Visible Figures Substack

Visible Figures Substack

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Visible Figures Substack
Visible Figures Substack
How I got in to Stanford and MIT...and what I think about elite schools now.

How I got in to Stanford and MIT...and what I think about elite schools now.

SVP on Elite Education - a 3-part expose on my experience getting in to, graduating from, and lecturing at elite academic institutions.

Stephanie Van Putten's avatar
Stephanie Van Putten
Jun 01, 2025
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Visible Figures Substack
Visible Figures Substack
How I got in to Stanford and MIT...and what I think about elite schools now.
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I was vetting a licensed psychotherapist recently, giving her the laundry list of things currently feeding my anxiety, and she slipped up…

🫤Me: I’m just not as proud of graduating from these PWIs as I once was

Therapist: Oh, that’s VERY interesting! (in a perky voice)

🤔Me: [brief pause] Whyyyyyy is that interesting? (in a slightly suspicious tone)

Therapist: [awkward foot-in-mouth mumbling followed by a deep breath] I don’t understand why our people go to these White schools where we don’t belong.

😑Me:

It’s time we had a talk about elite academic institutions.

Welcome to part one of a 3-part expose on my experience getting in to, graduating from, and lecturing at elite academic institutions.

OK, get comfy, grab some cookies or crackers, and get ready for this well-steeped pot of loose leaf tea. 🫖 😏

How I Got In 🏛️

NOTE: this account is purely anecdotal and is no way intended to be prescriptive, aspirational, or a referendum on the US college admissions process.

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