Hi! I am Mohamed Abdelmeguid from Egypt. I graduated from STEM High School for Boys - 6th of October in 2024. I will be graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2028; this is part of my journey!

My Background

In ninth grade, I resolved to attend one of Egypt's distinguished STEM schools. Egyptian STEM schools create an academic setting that prioritizes research activities while challenging students with practical issues. The process of collaborative work between students and mentors encourages innovation, which trains them for future competitive events as well as careers in science and engineering fields. The schools focus on research-based education and problem-solving tasks because students must complete a capstone project dealing with real energy, health, and environmental or engineering problems.

The valedictorian distinction led students with ninth grade academic excellence to attend the STEM High School for Boys on the 6th of October. The schools have demonstrated their ability to develop scholars who win international scholarships while participating in global science events such as the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and the Olympiads, which further motivated me.

Why Study Abroad and Why the U.S.?

Two essential motives led me to pick the United States as my study destination. U.S. financial support includes higher numbers of fully sponsored scholarships than European institutions that provide cost-friendly access to education with limited complete funding options. Mathematics has been one of the strongest academic fields at U.S. universities and institutes, specifically MIT, since the time I developed my interest in high school. What drew me to studying at a U.S. institution was the feasibility of conducting research, with number theory serving merely as an example.

Why MIT?

The institute proved ideal for me to follow my passion for mathematics and research activities. My academic pursuits found perfect alignment with my passion for mathematics concentration at MIT due to its mathematical strength. MIT offered useful things I needed as a student, so I chose it because it provided demanding academics and an interdisciplinary problem-solving curriculum.

MIT provides small class sizes, which create a suitable environment for students to work together while allowing them to connect easily with professors. My decision to choose this institution relied heavily on getting personal mentorship and developing deep engagement through discussions instead of attending numerous lectures.

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) operated at MIT provides undergraduate students with the chance to participate in genuine research projects, thus representing another essential factor in my decision. The practical research experience I gained was essential to both enhancing my abilities and creating valuable impacts in my professional area.

The combination of factors led MIT to become more than an educational institution because it offered me the ideal circumstances to develop while mastering new concepts and making valuable contributions. My admission goal extended beyond just entering a prestigious institution. I sought an environment with exceptional mathematics and research facilities, surrounded by intellectuals who challenge my potential daily and drive meaningful advancements.

Academic Achievements & Extracurriculars

I maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and scored 35/36 on the ACT. For my English proficiency test, I took the Duolingo English Test and scored 150/160.

My after-school commitments developed both my mental inquisitiveness and leadership abilities while performing tasks outside the classroom.

I joined the Non-Trivial Research Fellowship from 100 selected fellows among 20,000+ global applicants, which granted me mentorship for ethical frameworks alongside $500 scholarships and accessibility to $15,000 funding.

 The JST Sakura Science Program enabled me to visit Tokyo, where Nobel Laureates shared their insights and investigated international research partnerships as one of four Egyptian students in this prestigious program.

The Youth Science Journal benefited from my dual presidency and my subsequent role as Advisory Board Director to lead Egypt’s first independent youth-led scientific journal platform for research and mentorship support.

My participation in the PROMYS Program at Boston University became one of the most important learning experiences of my summer through number theory classes, which both faculty from Boston University and MIT taught.

Honors & Awards

• Arab Math Olympiad Silver Medalist

• Represented Egypt at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 2022

• Egypt's IMO Team Member (2022-2023)

• Kangaroo Math Cup Winner 2023 (Top among 5,000+ participants)

• CSO Bronze Medalist 2023 & Semi-Finalist 2022 (Competed among 55,000+ participants)

College Essays

During the college essay writing process, I chose to share my genuine self rather than tailoring statements to assumptions about what admission officers desired to read.

My personal statement highlighted the important transition I experienced in my life. Before my life changed, I derived happiness through basic activities like park visits and gaming. The loss of someone dear became the key moment that modified my entire worldview. I stopped seeking happiness as an item for personal consumption because my purpose became generating happiness for others. This theme “Converting Consumption into Production” became the foundation of my essay. A fun fact about this essay is that I first wrote it as a supplemental essay for Princeton but then it developed into my primary personal statement.

Resources that helped me in my application

For my college essays, I used two main books:

The first book was 50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays, as it provided many different and real essays and gave you a feedback for every essay, which was pretty informative for me.

The second book was College Essay Essentials; it delivered four methods to write exceptional college admissions essays along with sample activities, and it helped to write my first draft.

The Online Platforms I depended more on the admission advice websites like PrepScholar and CollegeVine since they delivered important admissions guidelines.

Also, the MIT admissions website was helpful because its admissions blogs allowed me to see clearly how it determines admission selections, so I became aware of the institution's core values.

Financial Aid

MIT rewarded me with a complete scholarship, which paid for my tuition together with housing costs and meals along with most of the expenses. Each semester I get $1,400 from the institution to manage personal needs or sudden expenses.

Personal Advice

• Focus on having a true story: It is often not a wise idea to enter tens of programs and competitions just to have a long list of activities/achievements. Having a deep story and showing how your activities and what you do genuinely connect to your values matters far more than having a laundry list of disconnected honors. See this blog post.

• Don’t have a “dream university”: The idea of a top-choice #1 university can be tempting given how we often rank universities according to different criteria in our mind. However, college admissions are unpredictable, and fixating on a single institution may cause you to overlook other great schools that could be a better fit academically, socially, or financially. Instead of chasing an idealized "dream university," focus on finding multiple schools that align with your goals, values, and personal growth.

• No place is a ticket to success: Success is not determined by the name of a university but by the effort, skills, and opportunities you cultivate along the way. Believing that a single school guarantees success can be misleading, as achievements come from hard work, adaptability, and networking rather than just a prestigious institution. The most successful people thrive because of their dedication, resourcefulness, and ability to make the most of any environment. Focus on building your skills, seeking opportunities, and growing wherever you are. Success is what you create, not something a school hands you.