Hello! My name is Toussaint, and I am from Burundi. I will be attending Lehigh University this fall, and this article chronicles how I was able to achieve that.

High School

I attended Kigutu International Academy (KIA), a bilingual school located in the mountains of Burundi. KIA offers two curricula: an international program in English and a national program in French. I have been studying at KIA since 2020.

Why I Want to Study Abroad and in the US

I decided to study abroad for several reasons. Firstly, in my home country, individuals studying Public Health have fewer opportunities compared to those who study abroad. Secondly, I've always wanted to immerse myself in new cultures, sharing my own background while learning from others. Thirdly, I sought a chance to lead an independent life away from home.

I specifically chose the United States because it hosts numerous universities with strong Public Health programs. While Europe also had options, they were limited, competitive, and often geared toward graduate studies. Additionally, since childhood, it has been my dream to study in the US. Graduates from American institutions are respected and often make significant contributions to their communities upon returning home. Inspired by this, I applied to US universities with the goal of becoming a future leader in my country.

Stats & Extracurriculars 

Stats:

• GPA: My unweighted GPA is 88%.

• Digital SAT: I don't remember the exact score, but it was around 1050.

• Duolingo English Test: I scored 115 out of 160.

Top Three Extracurricular Activities (ECs):

1. I play on my school's varsity basketball team.

2. I initiated a passion project where I prepare home-cooked meals for malnourished children in my community.

3. I am a member of the robotics club, currently working on building a useful robot for our school.

Timeline, Resources, and Support

In July 2023, I created my Common App account and began researching universities. By August, I had started my applications, even though it was during summer school. Initially, I had no specific field of study in mind, no essay topic, and no preference for where I wanted to study. At home, I continued working on my essay and researching colleges using my brother's laptop.

While at school, I utilized the computer lab and sought feedback from my college advisor, her friends, and family members on my essays. The school's college counselor assisted me in setting up both my Common App account and CSS profile account (needed to apply for financial aid), as I prepared for the SAT and Duolingo tests. Additionally, I reached out to my professors for recommendation letters, a requirement for many of the universities I applied to.

In total, it took me six months to prepare my application.

Why Lehigh

I selected Lehigh University because it is renowned for its bachelor's degree program in Public Health. Additionally, Lehigh demonstrates a commitment to covering full tuition for international students like me who cannot afford it. The university offers a wealth of extracurricular activities, and its Center for Career and Professional Development provides support for securing scholarships, internships, and coaching. Furthermore, Lehigh competes in Division 1 sports.

My College Essay

My college essay focused on my summer experiences in 2022. During that time, I participated in a summer program where I worked on a nutrition-related project. In Burundi, we faced challenges due to a disease affecting cows, sheep, and goats, which led to a scarcity of meat. However, fish remained unaffected. In my group, I proposed preserving and selling fish to provide protein for Burundians.

Additionally, during that summer, there was a fuel shortage in Burundi. I shared how this scarcity made it difficult for me to attend the program and travel elsewhere. After the program, I also joined a mandatory Zoom call at school, hosted by an entrepreneur. This call aimed to inspire us to develop our own projects.

Financial Aid & Application Fees 

My financial aid from Lehigh University covers the majority of tuition, room and board, as well as living costs. My Expected Family Contribution (EFC) amounts to $1,600 per year. Additionally, I received the Dean’s Scholarship, a merit-based award of $15,000 per academic year, recognizing my academic excellence and leadership skills demonstrated during the initial admission application process. When it comes to application fees, I only spent $106 for the SAT; all other expenses were covered either by my school (for example, the Duolingo English Test) or through fee waivers provided by universities and the Common App. 

Remarks

For those applying for the fall 2025 class, I recommend keeping resilience at the forefront. College admissions can become quite overwhelming and demanding, so it is essential to start early and keep pushing until the last minute.