If I had to describe my YYGS experience in a few words, I would say it was inspiring, transformative, and strengthened my critical thinking. Being at YYGS challenged me academically, culturally, and personally.
I learned to think in ways I hadn’t before, to be fully open and tolerant of different cultures, perspectives, and experiences, and to collaborate closely with people from diverse backgrounds. It was truly an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
My Background
I’m from Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Growing up there, I had access to many opportunities for young people, but I always felt the need to seek out international experiences to expand my horizons. I currently attend a selective public high school - one of only two in Belgrade. One school focuses on mathematics, while the other, which I attend, is a philological school specializing in languages. My language focus is Chinese, which is quite uncommon in our region, making it a unique and exciting challenge.
Academically, I’ve always been a high achiever, consistently earning top grades, except in math, which has never been my strongest subject. Outside the classroom, I actively participate in national and regional competitions in subjects like Latin and Serbian language.
Extracurricular Activities
My active involvement with extracurricular activities began in the winter of 2022 when I discovered United World Colleges and wanted to apply. This inspired me to start volunteering more. I began with UNICEF Serbia through an open call for volunteers, which really sparked my commitment. Since then, I’ve been volunteering for almost three years. In March 2025, I joined the Young People Advisory Board of UNICEF Serbia and started coordinating multiple volunteering projects.
One of my biggest projects with UNICEF involved organizing summer and winter school workshops for immigrant children - many of whom had migrated to Serbia from conflict-affected countries like Syria or Ukraine. We ran workshops focused on tolerance, English, and social integration. I also volunteered at mental health conferences and led volunteer initiatives in this area. For my work, I was honored as UNICEF Serbia’s Volunteer of the Year in 2024.
Beyond that, I coordinated study clubs that included both immigrant and Serbian children, creating an inclusive environment for learning and social interaction. Additionally, I participated in focus groups for a mental health center in Belgrade and collaborated on a mental health project with students from Northwestern University.
Another major project was a research initiative with the Westminster Foundation and UNICEF, which was called Parliamentorship. Twenty of us were selected to research school violence and bullying, divided into four groups, each tackling a different sub-area. Our mentors were politicians from the National Assembly of Serbia, and we presented our findings and proposed solutions directly to them. The project is now under review and will likely be implemented, which I’m really proud of. As part of this project, I even delivered a speech at the National Assembly.
I’ve also been very active in Model United Nations (MUNs)—I’ve received awards at every conference I attended, chaired one, and organized an MUN at my school. This September, I’ll be chairing the first Model ICAO in Belgrade. Besides, I participated in a two-week summer school in China last year and delivered a speech in Chinese at the closing ceremony.
Yale Young Global Scholars
I actually found out about YYGS through TikTok, from Borderless. They had posted a video about competitive high school summer programs, and then YYGS started appearing in my feed. Since I come from Southeast and Central Europe, attending Yale or Harvard in-person seemed almost impossible due to financial and logistical barriers.
I registered for their email updates and soon received a notification that the application had opened. I decided to apply early, submitting my application before the end of October. The process went smoothly for me. It didn’t feel overly difficult or exhausting, even though the application is designed to help prepare students for college. On the contrary, I found it inspiring - the essays and short-answer questions were creative and really made me reflect a lot.
I submitted my application two days before the early action deadline and then waited for two months. During that time, I also applied for another program called the Global Peace Summit at Oxford, which was taking place in January. I was accepted but ultimately declined the invitation for two main reasons: first, the program offered only partial financial aid, and second, I would have had to secure a UK visa on my own, which was logistically very difficult and time-consuming.
YYGS Essays
One of my long essays was about religion, written for the prompt on challenging your beliefs. I focused on how my own religious beliefs were challenged when I was younger.
For the short-answer prompts, I wrote about why I wanted to attend YYGS, specifically the Solving Global Challenges session. There was also a very short-answer prompt about an inanimate object that holds special meaning. I wrote about a pen that my childhood friend gave me. I never saw her again, but I’ve kept the pen ever since.
Tips for Essays
For short answers, be clear and concise - don’t over-explain. State your point directly, be creative, and focus on what will stick in the reader’s mind.
Be honest: choose answers that genuinely reflect your experiences and values. For example, when writing about an intimate object, pick something that truly matters to you and explain why in a simple but memorable way. Creativity and authenticity go a long way in making your application stand out.
Why I Was a Good Fit
From my perspective, the biggest factor that helped me get selected was how closely my extracurricular activities aligned with the Solving Global Challenges session. Most of my work in Serbia - especially with UNICEF, MUNs, and other UN-related initiatives - connected directly to the Sustainable Development Goals. I was actively contributing to causes that the program itself focuses on, which I think really stood out.
My YYGS Experience
When I arrived at Yale, it felt surreal—almost like living in a novel with intricate, grand architecture and traditions. Even now, I think my brain hasn’t fully processed that I was actually at Yale.
People and Friendships
My favorite part of the program, both academically and personally, was definitely the people. I made friends from all over the world, and some of them are now among my closest friends.
Symposium
Academically, my favorite experience was Symposium. Over six hours on the weekends, we researched and designed policies for a fictional country, considering everything from economics to governance. It was challenging, but it pushed me to use my knowledge creatively and collaboratively, and I loved that.
Family Time
Another aspect I really enjoyed was “family time,” where we met in small groups each morning and night to hang out, discuss our days, and build connections. It was a unique way to bond with people from different tracks and backgrounds.
Advice to International Applicants
For anyone thinking about applying: don’t be afraid. Take your time with the essays and really reflect on what you want to say. Even if your grades aren’t perfect, apply anyway - YYGS is open to everyone. Most importantly, be yourself. Authenticity matters more than anything - they’re looking for diverse personalities that will contribute meaningfully to the program.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, I plan to study abroad. My top choice right now is Sciences Po in France, but I’m also considering the UK or Italy. In terms of my career, I want to pursue international law or international relations.
One Thing I Would Change in the World
If I could change one thing in the world, I would make everyone 100% tolerant and empathetic toward each other. There is still too much racism and exclusion, so I would want people to be more accepting of diversity and differences.
Advice to My Younger Self
I would tell my younger self not to stress or be anxious so much. Everything will work out as it’s meant to.
