Essay About Stuffed Animal Helps Teen Get Into 20 Schools

A high school senior Chris Butcher in New Jersey got into 20 colleges including six Ivy Leagues thanks in part to his college essay about a stuffed animal.

The 18-year-old says the stuffed Dalmatian named Bigdog actually belonged to his older brother who died when he was only a few months old.

He says when he had negative encounters, Bigdog was always there for him calling it a reassuring object.

He wrote in the essay that race was the source of his inner hatred but that Bigdog helped him realize that he was not going to let his black skin define him.

The teen is headed to Princeton in the fall and will major in Molecular Biology.