Nigerian students accepted by all 8 Ivy League US universities

For any student, a few things in life can be as thrilling as an offer of admission from a highly-prized university. But the eight US universities that make up the Ivy League are more than just highly-prized. They are almost like a cult, set apart from other schools by a long tradition of elitism and selectivity.

These eight universities typically have the lowest acceptance rates. For example in 2016, Harvard University recorded an acceptance rate of five per cent. In the same year, Dartmouth University recorded 10.5; Yale University, 6.3; University of Pennsylvania, 9.4; Princeton University, 6.5; Brown University 9.3; Columbia University 6; and Cornell University, 14.1 per cent.

It would seem that applying to all eight of them is a favourite game among high-achieving teenagers in the US. Yet reaching that target has remained quite rare. Indeed a recent report published by CNN described it as “a monumental feat” which has only “happened to a handful of teens over the past couple of years.”

Any wonder then why, when Nigeria’s Ifeoma White-Thorpe received her eighth letter, the news was greeted with widespread excitement?

“I was like, oh my gosh, like this might be eight out of eight and I clicked it and it said ‘Congratulations’ and I was like oh my goodness!” she told WAB TV. “I got into Harvard Early Action, so I figured I’ll just go there. So then I got all the others and I was like, wait now, I don’t know where I want to go.”

White-Thorpe, who was also accepted to Stanford University, is not a stranger to great things. The 17-year-old is currently a senior and Student Government President at Morris Hills High School, Rockaway, New Jersey; and has also won the National Selma Speech and Essay Competition. She intends to study Biology and to be a leading figure in the field of Global Health.

“I want to go into Global Health and study Biology, and so many of them (the Ivy League schools) have great research facilities. So I was like, I might as well just shoot my shot and apply.”

What did she think made her application so attractive? “I think my love for poetry and writing just really stood out,” she said.

Only days after White-Thorpe’s remarkable accomplishment, Jude Okonkwo, son of Nigerian immigrants, hit the big target, as well.

“It is a tremendous honour to gain acceptance to all eight Ivy League schools,” said 17-year-old Okonkwo who is currently a senior at Chaminade High School.

Okonkwo, who plans to study Medicine, is likely going to choose Harvard, reports have said. He began to develop interest in Medicine at the age of six when Hurricane Katrina destroyed his New Orleans home.

“Hospitals were severely impacted by the storm, while so many people needed so much help,” he said. “It motivated me to serve as a summer lifeguard for the disabled after we moved to New York. My parents enrolled me in swimming lessons after seeing the powerful flood waters Katrina brought ashore and I realised I could use swimming to help people.

“Tragedies occur in everyday life, and I want to be someone who can help a person and their family heal in their times of need,” he said.

Perhaps, Okonkwo would have very easily made a career out of writing, too. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of his school’s literary magazine. He is the author of “A Journey through Poetry”, available on Amazon. He has other interests: he serves as President of the Chaminade Glee Club and is part of his school’s track team. He is also a member of the National Honour Society.

“My Chaminade experience has offered me opportunities in leadership that were integral in preparation for college and the entry process,” he said.

Another Nigerian student who also recently hit the headlines is 18-year-old Olawunmi Akinlemibola who received offers from 14 top US universities, including five Ivy League schools.

Akinlemibola, a senior at DuVal High School, has also obtained 53 college credits through the dual enrolment policy of the Prince George’s County School system, with a 4.15 grade-point.

Her counsellor, Stacy Kline described her as “one of the top students” she has ever “had the privilege of working with.”

She said, “And I say privilege because she is someone who has taken classes far beyond the ones I’ve taken–even in my master’s programs! She’s just amazing.”

Akinlemibola said she owes it all to her parents: “My parent, my mum in particular has gone through a lot I can’t let them down,” she told NBC.

She gained acceptance to Harvard, Princeton, Brown, Cornell and University of Pennsylvania. Others are Stanford, Duke, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Swarthmore College, Grinnell College, Amherst College, Emory University, University of Maryland at College Park and University of Chicago.