? Have you boosted your standardized test scores or GPA? Such updates are tangible, often quantifiable, and directly impactful. While you can—and should—show your humor, personality, and perspective, make sure that you are doing so in a way that highlights, rather than distracts from, the concrete information in your letter. The more you can showcase these positive updates in your own unique voice, the greater impact your LOCI will have. You may feel frustrated that you weren't accepted or anxious that you won't ultimately get into your dream school, but those emotions should not be evident in your letter. Statements such as 'Yale has been my dream school since I was a kid,' 'I thought I was a shoo-in at Vanderbilt,' or 'I don't know what I will do if I don't get in' will not translate as genuine enthusiasm for the school, but as immaturity and lack of perspective. That being said, your letter should clearly signal to admissions officers that the school is at the top of your list—the key is communicating that effectively. Approach your LOCI with gratitude and poise. Open by thanking the admissions committee for considering your application and reaffirming your enthusiasm for the institution. Acknowledge the competitive nature of the process while expressing optimism about the possibility of contributing to the university's community. Here, you might include an anecdote about your time visiting campus or another personal detail to convey why you see yourself as an ideal fit for the school. References to specific aspects of the campus community will demonstrate your candidacy and interest in the school more effectively than desperate pleas for admission. Admissions officers value maturity, resilience, and positivity—traits that will render you a positive addition to their campus—so use your letter to showcase these qualities. Finally, students should keep in mind that admissions officers have already read their application materials. This means that there is no need to reproduce their activities list or essays—students should provide important updates while trusting that their previously submitted materials will stand on their own in the second review process. Additionally, students should resist the temptation to send more than one letter. After sending their note to admissions officers, they must do the hard work of waiting for a decision; continuing to flood the admissions office with correspondence will not reflect favorably on the applicant. As Yale's admissions blog notes: 'You should not try to re-do any parts of your application. You should not inundate your admissions officer with weekly emails and cards. More often than not it is the required pieces of the applications, like the essays and teacher recommendations that we already have, that make a student stand out for us.' Ultimately, while a letter of continued interest will not guarantee you admission to your dream school, it is your final recourse to catch the eye of an admissions officer and express your enthusiasm for the institution in your own words. Sending a polished, professional, and authentic letter could tip the scales in your favor at your dream school. You should address your LOCI to the admissions officer assigned to your region. If you are unsure of who that may be, refer to the university's admissions website or call the admissions office to inquire. Students should be prompt in sending their LOCI. Aim to submit your letter within a few weeks of receiving your waitlist notification. In general, students should limit their letter to roughly one single-spaced page (no more than 500 words).
Forbes
03-04-2025
- General
- Forbes
3 Red Flags To Avoid In Your Letter Of Continued Interest to Ivy League Colleges
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA - July 18, 2023: Lehman Hall is a Georgian-revival building by Charles ... More Coolidge completed in 1925. Lehman Hall, located in Harvard Yard, is the student center of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). After Ivy Day's college admissions results were released last week, many students found themselves navigating the uncertainty and stress of the waitlist. While a waitlist notification represents a frustrating delay, it does not necessarily mean that a student must forgo their dreams of attending that college. However, applicants should adjust their expectations and their strategy to align with the school's admissions trends. Even if the odds of acceptance off a waitlist are slim, students who still want to attend the institution by which they have been waitlisted have one final recourse: a letter of continued interest. What is a letter of continued interest? A letter of continued interest (LOCI) is a brief note to admissions officers expressing an applicant's desire to attend should they be accepted and offering concise updates to inform the admissions committee's secondary evaluation of their materials. This letter is critical, as it is a student's final opportunity to convey information to admissions officers in their own words. They should therefore approach it with thoughtfulness, strategy, and intentionality. While an eyecatching letter could tip the scales in your favor, it is important to remember that admissions officers are inundated with these letters in March and April, and the wrong approach can result in a forgettable message—or worse, poorer chances of admission. In order to write a letter that elevates your application, it is imperative to avoid these three red flags: A LOCI should provide admissions officers with new and relevant information. A student should not rehash their entire resume and application in their LOCI, nor is it appropriate for them to list every minor activity they have participated in since applying. Depending on the school, admissions officers may receive hundreds of letters, so students should keep theirs brief to show respect for the committee's time and to ensure that they convey their key points effectively. Applicants should therefore focus on providing concise updates that directly impact the reassessment of their application. Have you received any new awards, honors, or leadership positions? Have you started a meaningful project or initiative? Have you improved upon a weakness in your application? Have you boosted your standardized test scores or GPA? Such updates are tangible, often quantifiable, and directly impactful. While you can—and should!—show your humor, personality, and perspective, make sure that you are doing so in a way that highlights, rather than distracts from, the concrete information in your letter. The more you can showcase these positive updates in your own unique voice, the greater impact your LOCI will have. You may feel frustrated that you weren't accepted or anxious that you won't ultimately get into your dream school, but those emotions should not be evident in your letter. Statements such as 'Yale has been my dream school since I was a kid,' 'I thought I was a shoo-in at Vanderbilt,' or 'I don't know what I will do if I don't get in' will not translate as genuine enthusiasm for the school, but as immaturity and lack of perspective. That being said, your letter should clearly signal to admissions officers that the school is at the top of your list—the key is communicating that effectively. Approach your LOCI with gratitude and poise. Open by thanking the admissions committee for considering your application and reaffirming your enthusiasm for the institution. Acknowledge the competitive nature of the process while expressing optimism about the possibility of contributing to the university's community. Here, you might include an anecdote about your time visiting campus or another personal detail to convey why you see yourself as an ideal fit for the school. References to specific aspects of the campus community will demonstrate your candidacy and interest in the school more effectively than desperate pleas for admission. Admissions officers value maturity, resilience, and positivity—traits that will render you a positive addition to their campus—so use your letter to showcase these qualities. Finally, students should keep in mind that admissions officers have already read their application materials. This means that there is no need to reproduce their Activities List or essays—students should provide important updates while trusting that their previously submitted materials will stand on their own in the second review process. Additionally, students should resist the temptation to send more than one letter. After sending their note to admissions officers, they must do the hard work of waiting for a decision; continuing to flood the admissions office with correspondence will not reflect favorably on the applicant. As Yale's admissions blog notes: 'You should not try to re-do any parts of your application. You should not inundate your admissions officer with weekly emails and cards. More often than not it is the required pieces of the applications, like the essays and teacher recommendations that we already have, that make a student stand out for us.' Ultimately, while a letter of continued interest will not guarantee you admission to your dream school, it is your final recourse to catch the eye of an admissions officer and express your enthusiasm for the institution in your own words. Sending a polished, professional, and authentic letter could tip the scales in your favor at your dream school. Who should I send my LOCI to? You should address your LOCI to the admissions officer assigned to your region. If you are unsure of who that may be, refer to the university's admissions website or call the admissions office to inquire. When should I send my LOCI? Students should be prompt in sending their LOCI. Aim to submit your letter within a few weeks of receiving your waitlist notification. How many words should my LOCI be? In general, students should limit their letter to roughly one single-spaced page (no more than 500 words).
