My background

I attended public elementary and middle schools where all my studies were conducted in Arabic. One day, my middle school took us on a tour to explore the Red Sea STEM School. There, I discovered a foundation with students who were enthusiastic about STEM fields, innovation, and fabrication. Moreover, a school alumnus told me that the school would improve both technical and soft skills. In this community, I would have higher chances of getting a scholarship. I decided to apply for it after completing middle school. Subsequently, I took the STEM Schools entrance exam and ranked 92nd out of 20,000 applicants.

Why did I decide to study abroad?

Firstly, I noticed that developed countries take good care of their students. They offer discounts on clothes, groceries, and other essential needs for both national and international students. Moreover, the quality of education is genuinely worth it. Career prospects are also better in these countries. For instance, the opportunity to secure a job in Turkey is more favorable compared to finding employment in Egypt.

Why Turkey as a destination?

During the summer after my junior year, I searched for various study abroad opportunities. I considered the United States, Japan, Hungary, and Turkey. (Pro tip: if you want to study abroad, also consider scholarships at private universities in your home country.) My U.S. admission journey wasn't perfect, as I wasn't accepted with generous funding. For Hungary, applying would have meant taking a gap year, so I decided against it. I did apply to Japan and was accepted to take the embassy test. This test covered Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Japanese language. It was the most challenging exam I've ever taken, even harder than the STEM Schools exams (which are known to be the toughest in Egypt). The test consisted of one-hour sections for each subject, with 10-minute breaks in between.

Turkish Scholarship Application Process

The scholarship application period runs from January to February. The application requires basic information about you and your family, a motivational letter, and two recommendation letters. Decisions for the interview round are announced in late June. Interviews are conducted in Cairo and Alexandria. During this phase, you take a Math and IQ test before proceeding to the interview. The interview itself is pleasant, as you're allowed to speak in your native language. The final decision is then announced in August.

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Stats, Grades, and Test scores

During high school, I maintained a GPA of 3.7 out of 4.0. My ACT score was 27 out of 36, but I opted for test-optional applications when applying to U.S. universities. I also took the IELTS exam, achieving a score of 6 out of 9.

Extracurricular Activities & Competitions

I was honored with a gold medal at the Kangaroo Math competition (a national Egyptian competition). I also received a silver medal at the International Math Olympics, ranking 5th in Egypt and 80th internationally. Additionally, I earned a bronze medal at the Singapore Math Challenge, ranking 3rd in Egypt and 42nd internationally.

Activities:

I participated in charity work in South Egypt and received a certificate, which I attached to my Turkish scholarship CV.
I was a member of the 3D team in the school's Fab Lab.
I worked with a team to create Math files that facilitated exam preparation for other students.

Egypt or Turkey?

After being notified of winning the Turkish scholarship, I was also informed about the USAID scholarship to study renewable engineering at the American University in Egypt (the top-ranked university in Egypt). I spent many days deliberating which option was better, especially after discovering that the American University in Egypt ranked higher than my matched university in Turkey. Ultimately, I decided to pursue my dream of studying Mechanical Engineering and chose Turkey.

After arriving in Turkey, I realized I had made the right decision! Turkey is incredibly diverse; I've made new friends from all over the world and witnessed unforgettable natural scenes. Currently, I'm completing a preparatory year to study Mechanical Engineering in English.