Athena has been really fundamental in my journey. More than that, I think they gave me this belief in myself, and I think what has changed is that I’ve understood there’s a clear way to structure everything, with the proper timelines I had with my projects and with my essays and everything. I would not have been able to write such good essays without the mentorship I received.

Athena helped me really understand what I’m passionate about and what I would like to engage with over the next four years and beyond. They gave a common theme to my profile and extracurriculars that not only stood out on my résumé but also played into my passions.

It had been my dream to write a research paper, but I thought I’d have to wait until college. I came to Athena and found out they had a full-fledged research department. I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ Athena will adapt to exactly what you want. They are a bank of wisdom, always there to solve your problems.

One of the projects I did with Athena involved breast cancer surveys and screening camps for rural Indian women in Karnataka. This multi-step project pushed me to my limits. Athena gave me direction, bound all the efforts together, and gave me a solid path forward.