West Shore senior accepted into five Ivy League colleges

For most high school students, getting into one college is a great accomplishment. Getting accepted into an Ivy League school? Even better.

But what West Shore Jr. / Sr. High senior Margarita Cruz-Sanchez accomplished is almost unheard of.

She got accepted into five Ivy League schools—Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell and Pennsylvania—along with 10 other top-tier schools, including Duke University, Northwestern University and Vanderbilt University.

“I was really hoping to get into (one Ivy League school), and I didn’t expect to get into most of the schools I applied to,” said Cruz-Sanchez, who applied to all eight Ivy League schools.

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In what she called the “toughest decision” she's ever had to make, Cruz-Sanchez chose Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she was selected for one of 50 spots in its eight-year Program in Liberal Medical Education, which combines undergraduate education and medical school. But Brown’s BS-MD program was always her top choice.

“I felt like Brown was the best suited for me,” said Cruz-Sanchez, who graduates Friday. “Since I’m already accepted into its medical school, I can have a more enriched learning experience because all that time I’d have to spend studying for MCAT and doing all those things to get into medical school, I could do things like research or serving others.”

West Shore Principal Rick Fleming said in his 10 years at the Melbourne public school of choice, he’s never seen a student accepted into so many Ivy League schools. However, he isn’t surprised Cruz-Sanchez accomplished this rare feat.

“Her tremendous aptitude and work ethic, combined with her passion for service, separates her apart from many of her peers,” Fleming said. “She is so gifted in her work, yet so humble and giving in her demeanor. That is a rare combination to find in today’s world.”

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Cruz-Sanchez hopes to become a physician and work with Doctors Without Borders. Serving others has long been important to her, thanks in part to her grandmother’s influence.

“My grandmother always taught us this life motto that serving others is not just a responsibility, it’s a privilege,” said Cruz-Sanchez, who volunteers with her church, the Brevard Zoo and Holmes Regional Medical Center.

Throughout high school, Cruz-Sanchez has been involved with science research, finishing fourth at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix. And although she hasn’t yet decided what field of medicine or undergrad major she will pursue, she knows she loves science research.

“I’ve always been naturally curious about the world,” she said. “And science research has always been that way I could channel that curiosity in a systematic process that’s always guaranteed to give me results.”