Decision to Study Abroad

I have studied at Physmath school in Armenia since the 7th grade and graduated from it. The idea of studying abroad actually arose very spontaneously. Since the 9th grade, I have learned many professions; at one point, I worked in design, then marketing and sales. But in the end, I had a dream to continue acting. I started practicing TOEFL and SAT for about one month each to apply to the American University of Armenia as a safe option. Still, it happened that I got very high scores on TOEFL and SAT and decided to try to apply abroad. In the 11th grade, I founded a social organization, which was quite large and had about 150 members at the time of my application. However, founding a social organization and all my social work were not aimed at getting into a foreign university, it so happened that all the factors aligned for me to apply abroad, and my high grades gave me the idea to try to get into a university abroad.

Why UAE and NYUAD

I applied to many countries. Italian universities and three Ivy League universities, Columbia, Brown, and Dartmouth, accepted me with scholarships. I should also mention that I was accepted to all three NYU campuses: New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. However, most scholarships were offered by NYU Abu Dhabi, which was the reason for choosing that university.

Stats

• TOEFL iBT – 112

• SAT pBT – 1530

• GPA – 9.8/10

Extracurricular Activities

My main extracurricular activity was the creation of the Physmath Volunteer Union, which became the first public organization founded in a school in Armenia. Over time, I grew the staff to about 150 members. We started our activities without any main goal, simply involving Physmath students, who are very talented but often lack time for extracurricular activities, in various events so they would also have some advantage when applying abroad. We began by organizing events within the school and then expanded outside the school.

During the 2021 war, we did a lot of work, packing dry food for soldiers at various locations, with about 50 volunteers at each food point. Later, we focused on educational activities, organizing events, and intellectual games. Our main focus became organizing camps. In 2022, we organized two camps attended by approximately 650 students from all regions of Armenia. Initially, the camps were completely free and had no funding. By 2024, we organized our sixth camp, and there was a significant increase in the number of children, the quality of the material provided, and the size of our team. Currently, the volunteer association has approximately 250 members, many of whom actively participate in our initiatives.

In addition to founding the volunteer union, I have worked in various fields since I was 15 years old. I began in design, then moved into marketing and sales, and started giving private lessons at age 16, teaching mathematics and then the SAT. I have also participated in many other volunteering activities and conferences. However, I realized that the goal of many organizers was not to help the community but to pursue their interests. This realization motivated me to create a volunteer union.

College Essay topics

The foundation of all my activities has been leadership, and the central theme of my personal statement was the challenges and triumphs of being a leader, particularly in the context of feminism. I highlighted how difficult it is to become a leader in a male-dominated field and to gain the respect and recognition of influential people. Leadership was the nail that connected all my endeavors, and I emphasized the perseverance and resilience required to be taken seriously as a leader in such an environment.

Full-tuition scholarship

My scholarship covers full tuition but does not cover personal expenses, which include plane tickets and personal expenses. For example, if I stay on campus permanently without leaving, the scholarship is sufficient. However, I work to cover my own expenses.

My major

At the moment, I am studying in two different faculties, and doing double-major in both mathematics and economics. Mathematics is my primary major, while economics is my secondary major. I work in the field of finance and plan to study investment banking/management in the future. The fundamental knowledge for this career path is provided by my mathematics studies, while my professional knowledge comes from economics.

Student Life at NYUAD

According to the latest data, there are approximately 200 Student Interest Groups (SIGs) at the university from various fields. These groups are founded by different students and have weekly or monthly meetings that other students can join and participate in. The university provides funding for these SIGs, covering budgets for activities like events or trips.

I am a member of several SIGs, including one focused on finance and business, which helps startups find funding and is one of the largest student organizations in the Arab region. I am also part of the debate team, participating in competitions in various countries. Currently, I am working on founding two new SIGs: one for women's empowerment and another for Armenians to unite those on campus who did not previously know each other.

Post-graduation plans

Currently, I am doing an internship in Armenia at the largest investment company in the country, focusing on management. After graduation, I plan to continue my career in investment banking, with the future goal of working in New York at one of the Wall Street organizations.