Hello! I’m Mohamed “Soliman” Elhussiny from Cairo, Egypt. I graduated from STEM High School for Boys - 6th of October in 2020, and I’m currently a senior at Washington and Lee University. This is my journey!

My Background

During Grade 9, I set my sights on attending STEM High School for Boys - 6th of October, also known as Zewail’s School. I loved the idea of a boarding school filled with academically outstanding students. The school admitted the top 150 students in the Greater Cairo Region who excelled in Grade 9 and passed its rigorous entrance exam. After finishing Grade 9 as valedictorian, I spent the summer preparing for the exam and successfully secured my spot!

Why I Decided to Study Abroad

My interest in studying abroad was sparked by my capstone project lead. He once told us, "If you think there’s a helicopter waiting to take you to the U.S. after high school, you’re mistaken. The students who study abroad are the hardest workers." His words marked the moment when I knew how the hierarchy works, and I decided to pursue high grades and a strong work ethic. Later, I saw two of my older classmates get accepted into Stanford and MIT, and I was captivated by the excitement and celebration of their achievements. That’s when I knew I wanted to take the same path.

Why the U.S. as a Destination

Honestly, I never considered studying anywhere other than the U.S. since it is where most VCs are at, and budling a successful startup is up there on the top 10 things I want to do in life. If I hadn’t been accepted into a U.S. college, my backup plan was to pursue a bachelor's degree in Egypt and then apply for a master’s and PhD in the U.S. The U.S. admission process was more familiar to me than any other country, and with many of my classmates applying to U.S. universities, I had a strong support network to help me along the way.

Stats, Grades, and Test Scores

I graduated high school with a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0. For my college applications, I submitted an SAT score in the 99+ percentile and a TOEFL score of a 100/120.