My name is Anas, and I come from a small village in Chakwal, two hours from Islamabad, the capital city, where the idea of higher education abroad feels almost unreal. My school was small and barely known outside the district. I was most likely the first student there to apply to an American college. There were no school clubs, no counselors, no built-in opportunities. College abroad was a dream that seemed far away. Yet in August, I began my first semester at Allegheny College, a place I had never even heard of until recently.

Academic Background

Unlike many international students, I did not take O or A Levels. I followed Pakistan’s national curriculum, completing Matric and then FSC. Even within that system, I pushed myself and ranked in the top 10–15% of a graduating class of nearly 400. That gave me the confidence that even in a resource-poor environment, consistent effort could make a difference.

Standardized testing was another hurdle. I earned a 1410 on the SAT, with 780 in Math and 630 in English, and a 140 on the Duolingo English Test. I had planned to retake the SAT, but the attempt was canceled because of political protests in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In the end, I submitted my original scores.

If I were to advise future applicants, I would say to start early and build habits rather than cram. Reading 20 to 40 pages a day—anything from essays to articles—improves comprehension over time. Math requires a different mindset: repetition and strategy. In one week, by targeting only the hardest questions, I raised my Math score from 680 to 780.

Life at My High School

My school experience was shaped almost entirely by academics. The day was designed around classes and exams. There were no debate clubs, no Model UN conferences, no organized sports teams. Teachers supported applications only by sending transcripts and recommendation letters. That was where their role ended.

To fill those gaps, I had to create opportunities. I served as a project lead for a custom portfolio management software, where I planned the project, delegated tasks, and worked on UI and UX design. I also became a math instructor, teaching trigonometry to over 100 ninth graders during summer school, and later a computer science lab instructor, guiding students through programming basics and frameworks.

Athletics gave me another space to grow. I played as a wicket-keeper in under-19 cricket, winning three tournaments and earning a nomination for the district team. I also competed in tent pegging, a traditional equestrian sport known locally as nezabazi, and brought home a bronze medal in an under-18 competition. I joined the Photos and Athletics Club as well, which added variety and community to my school years.

Building Opportunities Beyond School

Outside of school walls, I looked for ways to contribute and learn. During the devastating floods of 2023, I traveled to rural areas in KPK and Punjab, helping distribute supplies and manage relief work. I also volunteered at old-age homes, supporting residents and helping raise 500k rupees in one month.

I gained professional exposure through internships. In one role, I managed a company database and maintained accuracy as part of a managerial internship. In another, I worked as a data analyst, learning how to find patterns and make information more useful.

Sports continued to matter.

Why The U.S?

I always wanted to study abroad, and the United States fit my goals best. Other countries, like the U.K., require students to commit to one subject from the start. I was not ready for that. The U.S. system gave me freedom to explore before deciding. At Allegheny, I am leaning toward majors in Mathematics, Economics, or Data Science, while keeping minors in Philosophy, Film, History, or International Relations on the table.

There was also the draw of the American college experience itself. A diverse campus, independence, and a chance to meet students from around the world were things I wanted for myself.

I applied to 29 schools in total: 20 through the Common App and 9 through Scoir. The Common App made submissions easier, but writing the essays was not. My supplemental essays could have been stronger, but my personal statement carried weight. I wrote about losing touch with a close friend in seventh grade and finding my way back to that friendship in tenth. That story felt honest, and I believe admissions officers saw its sincerity.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Money was the biggest obstacle, like it is for many international students. Out of all the schools I applied to, I got accepted into nearly half of them, with most offering financial aid that reduced costs to between $17,000 and $20,000 a year. Still, that was out of reach, especially considering the currency differences.

Allegheny proved to be my best option. After several appeals, my aid package rose to about $59,000, which reduced tuition, housing, meals, and insurance to around $13,000. With a health insurance waiver and outside scholarships, I brought it down to closer to $11,000.

Support from Online Communities

I was never alone in the process. Online spaces became my guides. On the r/IntltoUSA subreddit, I learned from others who were navigating the same challenges. On Borderless, I discovered colleges I had never heard of and read stories from students who had been in my shoes. For a few days, I read nothing else. Those stories convinced me that my dream was not impossible.

Looking Ahead

In August, I officially began my first semester at Allegheny. My schedule includes Math, Data Science, Economics, Political Science, and Communications. It is a mix that balances my parents’ preference for STEM with my own curiosity for broader subjects.

Allegheny may not have been my first choice, but today it feels like the right place. And if there is one truth I carry with me, it is this: no matter how unlikely the path may look, it is still possible to build a future of your own making.