Hi! My name is Yerkezhan, and I’m from Semey, a city in East Kazakhstan. I graduated from a regular public school called School Number 28, where the language of instruction was Russian, and we learned Kazakh as well as English along it. I didn’t go to an international or private school, and we didn’t have classes taught in English. Still, I had great teachers who supported and taught me a lot and I’ll always be grateful to them.

The impact of my year in the FLEX Program

My dream of studying abroad started to take shape when I was 15. That year, I had the opportunity to go to the U.S. through the FLEX exchange program, a scholarship funded by the U.S. government. Living in the U.S. for that year completely changed my worldview. I was inspired by the diversity, the culture, and the openness of the people around me.

When I returned to Kazakhstan, I wanted to stay and be with my family and thought I’d wait until my master’s to study abroad again. But many of my friends from the FLEX program were applying to universities abroad, and it made me think: why not give it a try? It was already December, very late in the application season, so I only had time to apply to two universities: NYU and Drexel University. I chose those two because I had friends studying there, so I knew I wouldn’t be completely alone if I got in.

My Unexpected Path to NYU Shanghai

When I applied to NYU, I didn’t even know NYU Shanghai existed. In Kazakhstan, NYU Abu Dhabi is the most well-known campus, so I originally selected it as my first choice. But, on a total last-minute whim, I changed my preferences and put NYU New York first, NYU Abu Dhabi second, and NYU Shanghai as my third.

In March, I found out that I was waitlisted at NYU. However, this didn’t disappoint me at all! In fact, it felt like a huge achievement considering that I prepared the application completely by myself and had very limited time, so being waitlisted at a university like NYU was already amazing. I was asked to write about my achievements since the time I submitted my application and whether I’d like to stay in the waitlist, which I did. A few months later, in May, I received an email: I had been accepted to NYU Shanghai! At first, I didn’t know much about the campus, but after doing my research, I decided to go, and now I can confidently say I don’t regret it one bit.

I also got accepted into Drexel, and they also offered me a scholarship, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to cover everything, so NYU Shanghai became the clear choice.

Why NYU?

Even though NYU New York was my first choice, I was drawn to the university in general because of its global network and the study-away opportunities. All NYU students can spend semesters at various global campuses around the world, and for NYU Shanghai students, studying away is a requirement. That was a huge bonus for me. For example, I’m going to spend next semester at NYU Abu Dhabi, so in a way, I’m getting the best of both worlds!

My Stats

In Kazakhstan, we use a 5.0 GPA scale, and I graduated with a perfect 5.0, equivalent to a 4.0 in the U.S. system. I also earned the Altyn Belgi medal, which is awarded to students who maintain top grades (all A's) throughout all 11 years of school. I didn’t take the SAT because it wasn’t required, but I did take the IELTS and scored an 8.

My Extracurriculars

I didn’t have many structured extracurricular opportunities at my school, but I tried to stay involved where I could. I’ve been dancing since I was six, and that taught me a lot about discipline and teamwork. At school, I was Class President for a year and Co-Class President for two years, which gave me a chance to practice leadership and help organize class events. In 11th grade, I joined the debate club and eventually became team captain. I also competed in academic Olympiads for English and Russian.

Outside of school, I served as an ambassador for Elbasy Medali, a national youth leadership project, and being part of the FLEX exchange program was a major extracurricular in itself.

And lastly, I love blogging! I share productivity tips and student life advice on Instagram and YouTube, you can go check it out if you want!

Writing My College Essays

I had to write a personal statement and a few supplemental essays. For NYU, I wrote an optional essay about leadership and related it to Martin Luther King Jr., even though it wasn’t required. I saw it as another opportunity to express who I am. 

If you're writing your essays now, my biggest tip is to draft multiple essays on different prompts, especially if you're unsure what to focus on. Choose the one that feels most like you. The one that connects deeply to your story and shows who you are beyond your resume.

Also, a lot of people say your essay should be all about you, but mine was mostly about my family. Since the rest of my application already covered my achievements, I used the essay to show that everything I achieved was because of my family’s great impact on shaping me as a person. About two-thirds described their lives, and in the end, I connected how what they learned through their own life experience affected what they taught me and who I grew up to be. I think it’s okay to take that risk if it feels authentic, as long as the story still ties back to who you are.

My Major and Future Plans

I’m majoring in Social Science with a track in International Relations. Right now, I’m still figuring out my post-graduation plans. I might apply for a master’s degree or go straight into work, possibly in diplomacy or something related to international affairs. I’m open to exploring both options!

How It’s Going: My Adaptation Journey

My transition to NYU Shanghai was smoother than I expected, thanks to the Orientation Week program. From the moment we landed, we were picked up by shuttle buses, placed in groups with Orientation Ambassadors, and guided through essentials like setting up phone numbers and bank accounts. That support made the first days much easier for me.

Still, there were some challenges. The spicy food was a big one! Back home, I used only salt and pepper, so adjusting to new flavors took about a month. Another surprise was the language barrier. I arrived knowing zero Chinese and hadn’t realized how little English is spoken in daily life there. But people were kind and excited to help, which motivated me to learn their language even more.

Making friends took time. During Orientation Week, we were placed in mixed groups (half international, half Chinese), which helped me meet new people. Two of my groupmates became close friends. In my first year, I was still adjusting and didn’t make many friends, but things changed in my second year. I joined more clubs and extracurriculars, and working on shared projects helped me bond with others.

Living with Chinese roommates for two years also pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me a lot about different perspectives and cultures.  

Campus Involvement & Balancing Academics

For the past year, I was Associate Director of Speaker Affairs for TEDxNYUShanghai, where I work directly with speakers to prepare their talks. In my first year, I was part of the Activities Department, but I switched roles to follow my interest in public speaking and event coordination.

I’ve also been active in Student Government, serving first as Assistant Director and then as Director of Student Life and Residence. These roles allowed me to serve as a bridge between students and departments like campus safety, facilities, and residential life. Another significant role I hold is with the Dean’s Service Corps, where I serve as a student leader in the Health Department. In this role, I collaborate with nonprofit organizations to organize volunteering opportunities and promote health initiatives on campus.

In addition, I work as an International Admissions Ambassador, giving campus tours, supporting admissions events, and creating social media content to share student perspectives. I also served as a Captain for Orientation Week, mentoring fellow orientation ambassadors and helping incoming students feel welcomed and supported.

Alongside these roles, I hold a student worker position in University Communications, creating content for NYU Shanghai’s official Instagram account. It’s a creative role that lets me contribute to how our university presents itself online.

While I’m not in a dance club, I’ve maintained my passion for dance through academic classes. I’ve taken the Choreography and Performance course in both spring semesters, which allows me to explore advanced dance creation and performance. Though I don’t plan to minor in dance (I'm more interested in a Chinese language minor) I’m grateful that the university offers space to pursue this interest.

Balancing everything hasn’t been easy. My freshman year was especially tough, with the dual challenge of adjusting to a new country and a demanding academic system. But over time, I learned that when you’re passionate about your extracurriculars, you can make it all work. This semester, I’ve taken 14 credits instead of the usual 16, giving myself more time to manage my commitments.

In short, while the workload is demanding, the opportunity to lead, create, and connect outside the classroom makes it all worthwhile!

My Advice for Future Applicants

Even if you’re unsure, give it a try. When I was watching college admissions videos online, I saw so many applicants with amazing stats and thought, What chance do I have? But I applied anyway, just for the experience. That process of reflecting on my own journey was already valuable on its own!

I also encourage staying open-minded. I hadn’t even heard of NYU Shanghai at first, and studying in China was never part of my plan. But I decided to accept the offer, and now, after two years, I truly believe it was the best place for me at this stage of my life. As cliché as it sounds, being open to unexpected opportunities can lead to the most meaningful experiences.