Hello! I am Belal Bahaa from Egypt, and I graduated from STEM High School for Boys - 6th of October in 2024. I’m attending the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) on a full-ride scholarship, set to graduate in 2028. Here is my story!

My Background

I spent 12 of my childhood life in Saudi Arabia before moving to Egypt for ninth grade. Life became difficult when I started my first time in boarding school on top of moving to a new country and its educational system. I experienced complete unfamiliarity because I was away from my family while adapting to a different setting and studying demanding courses in STEM subjects.

I decided to dedicate myself to my education even though I had no clear picture of my future goals at this time. STEM’s research-based education allowed me to explore multiple scientific fields, which I deeply enjoyed. When I started 11th grade, I was initially planning to pursue medicine, but at the end of grade 11, my interests changed and decided to major in engineering.

Why Study Abroad, Especially in the U.S.?

The idea of studying abroad was attractive for me for one main reason: the opportunities. Egypt's constraints in providing advanced resources together with limited research possibilities as well as funding opportunities make it problematic for students to attain their full potential. American universities present students with both top-level academic programs and modern research laboratories, as well as demanding learning conditions that make students excel to their fullest.

The United States appeared more suitable than Europe to me because it offers more scholarship opportunities. The U.S. education system presented my best opportunity to pursue top-level university admission through scholarship opportunities even though the path to fully free education is extremely challenging.

Why UPenn?

I carefully selected Penn as my future school. My search for an educational institution led me to Penn since it has a strong engineering program while also providing the chance to integrate entrepreneurial studies in engineering contexts. At UPenn, I have access to both Penn Engineering and the world-leading business school, Wharton, which creates an optimal environment for promoting creativity and generating innovation.

Beyond academics, Penn’s flexibility allowed me to study subjects across various academic fields. The liberal arts approach of the school enables me to expand my engineering expertise while pursuing various subjects that will impact my professional aspirations.

The large Muslim population at UPenn was one the primary elements that attracted me to this university. Having the distinction of participating in one of the earliest Muslim Student Associations (MSA) in the United States, Penn ensured I would find a welcoming atmosphere upon joining.

Academic & Extracurricular Achievements

I achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA along with a 35/36 score on the ACT as my academic record. I earned a band 8.5/9 in the IELTS exam. I had five main extracurricular activities as they were:

• Pioneer Academics (Computational Astrophysics Research): I participated in advanced research and served on the advisory board to organize and lead academic events and seminars.

• Head of STEM October Physics Club for the 2022-2023 season. In this season, with the help of my board members, we were able to establish a strong social media presence for the club, reformed the curriculum of the club, incorporated computational physics into the curriculum, and wrote multiple assignments and handouts.

• Co-Founder of "IPhR" (International Physics Realm): Established an international physics competition with two rigorous rounds of problem-solving, which, as of its second edition, was able to attract more than 2600 students from 70 different countries with prize pools that exceed $12,000 dollars .

• Youth Science Journal (YSJ): As a junior, I wrote a literature review on dark energy and how it influences our understanding in cosmology. As a senior, I mentored two international teams throughout their research papers on astrophysics and robotics.

Honors & Competitions

• Physics Brawl (2023): Led a team that earned the highest score in the Middle East & Africa.

• International Astronomy & Astrophysics Competition (IAAC): Silver Medalist.

• International Scientific Physics Olympiad (ISPhO): Received an Honorable Mention.

• Egyptian Physics Olympiad (EPhO): National Finalist.

College Essay

My personal statement revolved around my difficulties during my first school week and adapting to Egypt’s education environment. My experience during my first week at STEM High School was marked by a mix of loneliness and excessive feelings of uncertainty and being overwhelmed about my education decision.

I came close to exiting the school on the third day because my mental condition was badly affected by the situation. Through discussions with the school administration about leaving the school, I was convinced to give the school another chance.

Just as the second week started, I started making friends without even noticing. I met amazing people with aspirations and dreams just like me. By my junior year I became a confident mentor who took leadership of school-wide activities. The transformation of my character through this experience served as the essential thematic element for my essay. 

Resources That Helped Me During My Admission Process

I used College Essay Essentials and 50 Successful Ivy League Essays to develop my college application essays. The resources provided different writing approaches and methods for strategy. I used these books but avoided leaning on them too much since I wanted to maintain my personal writing style.

My college list involved extensive exploration between online platforms, such as Reddit,Quora, and Collegevine. As a part of my research, I consulted with older students which are more experienced students who had experienced the admissions procedure. The advice they shared enabled me to discover colleges that provided full scholarship funding in addition to gaining a better understanding of what produces a successful application.

Financial Aid

Penn rewarded me with a complete scholarship, which paid for my tuition together with housing costs and meals along with most of the expenses. Each semester I get $1,000 from the institution to manage personal needs or sudden expenses. Additionally, I’m a highly aided student, which provides more benefits to a normal scholarship that you can read about here.

Personal Advice

1. Just because someone was accepted at some university doesn’t mean that if you copy their application, you will be accepted as well. Throughout high school, we participate in lots of things and build the experience that defines what we want to be. Be authentic. Show your story. No one has a “cliché” or “lame” life story. If it truly inspired and changed you, then it is worth sharing. Don’t fall into the pithole of the “correct” way to write an essay or your story is “predictable” and “some many people before you talked about it.” Your story is unique because it has you in it, so don’t get discouraged from talking about your mom, dad, friend, or any “cliché” experience that you truly appreciate and are grateful for. 

2. Remember that college ranking isn’t an accurate measure. It’s subjective, non-linear, and fluctuating. Although it might be a metric that you can keep in mind, it shouldn’t lead the choice of where to apply. The “number #1” university might not be the right place for you. So, explore your options and try to find universities that compliment your skills and goals and can help you propel your career forward. 

3. Never be shy of asking for help. The admission process is tedious and tiring; thus, having a friend, a colleague, or a family member you can talk to and seek help from will help you throughout the process. On the other hand, never refuse to help someone. It’s not a competition. Withholding helpful information won’t make you “win” in any sense but rather diminishes the way you see yourself.