My Background

My name is Lina. I am from Almaty, Kazakhstan, and I attended Galaxy International School (a Cambridge-authorized school) as a scholarship recipient.

Why I chose to study abroad

Studying abroad offers an opportunity for accelerated personal growth both inside and out. You learn to be independent in a new country, tackling all the challenges of adulthood on your own. You meet people from across the globe, gaining insight into the intricacies of our interconnected world. It’s a journey where you develop social skills, resilience, and adaptability while remaining connected to your roots — essentially becoming a bridge between your culture and others.

Additionally, earning a diploma abroad can open doors to greater career opportunities and expose you to innovative techniques and new perspectives on how to view the world.

Why Miami University

I was torn between two universities: the American University of Paris and Miami University in Ohio. Both were appealing, and I genuinely wanted to attend both. However, after being invited to the Scholars Showcase in Miami in February, my mind changed in its favor.

From the very first step on campus, I knew I wanted to spend the next four years there — I immediately fell in love with the community and environment. Miami’s campus is incredibly welcoming, and I could easily imagine myself interacting with the students, attending classes, and living there. The college motto, “To think that in such a place, I led such a life,” resonated deeply with me.

Miami is incredibly supportive and demonstrates genuine care for its students. As one of the original Public Ivies, the university offers top-tier education with a focus on research and global exposure. Students can attend classes in Luxembourg, study physics at Yonsei University and Russian at KazNU, or explore nearly any major they can dream of. The academic freedom and liberal arts education model make it a truly unique experience.

Application process

I started in August and finished in January. In hindsight, I regret not managing my time better or selecting my Early Decision (ED) choices wisely. I applied ED1 to Cornell University and got deferred. I held off on applying ED2 to Wellesley, hoping Cornell would accept me during the Regular Decision round, but I was ultimately rejected by Cornell and waitlisted at Wellesley. I wonder if things would have turned out differently had I applied ED2 to Wellesley.

After my deferral, I struggled to focus on supplemental essays, writing many on the day of the deadline (which I strongly do not recommend). Although I was accepted to several universities with last-minute essays, I wouldn’t advise procrastinating — it’s too stressful, and you miss out on valuable feedback.

However, my college journey really began back in eighth grade during the pandemic when schools closed. I became a UNICEF volunteer and started searching for ways to contribute to society and grow personally.

My stats and extracurricular activities

• GPA: 5.0/5.0 (Altyn Belgi Recipient, Gold Medal)

• IELTS: 7.0

During high school, I participated in a wide variety of extracurriculars, filling all 10 spots on the CommonApp and submitting a resume that included even more activities. My main 10 were divided into four categories: art, research, technology, and community service. These activities intersected, giving me a well-rounded but focused profile.

• Art:

  1. Founder of the Art Club & Art Mentor, American Space & Makerspace

  2. Artist at SHAN Entertainment, a non-profit Kazakh creative hub focused on cultural heritage

• Research:

  1. Cornell University Pre-college Summer Studies: Introduction to Environmental Psychology

  2. Pioneer Research Program: Conducted research with UVA Professor Lisa Reilly on “Symbolism of Medieval Mediterranean Architecture: Power Dynamics at Hagia Sophia”

  3. Urbanitarium by UrbanForum Kazakhstan & AlmaU

  4. The New York Academy of Sciences — “1000 Girls, 1000 Futures” STEM mentorship program

• Technology:

  1. Nano-satellite Engineer & Research Collaborator, UniSat International Nano-satellite Education Program for Girls by UNICEF & KazNU

  2. Outreach and Design Lead: Handbook Engineer & SMM, American Space & Makerspace Robotics Team

  3. Team Lead: Game & UX/UI Designer, Technovation Girls

• Community Service:

  1. UNICEF Volunteer: COVID-19 initiatives, children’s rights advocacy, and promoting an inclusive society

  Honors

  1. 1st ever Global Finalist from Kazakhstan: NASA Space Apps (of 5327 teams, 162 countries, top 0.65%)

  2. Control Award Winner: Central Asia FIRST Championship (top 3 winning alliance; made 100K+ outreach)

  3. Royal Photographic Society Runner-up: Woman Science Photographer (top 3/100+, exhibition in Bristol)

  4. Absolute Winner: NASA Space Apps (won twice, top 1 from 40+ teams, $1000 prize from USinKZ)

  5. Recipient: Merit Scholarship from Int’l Edu Fund BIL for Galaxy Int’l School (4% acc. rate, $10,000)

Personal statement

It took me eight drafts and four months to complete my personal statement, and I changed the subject three times. I eventually chose the montage structure, which allowed me to cover all the important aspects of my story. By the end, I knew every word by heart and could rewrite or recite it even if woken up in the middle of the night.

I responded to the prompt: “Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.”

I wrote about what it means to be Kazakh and how I view myself as a modern nomad. The essay explored my passion for architecture and personal growth through constant moves between cities and homes. Titled “Home,” it reflected my understanding of the essence of home and how it shaped who I am today.

Here’s the conclusion:

“I learned the art of adaptation, not as a choice but as a necessity. Yet, with each transition, my connection to the land and the people deepened. As the geography of Kazakhstan shifted beneath my feet, the steppe remained a constant, timeless backdrop to my journey. Embracing a living legacy with every step, I, like the nomads of old, carry the stories of the places I’ve been and the people I’ve met.

And I’ve deciphered the connotation of home.

For nomads, home is wherever you put it. I put my home in every inch and corner of Kazakhstan; all of it is my home. It is wherever my family’s love and support enveloped me, wherever my past intertwined with my present, and extends into my future as I stand prepared to broaden my horizons. Through it all, I’ve evolved into the person I am today.

I am Kazakh. I am a Nomad.”

Scholarship and helpful resources

I was honored to be a recipient of the I was part of the Presidential Fellows Scholarship, a full-ride merit-based scholarship that covers all tuition fees, housing, and meal plans, along with an additional $5000 enrichment stipend!

I was part of the EducationUSA club, which provided invaluable support in my application process. I also had consultations with Mr. David (@applywithdavid) and Ms. Aizhan (@aizhankul), which were incredibly helpful. My friends, who were also applying, gave feedback and motivation, but my biggest source of support was my mom. Without her, I couldn’t have done it. Forever grateful.