Growing up in Faisalabad, Pakistan, I never imagined that one day I would be studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world—UC Berkeley. My journey to getting here wasn’t easy, but it was filled with determination, resilience, and a little bit of luck. From navigating the college application process to adapting to life in the U.S., here’s how I made it to Berkeley and what I’ve learned along the way.

The Application Process: How I Got Into UC Berkeley

I completed my O-levels (9 & 10th) and A-levels (11 & 12th) at a high school in Lahore. For my A-levels, I took Math, Accounting, Economics, and Law. My O-level results were solid—one A*, five As, and two Bs*—but my A-levels were a different story.

Due to serious health issues, I had to travel between Lahore and Faisalabad for treatment, which affected my final A-level grades. UC Berkeley gives conditional offers to students, meaning they must achieve at least a C in all their A-level subjects. Unfortunately, I did not meet this condition, as I ended up with a D in one subject.

However, since I had already informed Berkeley about my health struggles, they were understanding and allowed me to continue my studies despite my grades. This experience taught me an important lesson: communicating with colleges is key—if you have extenuating circumstances, let them know early. Informing them later will not work in your favor.

I applied to UC Berkeley as an undeclared major in October 2021 for fall 2022 admission. Initially, I also applied to Emory University, UC Davis, and UCLA, as well as a few schools in the UK. I was actually admitted to Emory University through Early Decision, meaning I was expected to enroll there. However, when I unexpectedly got into Berkeley, my father decided it was a better option financially, as Emory’s tuition was around $90,000 per year, compared to Berkeley’s $67,000 per year. Berkeley’s location in California also played a role in the decision, as my father believed it would provide better opportunities.

I had to formally withdraw my admission from Emory, which was nerve-wracking, but ultimately, Berkeley was the right choice for me.

Extracurriculars: What Helped My Application Stand Out

The University of California (UC) system has a unique application process. Unlike Common App, it does not require recommendation letters and instead asks for:

• Four personal insight essays

• Up to 20 extracurricular activities

During high school, I was deeply involved in leadership roles, community service, sports, and music. Some of my key activities included:

• Head Boy at my school in Faisalabad

• College Prefect in Lahore, responsible for 3,000 students

• Director for an NGO, leading community service projects

• Chief Technology Officer for a startup during COVID, offering home services like electricians and disinfecting services

• Student Government & Leadership

• Swimming & Water Polo Captain

• Composing & Writing Over 50 Songs

• Internship at AIESEC, where I created a poetry video project about diversity

For my Berkeley essays, I wrote about:

1. A girl I met while leading a community service project and how it shaped my leadership skills.

2. A song that impacted me and how it reflected my personality.

3. My role as a "Kandrasiya" (a person who finds happiness in everyday life and small joys).

4. A topic I don't fully remember, but I’m sure it was meaningful at the time!

Life at Berkeley: Choosing My Major

When I started at Berkeley, I was undeclared, but over time, I found my passion in Middle Eastern studies. Now, I am pursuing two majors from the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Culture:

1. Arabic Language

2. Modern Middle Eastern Worlds (History & Culture)

Berkeley’s academic flexibility allows students to explore different fields before committing to a major, which helped me find the right path. Over the years, I’ve taken a variety of courses—from cell biology to Western music, philosophy, physics, and even entrepreneurship.

One of the things I love about Berkeley is the ability to take classes outside my major. For example, this semester, I’m studying Islamic Theology (a graduate-level course), Elementary Arabic, and Middle Eastern history. This freedom to explore different subjects is one of Berkeley’s biggest strengths.

The Cultural Shift: Adapting to Life in the U.S.

Moving from Pakistan to California was a huge cultural shift. Coming from a boys-only boarding school in Lahore, I suddenly found myself in an open, diverse, and highly inclusive environment. Berkeley celebrates different identities, religious beliefs, political views, and cultures—which was overwhelming at first.

For the first month, I was in culture shock. But over time, I learned to embrace the diversity, and now I feel like Berkeley has become a part of me. The key to adapting was staying open-minded and connecting with people.

The Financial Aspect: Paying for Berkeley

One of the biggest challenges of studying in the U.S. is affording tuition. Unlike private universities, Berkeley is a public university, meaning it does not offer financial aid to international students.

• My tuition is $67,000 per year (fixed for all four years).

• Compared to private universities like Stanford ($110,000 per year) and Harvard ($100,000 per year), Berkeley is slightly more affordable.

• I am fully self-funded, and my father covers all my expenses, including tuition, housing, and living costs.

Visa Process & Securing Admission

Many Pakistani students worry about the U.S. visa process, but getting into a top school makes the process much easier. The two main factors that helped me get my visa were:

1. Berkeley’s Reputation – Since Berkeley is a highly ranked school, my acceptance already strengthened my case.

2. Financial Proof – I was able to prove financial stability, which reassured the visa officer.

At my visa interview, several students were rejected, even though they could afford their studies. The key is to create a sense of security—strong university admission + clear financial backing = higher chances of approval.

Advice for Students Applying to U.S. Colleges

If you’re a Pakistani student hoping to study abroad, here are my top tips:

1. Start building your extracurricular profile early – Leadership roles, internships, and unique experiences make a huge difference.

2. Craft strong personal essays – The UC system doesn’t require recommendation letters, so your essays must showcase your personality.

3. Apply to multiple schools – I applied to Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, and Emory University, giving myself options.

4. Understand the financial commitment – Studying in the U.S. is expensive, so plan ahead for funding. Saying you can’t pay anything doesn’t usually work.

Studying at Berkeley has been a life-changing experience, and I hope my journey helps other students navigate their own paths. If you’re passionate, persistent, and open to new challenges, you can make it happen too.