From Sofia:

In 2025 I have been blessed to be accepted as a full-fledged member of the Watsonville Ivy League Project. This program is a prestigious program that admits high-achieving students and gives them the opportunity to visit and explore all of the Ivy League universities in the United States, so that they may be able to apply in their senior year. During this trip, we will be able to meet university representatives and deans, learn about the programs they offer as well as their processes, and explore the large historical campuses. As of now, we have already done our first meeting and on our way to more meetings for a whole year, discussing student-led fundraising tactics and ways to work together for our end goal. As an over-achiever myself, I am incredibly excited to be participating in such a fantastic program where I get to know like-minded people.

So what is our end goal? I’m glad you asked! For it to even be possible for us to visit these schools, we individually must raise $3,700.

How did I get in?

I was one of many students from two schools in my district who filled out the application for 2025's WILP program and one out of 13 kids who were selected. The requirement was at least a 3.75 GPA, and must be a sophomore or a junior in Pajaro Valley or Watsonville High School, both schools that are fairly underrepresented/under-resourced. The application process is incredibly similar to applying for college, with two essay questions, one short answer and one long answer, submitted a teacher recommendation, spoke about my extracurriculars and achievements, and finally was interviewed by a selection committee.

ABOUT WILP’S SUCCESS

Of the 164 WILP past participants since 2007, 19 of them are attending or have attended Ivy League schools which is a 11.59% admit rate (Source: WILP database).By comparison, the overall Ivy League acceptance rates for the Class of 2026 averaged 5.22%, ranging from 3.19% to 6.91% (Source:https://www.ivycoach.com/ivy-league-admissions-statistics/). Taken together, these results suggest WILP participants are earning Ivy League opportunities at more than double the general admit rate, underscoring the program’s impact in helping students reach highly selective universities.

Academic and Extracurricular Activities

I was accepted into WILP as a result of my ability to challenge myself academically and excel in my extracurricular activities, I have a 3.83 unweighted GPA and a 4.5 weighted GPA. I challenged myself with multiple AP classes, Dual Enrollment classes (which are classes taken at the local community college), and have completed a special course outside of those areas. I was also in my school's Concert Band class for the entirety of my freshman year, and jumped in Wind Ensemble Honors for my sophomore year and junior year. I have played my main instrument, clarinet, for three years and continuing. I am President of my school's band council, marching band, and competition band; and was Secretary in my sophomore year, as well as a Band Member in my freshman year. I take full pride in my 3-year participation in our concerts, competitions, and half-time marching shows, and performances outside of school. I take a theatre arts class where I perform skits, plays, and monologues requiring stage confidence, determination, memorization, emotion, and enthusiasm. I have also been in plays outside of my school, one in which I am currently in now, called Into the Woods. I've done a paid summer internship at UCS involving event organizing, taken taekwondo classes, given speeches at multiple school board meetings in my freshman year, participated in school's K-pop club for two years, completed a two week summer camp at Summer Springboard UC Berkeley's campus where I took a psychology and neuroscience class.

I am incredibly passionate and strive to learn more about the performing arts. With this background of extracurricular activities and academic success, I've developed enough skills that will give me an incredibly good shot at attending an Ivy League university. But I still need all the help I can get from each and every one of you kind souls. Here is a breakdown of what your donation will go towards:

$600- airfare

$1,400- ground transportation

$1.300- lodging for 7 days

$400- food for 7 days

Even though I've done everything I can so far to help out my community and enhance my academic background, participating in WILP will be an amazing step to help me prepare for what is to come from the application process of these prestigious universities. Your donation will be greatly appreciated; every single dollar will be a huge help as well as a step towards the right direction for this program. The fundraising target of $3,700 is a huge sum, and it will definitely be a lengthy process! Any amount of donation is welcomed. If you cannot donate, it is completely understandable, but please try to spread the word and encourage others to donate.

Thank you,

Sofia Gomez