My Background 

My name is Elza. I’m originally from Istanbul, Türkiye, but I grew up in a smaller city near the Bulgarian border. 

Growing up in a middle-class family, I attended Turkish public schools. I was an endlessly curious kid, always losing myself in books and asking millions of questions. That curiosity was the first hint that I wanted experience more of the world. I wanted to explore new lands, new people, and new ways of thinking. And most importantly, I wanted a better education.

My parents have always been my biggest supporters. They, too, wanted me to have access to a better education and better opportunities. When the idea to move abroad arose, we decided to follow through, even though we knew it wouldn’t be easy. We ended up moving to Canada when I was fourteen years old. I am so grateful to them for making the move possible.

Canada Days

Coming to Canada brought us face to face with various new challenges, such as financial strain and complicated bureaucracy. The adjustment was much more difficult than anticipated. Yet overcoming these challenges helped us grow, and we eventually found a new routine.

After the move, I began attending a public high school located in southern Ontario, studying the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). I am currently in my final year.

The high school education in Canada is truly superb. The focus is not on memorizing information. Instead, students are expected to learn and apply concepts using critical thinking skills, engage in hands-on learning, and pick classes based on their interests.

Canada was also the first time I met people from outside of my culture. Southern Ontario is very diverse, and consequently, I began to get to know people from all corners of the world, who spoke various languages and practiced countless religions. These connections broadened my horizons in ways I never imagined possible.

Why NYUAD?

Living in Southern Ontario made me realize that nothing fascinated me quite as much as meeting people from all over the world did. I was determined that wherever I went to university, I needed to be surrounded by a diverse community.

So when I found out about New York University Abu Dhabi, I knew it was the perfect place for me. With over 120 countries represented and over 75 languages spoken on campus, I would very literally have classmates from all over the world. I would explore the world through different perspectives by learning about countless cultures, religions, and languages. I would grow as a global citizen and receive a world-class education in an academically rigorous environment.

The choice was clear: I decided to apply Early Decision 1 and never looked back.

Application Resources

Coming from a school with little support for applying to universities abroad, I was quite worried about navigating the application process. However, there were many free and helpful resources online. I read the stories here on Borderless and reached out to some people for advice. I used LinkedIn to keep track of my professional achievements, and even learned about new opportunities thanks to the connections I made there. I used College Essay Guy’s resources to learn how to write and structure my Common App essay.

Even with limited support, it is still very much possible to do amazing things. Certainly, it’s harder, but never impossible. There are so many free resources or opportunities you can find, as long as you are determined to take the initiative and search for them. Almost all of my extracurriculars came from cold emailing or pursuing an idea I was passionate about in spite of feeling intimidated.

Stats, Extracurriculars & Essays

My school doesn’t calculate an official GPA, but I estimate it to be around 95/100. I submitted my 1500 SAT (770 Reading & Writing, 730 Math) score. I was exempted from submitting English Language Proficiency testing because English is the language of instruction in my school.

My main extracurriculars were centered around research, volunteering, or public speaking.

I interned with a political science professor at my local university. My responsibilities consisted of collecting data for his research, attending undergraduate lectures, and doing readings on politics and theory. I even wrote an independent paper on Azerbaijan’s foreign policy with his guidance. That paper was published in an international, peer-reviewed journal. I had one other peer-reviewed publication at a different journal, alongside a couple more journalistic and academic pieces published at the global platform Inspire Youth Journal.

I volunteered as an English teacher when I visited Türkiye the summer before grade 12. I translated 60+ Talks as a part of the Volunteer TED Translators team.

I gave two TEDx talks, one of which was published on YouTube. Upon invitation, I gave a presentation on ecocide law and sustainable development goals at the Global Youth SDGs Summit 2025 (organized by Abdul Jabbar Science College and School).

My main essay was structured around a quote by a philosopher that I really loved. I used it as a metaphor to show personal growth, core values, and skills. My NYU supplemental was on how encountering different perspectives following my arrival in Canada made me value diversity and want to further develop as a global citizen.

Candidate Weekend

Candidate Weekend is a four-day event organized by NYUAD. It is the final part of the application process, where finalists are flown in to Abu Dhabi to participate in interviews and other evaluative components, as well as to learn more about the university.

For me, those four days were unforgettable. We explored the campus, learned about NYUAD’s academic and extracurricular opportunities, and attended a sample class. We even ventured into Abu Dhabi, exploring the city with guided excursions and having dinner under the stars in the desert.

What made CW so special to me was the community aspect of NYUAD. The atmosphere on campus was so supportive, and everyone I met was incredibly kind. I found so many like-minded people amongst my fellow candidates, and even just within a few hours of meeting, we were laughing and chatting like lifelong friends.

I carried a little notebook with me wherever we went through the weekend, and asked everyone I met to write me a message in their native language. By the end of the weekend, I had collected messages in Bulgarian, Kazakh, Bosnian, Swahili, French, Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, Armenian… In total, I had more than seventy messages in thirty languages. As I flipped through the pages during the plane ride back, I knew exactly where I wanted to be for the next four years. That sense of belonging confirmed to me that this school was the right fit.

Of course, this meant that the days between Candidate Weekend and the final admission decisions felt infinitely long. I cannot even describe how overjoyed and relieved I was when I saw confetti flood my screen on decision day.

I am incredibly grateful that my acceptance was accompanied by a need-based financial aid package, covering around 97% of the total cost of attendance.

My Advice for Future Applicants

Firstly, do not compare yourself to others. The holistic review system means that your application is evaluated within the context of your unique circumstances. There are countless variables you can’t account for while comparing your profile to someone else’s.

Secondly, build up your college list very carefully. Spend time reflecting on the kind of college experience you want. Think about your values, goals, and needs. Always choose fit over prestige. It’s not about going to the best school in the world. It’s about going to the school that is specifically the best fit in the world for you.

And lastly, always dare to take the initiative. You never know what might happen. Send that cold email even if you don’t believe they will respond. If there is a local event you want to be part of, call the organizer and ask -that’s how I gave my first TEDx Talk! If you have an idea, pursue it even if you’re afraid of failure. Start posting content in spite of worrying about what other people might think. Be bold. Be loud. Be yourself. Make your way in the world and write your own story.