My name is Makhabbat Bakkozha, and I’m from Almaty, Kazakhstan. I graduated from NIS Almaty-Medeu, and I am currently a freshman at Minerva University.
Studying abroad has been my dream since childhood. Since I was around five years old, I imagined myself studying outside Kazakhstan, especially in the United States or the United Kingdom. My mother was always supportive of that dream, so international education became something I carried with me for a long time.
At first, I associated studying abroad mostly with famous universities and Ivy League schools. But throughout the application process, I realized that the “best” university is not always the one with the most recognizable name. Sometimes, the right university is the one that fits you academically, financially, and personally. For me, that place became Minerva.
Why Minerva University?
Minerva was not a university I had always planned to attend. In fact, many students in Kazakhstan had mixed opinions about it, and some even called it a “scam university.” Because of that, I did not initially take it seriously.
Applying to Minerva was almost accidental. I had one day left before the early application deadline, and the application seemed much easier than many others. At that point, my goal was to apply to as many universities as possible, so Minerva became one more school on my list.
However, after receiving my offer, I started researching it more seriously. I reached out to students from Kazakhstan who were already studying there, and their experiences changed my perception completely. One of my old friends was graduating from Minerva and described it as one of the best choices she had made. She had traveled across different countries, explored many fields academically, and gained a lot of independence.
Financial aid also played a major role. Out of all my offers, Minerva gave me the strongest financial support, which made the decision both exciting and realistic.
Academic Profile & Application Process
Minerva’s application is different from the traditional U.S. application system. It is better to apply through Minerva’s own free platform rather than using the Common App.
In my year, Minerva did not focus heavily on SAT scores. Instead, the university had its own assessments. These tests were designed to understand how applicants think, not simply how much school material they have memorized. One part tested creativity through quick associations. Another part tested math under time pressure. There was also a writing task based on a real-life situation, such as solving a conflict with future roommates. What I liked about this process was that it tested reasoning, creativity, and open-mindedness.
Minerva also asks applicants to submit six achievements. These are not divided into “activities” and “honors” like in many other applications. Everything is considered an achievement, and students need to provide proof.
For my application, some of the most important achievements were connected to social impact. I wrote about my experience with Y-PEER, an international volunteering network focused on youth education, where I served as a city coordinator. I also wrote about an organization my friends and I created, where we organized hackathons and events for students. I managed the project department and helped organize three hackathons, each with more than 300 participants, including students from Uzbekistan.
Looking back, I think the strongest theme in my application was access. Even when I wrote about hackathons or competitions, I focused on how we created free opportunities for students from different backgrounds.
An Unusually Ambitious Application Strategy
My application process started early. In ninth grade, I created a Notion table where I listed universities that students from Kazakhstan had previously been accepted to with strong financial aid. Over time, I kept adding schools, researching their requirements, and organizing deadlines.
By senior year, applying to universities had almost become my hobby. I would sit in class with my laptop open, working on essays and forms. After school, my friends and I would go to a cafe and stay there for hours completing applications together. This continued almost every day, including weekends, from around August to February.
Eventually, I applied to more than 80 universities. This number may sound extreme, but for me it was a way to explore possibilities. I did not want to limit myself to one country or one version of success. I applied to universities in the United States, Korea, Hong Kong, China, and also considered options in Europe, Qatar, and other countries.
One practical reason I could apply to so many universities was that I used not only the Common App, which has a 20-school limit, but also the Coalition Application, where students can apply to many more universities and request fee waivers. Still, I would not necessarily advise everyone to apply to 80 universities. For most applicants, I would recommend building a balanced list of around 14 or more universities, especially if financial aid is important.
Personal Statement & Building a Personal Brand
My personal statement for other universities was not the strongest part of my application. I started writing it later than I should have, and looking back, I would definitely prioritize essays more.
I wrote about my family and the values I was raised with: ambition, dreams, and passion. One idea I explored was that people should not choose a path only because it seems profitable or popular. If someone is genuinely passionate about something unconventional and understands how to build around it, they can still become successful in that field.
That value shaped the way I presented myself. I wanted my application to show that success is not only about hard work, but also about personal meaning.
For Minerva specifically, I learned that applicants need a clear sense of who they are. Minerva values diversity, not only in nationality but also in experience and perspective. Kazakh students who were accepted had very different profiles: some were involved in debate and social action, others focused on hackathons, apps, or research.
My own profile centered on social impact and creating opportunities for others. That taught me that standing out does not always mean having the most prestigious achievement. It means making your application feel coherent. For me, that connection was helping students access opportunities regardless of their background.
Financial Aid as an International Student
Financial aid was one of the main reasons I chose Minerva. My scholarship covers my tuition and dorm, but Minerva usually does not make attendance completely free. There are still additional expenses, such as medical insurance and other university-related costs.
Minerva’s financial aid consists of three main parts: scholarship, loan, and work-study. Students with financial aid are usually guaranteed a work-study position. In my case, I work as an admissions processor, helping review parts of applications, such as checking whether transcripts were submitted correctly.
Financial aid is reviewed every year, so students reapply for it each winter. If a family’s financial situation changes, the university can reassess the expected contribution.
For international students, understanding financial aid early is essential. A university may be a great fit academically, but it also has to be financially realistic.
Academic Life at Minerva
Minerva’s academic system is very untraditional. We do not have a classic campus. Instead, we live in dorms and attend online classes. Minerva often says that “the world is our campus,” meaning that students are expected to learn from the cities they live in as much as from formal classes.
At first, online classes might sound less engaging, but Minerva’s system makes it difficult not to participate. Classes are small, professors can see everyone, and students are constantly expected to respond, react, and contribute. If you are not paying attention, it becomes noticeable very quickly.
In the first year, everyone takes the same foundational courses, including computer science, social studies, arts and humanities, and business-related subjects. This helps students explore different fields before choosing a major.
For my second year, I chose a double major in Business and Computer Science, with concentrations in brand management and mathematics. I like that Minerva’s courses are very practical. For example, computer science classes are not only about theory, but also about skills useful for internships and technical interviews.
Campus Life & Global Rotation
Although Minerva does not have a traditional campus, the university creates many offline experiences. Students live in dorms, study in common spaces or cafés, and engage with the city around them.
Each semester, students complete city-based activities, attend events, visit institutions, and participate in volunteering. For example, this semester I visited UC Davis and learned about one of the largest primate research labs.
One of the most famous parts of Minerva is the global rotation. In the past, students traveled to eight cities across eight semesters. Now, because of political and financial considerations, the system has changed. My cohort will study in four main cities: San Francisco, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, and Berlin.
This makes the experience more manageable because moving countries every semester can be expensive and stressful. Next year, I will study in Tokyo, and I’m excited to experience a new city with my cohort.
If I Could Do Something Differently
If I could go back, I would prioritize my essays more. I was very focused on applying broadly and testing my chances, but I think I could have created stronger applications if I had spent more time developing my personal statement and supplemental essays.
My process was more of a personal journey than a perfectly strategic plan. I wanted to see what was possible and which universities would value my profile. But for other applicants, I would recommend balance: do not apply to only one dream school, but also do not apply randomly.
Advice for Applicants
My biggest advice is: do not stress too much.
Application season can feel overwhelming, but too much pressure can affect your health and make the process even harder. I believe that what is meant for you will eventually happen. Sometimes the university you never expected becomes the best place for you.
Another piece of advice is to stay open-minded. Do not limit yourself to one university, one country, or one image of success. Apply strategically, but allow yourself to explore.
Also, build a story around who you truly are. Do not collect activities only because they look impressive. Think about what connects your experiences, what values you want to show, and what kind of community you want to contribute to.
For me, applying to 80+ universities taught me that admissions is not only about acceptance letters. It is also about understanding yourself, your priorities, and your definition of fit. Minerva was not the plan I imagined at the beginning. But now, it feels like exactly where I was supposed to be.
