Application stats

My academic record was solid with a perfect GPA, both in my private school and elsewhere. I earned a gold medal, which is a recognition given for perfect scores. For the SAT, I scored 1500, although it was a super score composed of a 720 in the English section and a 780 in the Math section. Regarding IELTS, I took it in 10th grade and scored a 7.5, without attempting it again later. Unlike some other applicants, I didn't have any international Olympiads.

Extracurricular Activities

I elaborated quite a bit on a project called StudyBuddy that my friends and I started. The idea was to create communities similar to what I experienced at Freshman Academy, but tailored to different disciplines. For instance, I lacked study partners in philosophy, which led to the establishment of a Philosophy Club under Study Buddy. We then launched several other clubs focusing on tech, biochemistry, reading, and astronomy, among others. Although some clubs opened and closed over time, around 10 of them were formed in total.

Additionally, I mentioned an internship I did in 10th grade that lasted for one and a half years. I worked as a backend developer and was able to participate in significant projects.

I also shared my family responsibilities given our roots in a remote village. I’ve been engaged in farming for most of my life, an aspect of my background that I believe added a distinct perspective to my application.

Lastly, I talked about my participation in a congress held in Samarkand, specifically the Sixth International Congress, where an AI program, Veritas AI, developed by Harvard graduates, was discussed.

What helped me stand out

While I didn't have access to my admissions file, receiving the admissions letter with a personal note provided some insight. The note highlighted my Common App essay where the admissions team acknowledged my open-mindedness, particularly when I discussed transitioning from a village to a city. This quality was seen as a positive indicator of my potential to thrive at Yale.

I believe the unique aspect or "spike" in my application might have been the contrasting experiences I shared in my personal statement. I discussed my life in a village and the subsequent transition to the city, explaining how this change sparked the creation of the Study Buddy project. There wasn't a direct emphasis on Computer Science in this narrative. It was more about a young boy from Bakhmal, a remote area, moving to Tashkent, starting a noteworthy project, engaging with an MIT professor, and doing other meaningful activities. The narrative of a person engaged in farming with no internet access until the age of 14, yet managing to accomplish so much afterward, likely stood out.

About Freshman Academy

Different students have different circumstances. There are students from presidential schools or top schools with resources and a community for applying abroad. Freshman Academy was the one that provided this support for me, which I lacked.

The best thing I got from it was the community, primarily. The friends I made there, with whom we prepared together and worked on projects together. Secondly, the mentoring and help were invaluable. I took a lot of courses at Freshman Academy, including their admissions, SAT, and full support courses. I genuinely believe I wouldn't get into Yale without this support, however I know this isn’t the case for everybody as some students have other resources from their schools.

Financial Aid

Yale provided me with a nearly full ride, having a family contribution of around $2k. They covered the significant bulk of my expenses, amounting to about $93k per year. The remaining $2k is something I'll need to cover, possibly through part-time work.