Background
I am 17 years old now. I was born in October 2007 in Issyk-Kul. When I was about two years old, my family moved to Bishkek, the capital city. Since childhood, my parents wanted me to pursue a career in IT, but I was not interested in this field.
Instead, I wanted to become a professional football player, but for different reasons, I could not.
Starting from 8th grade, I began building my profile carefully, dreaming of studying at top universities abroad. I looked for every opportunity to strengthen my case, from academics to extracurricular activities.
Later, in 9th grade, I joined the YOUTH Hub Academy, a college preparation academy. With the help of my mentors there, I continued exploring my interests by trying different activities to find my passion.
This led me to apply to more than 35 different educational programs for students, including YYGS, Wharton Global Youth Program, Babson College Summer Study, Tufts University Pre-College Program, LaunchX, Dartmouth Pre-College Program, Pioneer Academics, Lumiere Research Program, Veritas AI, and others.
Application Process and Essays
The application consists of some basic information about an applicant, academic transcript, extracurricular activities, and essays, which are the most important part of your application.
There are three rounds: priority, regular, and late.
When it came to writing essays for educational programs, I divided them into four main types:
Motivation Essay
In this type of essay, I usually talked about my passion for a field I was deeply involved in. Most often, I focused on my love for nature and environmental sustainability. My goal was to show my true passion and long connection to this topic. I wanted to show how it shaped my personal growth and academic journey.
Expertise Essay
This essay asked me to describe my knowledge and experience in a specific area, such as business, research, or technology. I did not just list my achievements. Instead, I focused on describing the process of how I reached my goals. I believe the process is what makes a story special — it shows leadership, critical thinking, resilience, and creativity better than simply listing awards or results.
"Why Us?" Essay
This was the classic "Why Us?" type of essay. The key for me was to do deep research about the program or university. I worked to understand their values, strengths, and special opportunities. Then, I clearly explained why I was truly excited to join their community.
"Why Me?" Essay
The "Why Me?" essay was about showing why I was a perfect fit for the program. I connected my background, skills, and goals with what the program wanted in candidates. I made sure to show that my experiences and dreams matched well with their mission.
Topics I Wrote About in My Essays
My strong passion for ecology and sustainability, which started from my childhood experiences with nature.
My journey in entrepreneurship and business, focusing on how I built projects from nothing and the challenges I overcame.
The research projects I worked on, especially showing how I approached problems, created solutions, and worked with mentors.
My commitment to making an impact both locally and globally through environmental work and educational projects.
Personal stories of resilience, like overcoming failures and facing major challenges that shaped who I am.
Financial Aid
During the summer-fall 2024, I participated simultaneously in five highly competitive educational programs, whose total full cost exceeded $35,490. Thanks to a combination of strong applications, essays, and demonstrated need, I was fortunate to secure significant financial support across all of them.
Here’s how it went:
LaunchX Ann Arbor Entrepreneurship Program (at UMichigan) - Summer 2024I was accepted into the LaunchX Entrepreneurship Program, where the total cost was around $12,000. However, I received a scholarship of $10,600, allowing me to pay only $1,400 for my participation.
Wharton Global Youth Program (at UPenn) - Summer 2024I received a 70% scholarship for this program, making it financially accessible and allowing me to gain world-class business education at a fraction of the original cost.
Babson College Summer Study (at Babson College) - Summer 2024I was awarded a full-ride scholarship, meaning I participated in the program completely free of charge. This included tuition, materials, and access to all program resources — a truly transformative opportunity.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program & UCSD Extended Studies - Fall 2024For this prestigious research program, I was granted a 90% scholarship, and my total payment amounted to approximately $400 for the entire process of conducting an independent research project under a professional mentor-researcher.
The Knowledge Society (TKS) - Fall 2024 - Winter 2025I was awarded around an 85% scholarship for TKS, one of the leading global innovation programs for young people. Thanks to this financial support, I only paid about $100 per month during my participation.
Extracurricular activities
For my application, I highlighted the different activities I had been involved in over the years. I included my athletic background, mentioning my experience playing for a semi-professional football club. I also talked about my chess career, where I competed professionally and earned a FIDE rating. I shared my past interest in technology too, linking my GitHub account which shows my projects in Java, JavaScript, React.js, and Python.
However, the main focus of my application was my strong commitment to environmental activism. From the beginning, I knew that the eco-part of my profile would be the strongest and most meaningful. In 2021, I founded Recycle.kg, a volunteer organization that promotes environmental education, awareness, and action across Kyrgyzstan.
At first, I did deep research on the ecological challenges my country faced. I used that research to create a structured project plan. I started the project alone but slowly built a bigger team by inviting friends and setting up a formal volunteer recruitment process. At our peak, we had around 110 volunteers, with a core team of about 10 people.
Our work had many parts. One of our key projects was "Eco Free Day," a big clean-up event where about 80 volunteers collected between 300 to 350 kilograms of trash in a national reserve park. Building on that success, I expanded Recycle.kg into schools. We started monthly environmental lessons taught by trained teenage volunteers. I created four to five detailed lesson guides, hosted a training conference for volunteers, and led a team that gave around 30 eco-lessons across 15 schools and kindergartens in Bishkek.
Additionally, we installed recycling bins for paper, plastic bottles, and batteries in about 30 schools and public places. We made sure that the collected waste was sent to proper recycling centers.
Next, one of the most meaningful projects I did was an Art for Ecology Fair, funded through a grant from the American Councils. I worked with about 20 local artists, giving them canvases to create artwork about ecological problems. We showed their works publicly on Dzerzhinsky Street, creating an open-air gallery that attracted visitors all day. Some of the paintings were even sold. In total, more than 35 people, including volunteers and artists, helped make the fair a success. Receiving a letter of appreciation from the American Councils afterward was a very special moment for me and the whole team.
Even though I had to temporarily pause Recycle.kg to focus on my university applications, this project remains one of the most important experiences of my life. It taught me leadership, how to build a community, and most importantly, how to turn passion into real-world change.
My Summer at LaunchX
Program Date: (June 30, 2024 - July 28, 2024)
This past summer, I had an amazing opportunity to attend the LaunchX entrepreneurship program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After getting my U.S. visa, I flew from Bishkek to Detroit via Istanbul on June 28th. I was full of excitement for what was ahead. When I arrived, the LaunchX team welcomed us and took us to Ann Arbor — a lively college town shaped by the University of Michigan’s large campus.
LaunchX brought together about 80 talented students from all over the world — from Africa, the United States, Japan, China, India, Pakistan, Argentina, Turkey, Italy, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and more. The diversity of perspectives made every conversation exciting and full of new ideas. I not only worked with other LaunchX participants but also met University of Michigan students. I built a network that continues to grow. In fact, during a recent symposium in Japan, I reunited with some LaunchX friends who are now based in Tokyo.
Our classes took place at the university’s famous business school campus. They ran from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM every day. After classes, we gathered in co-working spaces to complete homework, brainstorm business ideas, and prepare for project deadlines. Besides academics, LaunchX organized many fun social events — like fairs, concerts, and professional sports games — which made a great balance between studying hard and enjoying the experience.
The heart of LaunchX was building real startups. Students were divided into teams of four. Each team had to create a business and try to earn at least $500 in revenue within four weeks. We had access to a fully-equipped craft area for prototyping, and if we needed more materials, LaunchX covered the costs.
My team and I co-founded iTale, a startup that combined technology with creativity. iTale was an AI-powered platform that created personalized stories and fairy tales. Customers could order custom books and comics in many different genres. We sold our products mainly in Michigan, pricing them between $7 and $15. Using the university’s fabrication resources, we designed, printed, and delivered these special, personalized books. Our venture was very popular with customers looking for meaningful and one-of-a-kind gifts.
In the end, out of about 20 teams, iTale placed 4th. It was a great accomplishment considering how strong the competition was.
Besides our team’s success, I was honored to receive an individual award at the program’s closing ceremony. Based on voting by all participants, I was named Best Negotiator. This award recognized my communication skills, teamwork, and strategic decision-making during our startup journey.
LaunchX was a life-changing experience. It sharpened my entrepreneurial skills, helped me work across different cultures, and showed me that with the right team and hard work, a simple idea can become a real business.
My Summer in the US: Beyond LaunchX
After finishing the LaunchX program at the University of Michigan, I continued my academic journey by attending the Wharton Global Youth Program at the University of Pennsylvania — a top business school in the world. I took the Essentials of Entrepreneurship course, where students from all over the world came together to learn the basics of building and growing businesses.
During the program, we were divided into teams to work on a startup project. My team created SolaraTech, a company focused on making recyclable solar panels — an innovative solution to help both the energy and environmental challenges we face today.
The experience at Wharton was truly life-changing. It was not only because of the challenging academic work but also because of the exciting atmosphere. We had the chance to attend large events, including a TED-style speech by Greg Brockman and Ashton Kutcher. Sitting among 5,000 attendees and listening to one of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs was an unforgettable moment that gave me even more motivation.
After Wharton, I moved to Boston to continue my studies through the Babson College Summer Study program. I took online courses while visiting the Babson campus — a place that immediately felt like a second home. Babson had a vibrant and entrepreneurial environment, full of resources, and it was located just 10 minutes outside of Boston.
While in Boston, I made the most of every opportunity to explore. I visited the campuses of Harvard University and MIT, two of the most prestigious universities in the world. Being there, surrounded by innovation and bright minds, made me even more determined to pursue a future where business, technology, and creativity come together.
On weekends, I traveled around the East Coast. I visited New York, New Hampshire, and New Jersey, meeting friends, exploring new cities, and learning more about the diverse culture of the United States.
One of the best highlights of the summer was attending El Clásico — the famous football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona — in New York. As a big football fan, being part of such a historic event, even in a friendly match, was an experience I will never forget.
My Stats
IELTS 7.5
GPA: 5.0 / 5.0
Final Advice
This summer was one of the most enriching and important periods of my life. From launching startups and attending world-class lectures to traveling and meeting amazing people, every moment taught me something new about leadership, resilience, and the global community I hope to join. It made my passion for entrepreneurship and sustainability even stronger, and it showed me how much I love learning and exploring.
If I could give one piece of advice to others, it would be this: never give up on your dreams, no matter how far away or impossible they might seem at first. Every small step you take, every application you send, and every challenge you overcome — they all help build the foundation for something bigger. There will be moments when you doubt yourself, face failure, or feel frustrated, but if you stay committed and believe in your path, you will open doors you once thought were out of reach.
Your dreams are worth fighting for — keep going.
