Former Harvard University admissions officer Devery Doran has read thousands of students’ college application essays but one young woman’s still stands out in her mind.

“She wrote this very descriptive essay,” she said. “Made it very visual of her, like awkwardly dancing at concerts and not caring about who was behind her or what she was doing and that she was off beat.”

Ultimately the student spun a broader exploration of a very personal journey of self-acceptance, which Doran knew made her a perfect choice.

“It just made you feel that this is a girl who is coming to her own … She’s going to bring other people up. She’s going to encourage them to do their thing. I was just excited by her.”

Doran is in Australia this month speaking to students who aspire to get into US colleges, includ

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