2025 College Admissions Night Featuring AOs from Berkeley, Cornell, and Penn

On May 7th, 2025, BranchOut! welcomed admissions officers from some of America’s top universities: Mr. Jua Howard from UC Berkeley, Mr. Adrian Gutierrez from Cornell University, and Ms. Courtney Bradshaw from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Each panelist shared unique aspects of their university, highlighted key factors for applicants to consider, and offered advice on a range of topics, from student-led initiatives to international academic competitions. Attendees also had the opportunity to speak with these AOs one-on-one in breakout rooms, where they gained unparalleled insights into each university's culture, admissions process, and academics.

Our emcee team raised an important question regarding the key aspects students should prioritize in their college applications. We encourage you to watch this insightful short clip, which delves into the specific qualities and themes that top educational institutions are seeking in prospective candidates. Surprisingly, many students are overlooking these crucial elements in their applications, which could enhance their chances of admission. By understanding what top schools desire, students can better tailor their narratives and ultimately present a more compelling case for their candidacy.

Jua Howard from UC Berkeley emphasized the value of quality over quantity in the extracurricular section. He highlighted Berkeley’s culture of advocacy, self-direction, and social impact, and encouraged applicants to frame their experiences in terms of community betterment and initiative beyond academics. Finally, Mr. Howard reminded students that standardized testing isn’t considered at the University of California; instead, character and initiative matter more.

Ms. Bradshaw from the University of Pennsylvania brought a unique business-focused lens to the discussion. She explained how strong Wharton Business School applicants often lead or launch business ventures and use their business to create an impact in their communities. Ms. Bradshaw also emphasized self-advocacy, authenticity, and emotional intelligence, key traits that Penn looks for in an applicant.

Mr. Gutierrez from Cornell University highlighted Cornell’s interdisciplinary culture and the importance of connecting who you are with what the university offers. He encouraged students to not only explain why they want to attend a school, but also what they can bring to the table. Mr. Gutierrez emphasized qualities like intellectual potential, curiosity, and strength of character, and how that translates from high school to college.

Throughout the night, our speakers returned to a common thread: the strongest applications aren’t always the ones with the highest test scores or GPA– most often, the applications that stand out are ones that combine intellectual drive and academic success with human depth, character, leadership, and initiative. A key takeaway to keep in mind, then, is that colleges want caring, compassionate, and empathetic students who’ll thrive outside of the classroom as well as inside.

We also posed an important question regarding the impact of a community or volunteering program like BranchOut! on enhancing students' visibility and competitiveness in the college application process. To gain deeper insights, let's hear directly from our admissions officers, who shared their perspectives on how to present your information on the application regarding these service programs.

As the college admissions and application process continues to evolve, events like these are crucial to help our community better understand and navigate the process. So, on behalf of the entire BranchOut! Student Leadership Team, we’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our panelists and attendees for making these events possible!

We’d also like to thank our student emcees for the night:

Ethan Gao, 11th Grade, River Hill High School

Emily Qiu, 10th Grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Jennifer Zhang, 11th Grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

BranchOut! is excited to be hosting more college-related events in the future-- be sure to follow us on Instagram (@branchoutveritas) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BranchOut2018/)  to stay updated on upcoming community events and workshops!

All of our virtual events are hosted by BranchOut!’s student mentors and student leaders. If you would like to become a mentor yourself, our Summer 2025 application is open! Visit us at https://www.velbranchout.org/apply to learn more and apply.

Student Hosts (2020-2025)

2025 (May 7th)

• Ethan Gao, 11th grade, River Hill High School

• Emily Qiu, 10th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Jennifer Zhang, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

  
  

2024 (September 19th)

• Caroline Li, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Jennifer Zhang, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Lillian Su, 10th grade, Langley High School

2024 (April 11th)

• Kavya Kuttuva, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Richard Zhu, 11th grade, Richard Montgomery High School

• Rohan Sinha, 10th grade, Richard Montgomery High School

2023 (August 22nd and September 26th)

• Kavya Kuttuva, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Richard Zhu, 11th grade, Richard Montgomery High School

• Ethan Gao, 10th grade, River Hill High School

• Brian Zhou, 12th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Elizabeth Li, 11th grade, Oakton High School

• Lillian Su, 9th grader, Langley High School

• Evan Wang, 12 grade, Montgomery Blair High School

2023 - High School (August 8 and September 7)

• David Liu, 11th grade, Episcopal High School

• Amelie Deng, 12th grade, The Lawrenceville School

• Rebecca Chen, 9th grader, McLean High School

• Kevin Xue, 11th grade, Chantilly High School

• Evan Wang, 12 grade, Montgomery Blair High School

2022 (September 20th):

• Kavya Kuttuva, 10th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Richard Zhu, 10th grade, Richard Montgomery High School

2021 (September 23rd):

• Johnny Liu, 10th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Kavya Kuttuva, 9th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Mikayla Li, 12th grade, McLean High School

2021 (July 29th):

• Kavya Kuttuva, 9th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Mikayla Li, 12th grade, Mclean High School

• Sarah Deller, 12th grade, James Madison High School

2020 (October 8th):

• Aditi Kodali, 12th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

• Gabi Turriago-Lopez, 11th grade, Oakton High School

• Teresa Huang, 10th grade, Oakton High School