I used to be super anxious about math.
That probably sounds strange now, considering I am currently at Duke studying mathematics and planning to double major in economics. But math was not always a subject I felt confident in. In middle school, I struggled with it and associated the subject with anxiety rather than curiosity. That changed when I entered high school and had an amazing teacher.
That experience completely shifted my mindset.
Once I started putting effort into getting better at math because I believed I could do it, I realized there was so much more to explore. I began looking for opportunities outside the classroom. I participated in a summer math program, joined my school's math club, and started taking online courses independently. Trying everything available to me helped me realize just how much I enjoyed mathematics.
My academic background was heavily science-focused. For my A-levels, I took physics, mathematics, biology, and further mathematics. I had also studied ICSE for two years earlier in high school. My grades were as close to perfect as they could be, although I know that GPA calculations vary significantly between schools and curricula. My AS-level scores were also very high. I ultimately scored a 1600 on the SAT, which I think probably helped my application a lot.
But getting into Duke was not just about having strong grades or a perfect SAT score. Looking back at my application, I think one of the most important things was showing that mathematics was not simply a subject I was good at. It had become something I genuinely cared about.
Building an application beyond academics
One thing I learned about applying to universities in the United States is that academic strength is only part of the application.
Through the Common App, students can submit ten extracurricular activities, and I tried to show different parts of myself rather than filling the list exclusively with activities related to mathematics.
My biggest extracurricular commitment was Bharatanatyam, which I had been doing for around twelve years. It was an important part of my life, and I wrote about how the experience had helped me develop discipline and rigor while also giving me a community. That idea of community was important to me because I think universities are not just looking for students who will succeed academically. They also want to know what kind of person you will be once you arrive on campus and whether you will contribute to the community around you.
My other major activities were more closely connected to mathematics. I worked on a project about math anxiety and eventually started an initiative at my school to help middle school students overcome their own anxiety around mathematics. I conducted workshops for them and tried to make mathematics feel less intimidating.
I also worked on a mathematics research project focused on game theory.
These experiences helped me move beyond simply learning mathematics in a classroom. I began thinking about how mathematics affects the way people think, solve problems, and interact with the world around them. At the same time, I did not want my application to suggest that I was only interested in one thing. For U.S. universities, I think being well-rounded matters. Your extracurricular profile should not just be a list of activities that look impressive on paper. It should give the university an idea of who you actually are.
Writing about the person behind the application
My Common App essay was probably the most personal part of my application.
I wrote about overcoming my need for external validation and learning to do things simply because they brought me joy. Rather than writing about one specific academic achievement, I used different formative experiences from my life to show how that mindset developed. It was ultimately about learning to become more comfortable with myself and less dependent on external approval.
For my Duke-specific essays, however, I took a much more research-heavy approach.
I spent a lot of time looking into the opportunities Duke offered and then connecting those opportunities to things I had already done in high school. For example, I found a Duke professor whose work involved mathematics education for girls. I was able to connect that directly to the math mindset initiative I had created at my school. I also came across Duke Engage, a community service programme, and connected it to my previous community-service experiences.
That research made my essays much more specific. Instead of simply saying that Duke was a good university or that I wanted to study mathematics there, I could explain why particular programmes and people at Duke connected to the interests I had already developed.
Then, my awards section was relatively academic.
My school gives an award to the top student every year, and I had won that award multiple times. That was the most important award I included. I also received a science award from my school. I had also studied piano, but it was not significant enough in my life to justify taking up one of the ten extracurricular spaces on the Common App. Instead, I included it in my awards section by mentioning that I had passed Grade 4 piano. That allowed me to show another part of myself without sacrificing an activity slot.
I also included an international chemistry award I had gotten.
Another lesson I learned from the application process was: you do not have to make every single section of your application sound extraordinary. The goal is to give admissions officers a complete picture of you.
Why I chose Duke
When I was deciding where to apply, I considered several universities. For Early Decision, my options eventually came down to Duke, Amherst, and Brown.
I chose Duke because I felt that it offered the balance I was looking for.
I wanted academic rigor, but I also wanted a strong social environment. I wanted to attend a university where I would be challenged without feeling like I was constantly competing against everyone around me.
Ultimately, I thought Duke had a great balance of academic rigor as well as a good social atmosphere.
Another factor that appealed to me was the collaborative environment. In my experience, Duke seemed less cutthroat than many other highly ranked universities. I applied Early Decision, partly because Duke takes a significant portion of its incoming class through ED. I knew that it was still extremely competitive, but I felt that applying early made sense for me because Duke was genuinely one of my top choices.
I started working on my application relatively early, beginning my essay writing during the summer before my final year of school. That gave me enough time to develop my Common App essay and complete my Duke-specific essays without leaving everything until the last minute.
I was fortunate enough to be admitted ED, so by December, my college application process was essentially over.
Arriving at Duke as an international student
Coming to the United States as an international student was a major transition, but one thing that immediately stood out to me about Duke was how welcoming it was.
Duke has an early move-in programme specifically for international students. International students move into campus two or three days before everyone else, and the university organizes activities to help us adjust.
There was also a resource fair that helped us with practical things like setting up bank accounts and getting phone numbers.
These might seem like small things, but when you are moving to a completely new country, those details can be overwhelming. Duke made a conscious effort to help us become comfortable before the rest of the student body arrived.
Duke also has a dedicated orientation week. What I liked about it was that it was not just a series of presentations. We actually participated in activities with other groups of students and got the chance to immerse ourselves in the university environment.
That made the transition feel much easier.
Academics at Duke
I have only recently started at Duke, so I am still discovering many of its academic opportunities. But one thing I immediately appreciated was the flexibility in choosing courses.
There are obviously certain requirements that students have to fulfil, but outside of those, we have significant freedom in choosing what we want to study.
That has allowed me to take interesting classes that I might not necessarily have expected to encounter.
Duke also has research opportunities for undergraduates. I am considering applying to some of the programmes that allow students to conduct research alongside Duke faculty.
I have not yet had the chance to fully explore those opportunities, but it is something I am interested in pursuing as I continue through university.
Clubs are another story.
They can be extremely competitive because you are competing against other Duke students for limited places. I have not started the full application process yet, but that is something I will be exploring soon.
I think this is one of the realities of attending a highly selective university. Getting into the university is only the beginning. Once you arrive, there are still opportunities that you have to work for.
Why Economics?
Although mathematics is the subject that initially drew me toward my academic interests, I am also planning to pursue economics.
My interest in economics developed partly through AP courses. My school did not offer APs, so I had to self-study. I ended up taking three AP examinations: Microeconomics and Statistics at the end of 10th grade, followed by Macroeconomics at the end of 11th grade.
I received fives on all three.
I enjoyed economics enough to consider it as a second major, but there was also a practical consideration. I felt that combining mathematics and economics could open up strong opportunities after university.
I am still figuring out exactly where I want these interests to take me, but that is something I appreciate about the U.S. university system. I do not feel like I have to have every part of my future mapped out at eighteen.
If you are uncertain about your major, I actually think that universities in the United States can be a good option because they tend to offer more flexibility.
You can explore different subjects before committing to one academic path, and that freedom can be valuable when you are still figuring out what you enjoy.
Life in North Carolina
Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina, and so far I have enjoyed the environment.
I arrived in August, when it was still quite hot, but I have heard that fall is particularly beautiful. The weather is also milder than in many of the northern states, which I have found to be an advantage.
Duke can feel like a bit of a bubble.
There is so much happening on campus that you do not necessarily have a reason to leave. Durham itself is a relatively small city, although there is good food and you can go out with friends occasionally.
For the most part, however, there is enough and more to do on the campus.
That is something I have actually enjoyed. There is always something happening around you, whether it is an event, a club activity, or simply spending time with other students.
The visa process
As an international student, the visa process was another part of preparing for university.
The United States did not require me to take an English proficiency test, so I did not have to take IELTS or TOEFL.
The visa process itself involved booking an appointment at a consulate. I first had to complete biometrics and then attend an interview.
I had a nice conversation with the officer, and the experience was not nearly as intimidating as I had expected.
One thing that was required was making my social media profiles public so that they could be verified.
Once that process was completed, I received my visa.
What I would tell students applying now
If I could give one piece of advice to someone who is currently in high school and thinking about applying to universities in the United States, it would be to start early.
Don't keep things for the last minute because then it really adds up.
I wish I could tell every ninth grader to start thinking about extracurriculars now. You do not need to know exactly what you want to study, but building interests takes time.
The same applies to academics. Keep your grades up from the beginning rather than assuming that you can suddenly fix everything in 11th grade.
A strong application is not something you can manufacture overnight.
For me, my journey toward mathematics started with something as simple as learning to believe that I could become better at the subject. That eventually led me to a summer programme, a math club, online courses, a math anxiety initiative, and a research project in game theory.
Looking back, none of those experiences happened because I had a perfectly planned four-year strategy. They happened because I kept exploring.
That is probably the biggest lesson I have taken from the entire process.
You do not need to know exactly who you are going to become when you apply to college. But you should be willing to try things, follow the subjects and activities that genuinely interest you, and give yourself enough time to discover what you actually enjoy.
For me, that process took me from being a student who was super anxious about math to someone who is now studying it at Duke.
And I am still figuring out where it will take me next.
