When I was applying to colleges, I thought I had my future planned out.
Like many students from India, I had a “dream school” list. I was applying to top U.S. universities for business, targeting schools that were highly ranked. But today, after completing my freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I can honestly say choosing UNC was one of the best decisions I could have made.
My name is Kashni Tiwary. I’m originally from Jaipur, India, and I studied the IB Diploma Programme at Jayshree Periwal International School. I’m currently studying business at UNC with double minors in data science and public policy, and I was admitted as a Future Business Admit (FBA), meaning I secured a direct pathway into UNC’s highly competitive business school (Kenan–Flagler) before even stepping onto campus.
Only around 200 students are directly admitted into the business program each year, so receiving that assured admission felt like both an opportunity and a responsibility.
My Academic Profile: IB, Test-Optional, and Choosing Strategy Over Perfection
I completed the IB Diploma with a predicted score of 41/45 and earned all three bonus points from TOK and EE. My subjects included:
- Higher Level: Math AI, Economics, Business Management
- Standard Level: English, French, Environmental Systems and Society
One decision people often questioned was why I chose ESS instead of Computer Science SL.
Honestly, it was strategic.
My counselor was like, there’s no point in taking a CS SL if you’re going to study business CS or data science at college because they teach you the same thing at the same level.
I also had extracurriculars tied to sustainability and energy, so ESS connected well with the overall story of my application.
Before IB, I studied the IGCSE curriculum and took a very STEM-heavy subject combination:
Physics, Chemistry, Extended Math, Additional Math, Computer Science, French, English Language, and English Literature.
I earned all As and one A in Grade 10, missing another A by a percentage.
Even though I eventually became a business student, my academic background was originally extremely STEM-oriented.
For standardized testing, I applied test-optional despite scoring a 1490 on the SAT. All my colleges were test-optional, so I really didn’t bother giving it a third time just to try getting a 1500 plus. One important factor in my application process was that I’m a U.S. citizen, even though I grew up in India, so I was still technically international. That meant my application was evaluated slightly differently at certain public universities compared to international applicants.
I didn’t need to submit English proficiency tests for U.S. colleges, but I did apply to universities in Hong Kong and submitted an English Test there, where I earned a full score.
The Extracurriculars That Defined My Application
Looking back, I think UNC was a perfect fit for the kind of extracurricular profile I had built. UNC is a very service-based school. They really value extracurriculars in the service, impact, and community-based areas.
My application heavily reflected that.
Building Serenity: An AI Mental Health Platform
One of my biggest extracurriculars was co-founding Serenity, an AI-powered mental health platform.
We raised $7,000, and we were funded by Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI.
The platform focused on accessible mental health support using AI tools. Alongside that, we collaborated with professors from Cornell University, worked with Stanford University’s mental health club, and even hosted actor Tom Holland on our podcast. Serenity also became the foundation of my participation in the TiE (TiE Young Entrepreneurs) competition circuit.
We were second overall at TiE Globals and won multiple awards.
What mattered to me was that the project wasn’t just an extracurricular for college.
It was practical, impact-wise.
Scaling Digital Education to 100,000+ Students
Another major experience was working on a digital education initiative.
I was on the team to help expand digital education to over 100k students. That role helped me gain experience in platform management, outreach, and communication at scale. One strategy that helped my application stand out was creating a Linktree portfolio for my extracurriculars.
In the additional information section, I put a link to my portfolio with pictures, websites, and supporting documents.
I think students underestimate how valuable credibility is in applications. A lot of people fabricate numbers on the Common App. I would not advise doing that. Admissions officers may not verify every detail, but they’ve read thousands of applications. Authenticity matters.
Creating Rajasthan’s First By-Women Soccer Team
Another extracurricular that shaped my application was serving as president of a football app initiative called Scout Me. During that experience, we helped create Rajasthan’s first by-women soccer team and built a GPS tracking device from scratch.
When I look back at my activities collectively, I realize they all connected around a few consistent themes:
- Impact
- Leadership
- Technology
- Data
- Public policy
- Community-building
That consistency mattered.
Why I Chose Business
Ironically, business was not always the plan. My parents are business owners, but I always thought I’d study computer science.
Everything changed after a business case competition in Grade 10, where my team placed second. That experience introduced me to the world of strategy, pitching, and consulting. Over time, I realized I loved the intersection of business, technology, and problem-solving far more than pure STEM.
One misconception people have is that business is just entrepreneurship. They’re two different things. By Grade 11, I was participating in consulting competitions, pro bono consulting initiatives, and entrepreneurship programs like TiE.
That’s when I discovered consulting as a career path.
It just made me really happy. It was very interesting for me to do consulting work. The IB curriculum also reinforced that interest. My Business Management and Economics coursework forced me to analyze real companies and real market behavior. For one of my Internal Assessments, I researched Spotify’s branding and strategic evolution.
Writing My UNC Essays
UNC had two supplemental essays when I applied, both with a strict 250-word limit.
One focused on community impact, and the other asked about an academic topic I wanted to pursue in college. I intentionally avoided repeating my extracurriculars excessively. My Common App essay already involved Serenity, so I didn’t want to overdo the extracurriculars in every essay. Instead, I used one essay to discuss a smaller, more personal moment from a school event rather than another major achievement.
For the academic essay, I connected one of my extracurriculars to the business topics I hoped to study at UNC.
One piece of advice I always give students now: Always research the college you are applying to more in-depth.
I went through Instagram pages, LinkedIn profiles, student clubs, and specific events hosted by UNC’s business school to make my essays feel genuinely tailored. That level of specificity matters.
It shows the university that this student is actually really interested in coming here.
The Awards Section Matters More Than People Think
For honors and awards, I included:
- TiE Global Runner-Up awards
- Best Teamwork Award at TiE Globals
- $10,000 sponsorship from TiE India
- Essay competition winner out of 11,000+ entries
- School academic awards for IGCSE English
One thing my counselor emphasized was contextualizing awards properly. If an award is competitive, say how many students competed. If it’s school-based, explain the context. Numbers help admissions officers understand scale.
Why I Ultimately Chose UNC
UNC wasn’t initially one of my top choices.
But when decisions came out, several practical factors mattered:
- UNC’s business school ranking
- Lower tuition compared to private universities
- Strong career outcomes
- Political uncertainty in the U.S. at the time
- Long-term financial value
UNC is a top-five public school in the U.S. and a top ten business school for undergraduates.
Private universities would have cost nearly $90K–$100K per year. At UNC, total yearly costs were closer to $60K for tuition and major expenses, with additional personal and travel expenses bringing totals closer to $70K–$75K annually. And because Chapel Hill is a college town rather than a city like New York, living costs are significantly lower.
Life at UNC: Rigorous, Competitive, and Surprisingly Fun
Academically, UNC is intense.
A lot of people think that because it’s public, it’s easier. It’s not. The business school environment is extremely competitive, especially when it comes to clubs and recruitment. There are clubs where thousands of students apply, and they take maybe 10 or 15 people. Some club applications involve multiple interview rounds that honestly feel more intense than internship recruitment.
At the same time, UNC has incredible balance. The campus culture is everything people imagine when they think of the “American college experience.”
- Basketball games
- Football culture
- Greek life
- Traditions
- Campus events
- Huge school spirit
We have something called the Old Well, where you drink water before your first day of class for good grades. UNC also genuinely prioritizes student wellness. We have wellness days in the middle of the semester where there are no classes at all.
That balance between rigor and community is one of my favorite things about the school.
Being an International Student at UNC
Even though I’m technically a U.S. citizen, growing up in India still shaped my experience heavily.
Coming into UNC, I remember feeling intimidated. You have this complex that you had to work harder to get into UNC compared to in-state students.
But one thing I learned quickly is that everyone at UNC is smart. The students are very competitive for anything and everything. You constantly have to push yourself to pursue opportunities, whether that’s clubs, research, internships, or networking.
I did research on Data Science during my freshman year with a professor outside the business school, and I also explored different disciplines before officially adding my minors in data science and public policy.
That flexibility is one of UNC’s biggest strengths. At UNC, they’re very liberal with you taking a variety of classes.
My Biggest Advice for Applicants
College admissions today are unpredictable.
I know someone with a 1580 SAT, a 45 in IB, amazing extracurriculars, Ivy-level material, and they didn’t get into top U.S. colleges.
That’s why I genuinely believe admissions are partly luck. College admissions is a gamble.
So my advice is:
- Apply boldly
- Be authentic
- Don’t obsess over rankings
- Write essays that actually sound like you
- Research schools deeply
- Choose colleges based on your major, not prestige alone
One essay can make or break a deal for a college.
And perhaps most importantly: anywhere you go, you’ll have fun if you allow yourself to.
Today, after freshman year, I can confidently say it’s the best freshman year I could have asked for.
