My Background Information

Hi! I’m Filiz from Istanbul, Turkey. I attended Üsküdar American Academy for high school on a full scholarship. Throughout high school, I was involved in a variety of activities, including playing in the orchestra, hiking, coding, and community service, which I’ll explain more about below.

Academically, I pursued the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, taking Math AA HL, Physics HL, Computer Science HL, English A SL, Turkish A SL, and TITC SL. My academic interests, especially in STEM, played a big role in shaping my college goals. As a result, I committed to Vanderbilt University through Early Decision I with a full ride. I’m planning to major in Computer Science—a passion I discovered through the Girls in Tech club—possibly with a double major (still figuring that out!).

Why I Decided to Study Abroad

I decided to study abroad because I wanted access to greater opportunities and resources than those available in my home country, Turkey. The U.S. stood out to me not only for its world-class universities and cutting-edge research in computer science, but also for its flexible education system, vibrant campus life, and strong support for student success. I’m especially excited about the chance to explore a wide range of courses and clubs, engage in campus life, work closely with professors, and get involved in research and internships.

Another key reason I chose the U.S. was financial. I knew I needed substantial financial aid to study abroad, and although scholarships are limited and highly competitive, the U.S. was the most generous option for me compared to Europe. Ultimately, it offered the best combination of academic excellence, personal development, and financial support, making it the ideal place for me to pursue my education.

 My primary focus was on the U.S. If I hadn’t received a scholarship, I would have considered applying to European countries like Belgium, Germany, or the Netherlands. However, since I was aiming for financial aid and knew the U.S. was the most generous in that regard, I didn’t prepare any applications for those countries and chose to concentrate all my efforts on the U.S.

Why I Chose Vanderbilt

I chose Vanderbilt because I believe it offers an outstanding college experience both academically and socially. It’s a top 20 university in the U.S., known for its rigorous academics, vibrant campus life, and excellent financial aid. The students are consistently ranked among the happiest in the country, which really stood out to me. What especially drew me in was their growing commitment to computer science. Vanderbilt is launching a new College of Connected Computing, signaling a strong investment in the field. I’m confident that the CS education there will continue to strengthen, and that was a major factor in my decision—alongside their generous financial aid. I also really liked Nashville as a city; it felt like a welcoming and dynamic place to spend my college years

My Stats When Applying to Colleges

My IB score is 43 out of 45, and my IELTS score is 7.5. I have a cumulative GPA of 95 out of 100. I took the SAT several times but wasn’t satisfied with my scores, so I decided to apply test-optional.

My Extracurricular Activities and Honors

1. I was the President and Co-Founder of the Technovation Club, a student-led team at UAA focused on increasing tech literacy within our school community. We organized workshops on tools like Google Workspace, AI platforms, and Adobe programs (delivered both online and in-person), primarily helping teachers engage more confidently with technology.

2. My second activity was Sarikamis Bridge4Learning, an online tutoring initiative I founded. This project connected 23 elementary students from my former school with 32 high school volunteers from UAA. We met weekly to support English and math learning and ultimately delivered over 260 hours of tutoring.

3. I also completed an Engineering Internship at Getir, where I worked with the algorithm and map engine teams. I attended daily stand-up meetings, engaged in problem-solving discussions related to routing and logistics, and studied data structures and algorithms in a real-world context.

4. As the President of the Social Service Club, the school’s oldest and largest organization with over 140 members, I led a team of 8 to coordinate a range of initiatives. We provided 98 students with volunteering opportunities, coordinated tutoring sessions for 60 students, and organized major events—most notably, a fun day for 40 children under government protection—impacting over 200 individuals in total.

5. I also led the Hiking Club as President, managing a 5-person executive team. I organized 6 hiking trips, grew club membership, introduced leadership roles to improve club organization and engagement, and averaged 20k steps per hike.

6. Music has always been part of my life. I’ve played the violin for 8 years and performed in the school orchestra, participating in 6 concerts for audiences of 250+ people.

7. I served as a Programming Mentor and Curriculum Developer for Girls in Tech, a volunteer initiative empowering elementary and middle school girls through coding. I taught Python to 14 students and provided weekly 80-minute lessons to a group of fourth graders.

8. As a World News Correspondent for the school newspaper, I covered 8 major topics and contributed regular articles to keep our student body informed about global affairs.

9. I also participated in the school mentorship program, guiding 9 freshman students through monthly sessions focused on academic success, social integration, peer pressure, and building school spirit.

10. Lastly, I completed the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, earning both Bronze and Silver Medals.

While I did not receive major national or international awards, I was recognized with several academic honors at school. Additionally, I submitted a resume highlighting my independent learning, featuring online courses from Coursera and edX, as well as programs like Kode With Klossy and The Coding School’s Quantum Computing course.

My Common App Essay

I wrote about a major life event that deeply impacted me during my middle and high school years. My essay focused on how I navigated and overcame the challenges it brought, while still maintaining a consistent, ambitious, and goal-driven high school experience.

My Application Process and How I Structured It

By the second semester of 11th grade, I had completed most of my extracurricular activities. Aside from my IB exams in November, I was essentially done with everything I planned to include on my resume and Common App. In reality, the process of building my profile took all of high school, but I became more focused on specific schools and application materials at the beginning of my second semester of junior year.

From that point until November, I worked on my application. The most important component was my personal statement, which I started in early May and continued to refine throughout the summer. While writing it, I also completed the Common App. Once both were finalized, I wrote my Vanderbilt supplemental essay.

Resources That I Used In My Application Process

At my school, we have an International College Counseling Office that supported me throughout the application process. They helped with school selection and provided feedback on my essays. Aside from their guidance, I was mostly on my own, researching extensively and watching YouTube videos on how to write about my 10 activities, what to include in different sections, and how to approach supplemental questions.

My Financial Aid Package

I received a full ride to Vanderbilt, with a financial aid package totaling $96,689 per year. It did not require a separate application beyond submitting the CSS Profile to demonstrate my family’s financial situation. The aid covers tuition, housing, meals, travel, books, and other essential student expenses. With this comprehensive package, I don’t anticipate needing additional funds to cover my basic needs.

What I Want to Major In

I plan to major in Computer Science because I enjoy coding and find it fascinating that a few lines of code can build something meaningful and impactful. I’m drawn to the creativity and problem-solving involved in tech, and I want to be part of one of the most innovative and fast-growing fields of our time. My long-term goal is to use technology to make a real difference in people’s lives. I’m also considering a double major to broaden my perspective and skill set.

Future Plans

I don’t have a specific plan yet, but I’m considering either pursuing a master’s degree or starting my career at a tech company. My ultimate goal is to work in a space where technology intersects with other fields, potentially related to the area I choose for my double major.

My Best Pieces of Advice for Those Who Desire to Study In The US

My biggest advice is to explore different activities early on so you can discover what you truly enjoy and then start building your resume around those interests. Self-awareness is key. Once you know what excites you, it becomes easier to craft a meaningful application. Also, start the application process as early as possible; give yourself enough time to reflect, revise, and present your best self. Remember, it is all up to you.

How I Became a Strong Candidate for Admissions at Vanderbilt

I believe I was a strong candidate both academically and socially. More importantly, I think I effectively demonstrated how I fit into “Vanderbilt’s student profile” alongside being a strong candidate through the supplemental essay. The prompt asked how I embody “Dare to Grow,” Vanderbilt’s motto, and how I plan to continue doing so on campus. I wrote about the idea of “both having and not having a comfort zone” and how I used that contrast to shape my life, creating environments that foster growth through this contrast for different communities. I also integrated Vanderbilt’s values throughout the essay—growth through discovery, a commitment to equity, inclusion, access, and building relationships based on respect and trust. Essentially, through the essay, I aimed to be both sincere and substantial in showing who I am, what I’ve achieved, and what I’m capable of at Vanderbilt.

Additional Comments

Just work hard, believe in yourself, and stay humble, passionate, and consistent in what you do—it will eventually pay off. This mindset has guided me, and I hope it inspires you too!