57. How I Got Into the University of Pennsylvania (My Test Scores, Personal Statement, Supplementals, Activities, Recommendation Advice, Etc)
This week I am sitting down to walk through my college applications. I go through my stats (GPA, SAT/ACT scores), extra-curriculars, personal statement, supplementals, and more!
Watch my reaction video here
About She Persisted (formerly Nevertheless, She Persisted)
After a year and a half of intensive treatment for severe depression and anxiety, 18-year-old Sadie recounts her journey by interviewing family members, professionals, and fellow teens to offer self-improvement tips, DBT education, and personal experiences. She Persisted is the reminder that someone else has been there too and your inspiration to live your life worth living.
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My Personal Statment
I want to start this essay by acknowledging my story is not one typically showcased in a college application. Nor, as you are about to learn, is it one that many would choose for themselves. But it is my story and one of grit, determination and perseverance.
At age thirteen, I battled depression so severe that I would become physically paralyzed for hours, entrapped in my thoughts and self-disgust. Not long after that time, I left home for a year and a half, putting a pin in my high school pursuits in the hope of drastically shifting my life trajectory. It was a lot for an eighth grader.
To my surprise, this saving-grace of treatment worked, but not because there was a miracle cure. There was no happy pill that magically solved all of my problems. If anything, the miracle was me deciding that I wanted my life to be different. At that point, for the first time in my existence, I wanted to live a life I loved. From that moment on, every second of every day was dedicated to achieving this goal despite how far I was from it.
I want to remind you that I was fourteen. I was not your average mental health guru in my mid-thirties trying to align my inner Chakras. I had never been to prom and was years away from being able to legally drive a car. I nonetheless learned to rewire every belief system upon which I lived. In a family where I often felt isolated, I learned to build connections that fostered support, care, and community. I went from struggling with severe depression to becoming symptom and diagnosis free.
This growth in and of itself is rare. However, at fifteen, I also started a podcast to share my unique mental health journey with the world. My persistence paid off—it blew up. In the first year and a half, I’ve reached tens of thousands of struggling teens, confused parents, and open-minded professionals, all finding hope from my story. With over fifty episodes, I’ve led impactful conversations with industry experts, fellow teenagers diving into their own mental growth, and others working to spark crucial discussions in the mental health space. My audience has doubled in the most recent thirty day period and is on track to double in size again by the time you review my application. The following is representative of the many emails and comments I receive in a given month:
“It is outstanding, and I will listen to all of the [episodes] and share with my family. Sadie is wonderful, and quite self-aware, healthy, and intelligent. The podcasts will help many people, my family included. It exudes kindness and a desire to help.” - a father of a teenage girl struggling with depression and anxiety.
Getting to the healthy, strong mental state I was able to achieve several years ago took immense effort. Finding the motivation within myself to do this work was the hardest thing I have ever done. I created my podcast to help other people like me find their motivation. And it’s working. My next step? To become a clinical psychologist, so I can do this on an even larger scale.
My experience may not be the type commonly presented in an application. People have cautioned me against sharing the story of my growth with any college, because it could “hurt how they see me.” However, I am so very proud of my experience that began back in my eighth grade year. I am extremely fortunate to get to be the protagonist in this epic and high-impact adventure. My story has been well-earned, and through my podcast I’ve learned that sharing it is a step towards being part of the solution, not part of the problem. And my story is only just beginning.
Recent Episodes
if you want to learn more about how our generation can create lasting change in mental health, this episode is for you!
today’s guest is hailey hardcastle—a gen z mental health advocate who helped pass landmark legislation in oregon allowing students to take mental health days off from school. she was honored by teen vogue as one of the "21 under 21: young women changing the world," and her ted talk on student mental health has been viewed more than 4 million times.
fun fact: this episode was recorded live at the active minds 2026 mental health conference—the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults!
during this conversation, we discuss our personal mental health journeys, how hailey’s advocacy helped turn an idea into a state law, the most effective ways to advocate for gen z mental health, and so much more– including answering audience questions!
i’ve recently made a big career change and learned a LOT about my mental health along the way… so let’s talk about it!
in this solo episode, i’m explaining what sparked this transition in my life & how i’m planning on optimizing this period of change to improve my routines, habits, and overall mental health.
so, if you’re also going through a major life shift in your 20s– or are wanting to figure out whether you should take the plunge into a new chapter of life– here’s how to do so while optimizing your mental health!
how can someone have high self-esteem but low self-worth??! today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice. in this episode, we continue last week’s conversation on self-worth and relationships. this time, we’re focused on the internal factors behind self-worth, such as your emotions, identity, and more!
why do some people struggle to accept love?? today’s guest is dr. marisa g. franco— a psychologist, author, professor, and friendship expert. she writes about how to build relationships with yourself and others for psychology today and has been a featured connection expert for major publications like the new york times, the telegraph, and vice.
in this episode, we talk about how our self-worth impacts our ability to love ourselves– and receive love from others.
wanna know what over a decade of therapy, a psychology degree, and my own podcast have taught me about mental health?! in this solo episode, i’m breaking down the key takeaways that i’ve learned throughout my mental health journey.
in honor of it being mental health awareness month, i’m condensing everything i’ve learned from receiving intensive mental health care and years of dbt therapy as a suicidally depressed teenager– combined with my psychology education at upenn and my experience creating this very podcast– to make your 12-step guide to maintaining your mental health.
by the end of this episode, you’ll know all the mental health tips + tricks i wish i’d known when i was struggling!
if your mental health is getting worse, but asking for help feels like too much, this episode is for YOU.
in this solo episode, i explain why so many of us can be reluctant to open up about our mental health before breaking down the techniques you can try to be more vulnerable.
by the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to lower your anxiety around asking for help– because vulnerability is the key to recovery!
how do you help someone who’s struggling with depression??
in this solo episode, i answer a mom's question on how she can best support her son with his depression. i explain how my mental health journey taught me what the best– and worst!– ways are to be there for someone who’s depressed– and three conversation ideas you can try out.
whether you’re a parent, sibling, or friend, this advice can apply to anyone who wants to be a support system for their loved one.
when i think about a major turning point in my mental health journey, this one conversation is truly what kickstarted my recovery.
in this solo episode, i break down the moment in intensive mental health treatment that changed my outlook on mental health recovery, what led me to being hospitalized for my mental health in the first place, & how i began to recover from severe depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
if you are on the fence about whether to ask for help with your mental health (or have a loved one in that exact spot), this episode details when i was in the exact same spot: i explain how i went from not believing i could get better to feeling hopeful that i could recover & build a life worth living.
are you a chronic emotional over-invester?! in this solo episode, i explain how a simple mental health mantra transformed my mentality around emotional boundaries and even lowered my anxiety!
by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to stop the emotional over-involvement and start prioritizing your mental health.
why is the college experience SO different for our generation??! today’s guest is dr. scott barry kaufman— a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. he is a professor of psychology at columbia university and host of the psychology podcast, which has received over 30 million downloads worldwide.
in this episode, we break down why gen z students are having such a unique college experience– and what that means for our mental health.
are you tired of constantly choosing between your mental health versus everything else on your plate?! in this solo episode, i answer a listener’s question that a LOT of college students and postgrads struggle with: how do you prioritize success while still taking care of your mental health?
by sharing some of my favorite mental health tips and routines, this episode can serve as your template for how to optimize your mental health without sacrificing your goals.
if you struggle with panic attacks and haven’t found a way to stop them, this episode will change that completely! in this solo episode, i share my psychology-backed hack to end 100% of your panic attacks.
by the end of this episode, you’ll have a mental health skill in your toolbox designed for curbing every panic attack– no matter how much anxiety you’re facing.
if you struggle with depression, you might be facing a brain bias that’s stopping you from healing. this solo episode explains how your brain is holding you back and why daily diaries can move your mental health forward.
by the end of this episode, you’ll know the three easy aspects of your mental health you can keep track of to change your life!
if you’ve ever wondered if you need therapy, or are just “being dramatic”, this episode is for YOU! in this solo episode, i’m unpacking the two key signs that you should get help for your mental health.
by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to spot the red flags that your mental health could use some professional care, and why acting sooner rather than later can change your life.
‘self-actualization’ isn’t just a tiktok buzzword– it’s how you can unlock your true potential using psychology. today’s guest is dr. scott barry kaufman— a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. he is a professor of psychology at columbia university and host of the psychology podcast, which has received over 30 million downloads worldwide.
in this episode, we translate terms like self-actualization, agency, and mastery into actionable tools you can actually use. whether you’re a college student trying to raise your gpa or a postgrad working your way out of an existential crisis (real), this episode is your instruction manual for living your best life starting NOW!
if you’re struggling with finding new friends as a postgrad, this episode is for YOU. in this solo episode, i’m sharing my favorite ways to make friends, stay connected, and avoid feeling lonely after graduating college! from making time to be social despite your new 9-to-5 to keeping in touch with long-distance friends, this episode covers every friendship topic for your post-college era.
in this episode, we discuss why our generation can feel so lonely– especially after graduating college– and how we can actually start to improve our connections. by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to use psychology to be more connected than ever, even through the chaos of your 20s.
in this episode, we discuss why our generation can feel so lonely– especially after graduating college– and how we can actually start to improve our connections. by the end of this episode, you’ll know how to use psychology to be more connected than ever, even through the chaos of your 20s.
in this solo episode, i’m sharing my mental health journey with you, taking you through my recovery from severe depression and anxiety right from the start. i cover the highs and lows of my story, including how i went from being hospitalized for my mental health four times in one year to graduating as a psychology major and creating a new york times-recommended mental health podcast to help others who are struggling.
why are some people afraid to ask for help, even when their mental health is getting WORSE?! today’s guest is dr. blaise aguirre—an assistant professor in psychiatry at harvard medical school in the department of psychiatry. he is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the founding medical director of the 3east dialectical behavior therapy continuum of care at harvard affiliated mclean hospital.
in this episode, i’m reuniting with dr. aguirre to discuss how my treatment at 3east saved my life– and why this program worked for me when nothing else did. dr. aguirre also draws his clinical expertise to unpack all things teen mental health, breaking down topics including self-hatred, agency, family dynamics, & more!
whether you’re struggling with your mental health or love someone who is, this episode is your guide to what makes treatment actually work.