Background 

My name is Taim Alkhouri and I am originally from Syria, and I grew up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. During my high school years, I went to a Philadelphia private school that follows an American curriculum in Dubai.

My school offered APs and I took one AP class during my junior year which was AP chemistry, and in my senior year, I took four APs, which included AP stats, AP physics, AP calculus, and AP biology.

Why Germany 

My decision to study in Germany was influenced by my interest in the country’s superior education system and its reputation as a leading European nation. From as early as Grade 10, I was determined to pursue higher education in Germany, drawn by the country's strong educational standards and the quality of its institutions. My father’s advice and research further cemented this choice, and Germany’s robust educational environment was also a significant factor in my decision.

Also for my major which is computer science Germany has a strong renowned field that will allow me to have better career opportunities.

Why Constructor University 

Initially, I wanted to attend a public German university, however, after two years of trying to learn German I realized that it was difficult for me to achieve that level of fluency in time to be able to attend a public university so I started exploring all universities that had English programs.

That's when Constructor University visited my school and introduced their university to us, and that sparked my interest.

After researching the university I learned that it was the first-ranked private university in Germany, offered my desired program in English, and overall had a welcoming environment, so for me, this university offered everything that I wanted in the place that I would be spending the next 4 years of my life in.

Application process 

The application process was rigorous but manageable. First thing, I had to show proof of academic excellence and language proficiency, so I prepared my transcript and SAT to fulfill the required score of a minimum of 1200 and I was able to get 1260 on my SAT, for the language proficiency I took the IELTS scoring a 7.5 overall.

Then I had to write a personal statement explaining why I chose to study in Germany and why the Constructor University along with my resume. 

I needed a few months to prepare all the requirements, once I had everything I needed I checked all my requirements and submitted my application in December and three weeks later I received my acceptance letter along with my scholarship offer of 6000 Euros.

Extracurricular activities

Volunteering was one of my main activities as I volunteered many times in my school for multiple causes. 

I also joined a team called Faza on multiple occasions, which is a team dedicated to helping others who are in need. 

And I played sports, as I was a part of a basketball and football team.

Student body and University support 

Constructor University offers a diverse and vibrant student body. The university is known for its American-style education in Germany and attracts students from over 150 different nationalities making the student body diverse. This diversity has made this transition easier for me and made it easy to blend in and be a part of the student body and make friends from various backgrounds. The international atmosphere makes this experience much more special, offering academic and social opportunities.

And even though I haven't started to apply to internships yet as I am still a freshman, I am aware of the huge support that our university offers to students when it comes to finding internships within their desired fields starting from sophomore year.

Tips

My biggest advice would be to start the application process early, ideally at the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year. 

You have to work hard throughout high school to strengthen your application by having a strong academic record and securing better scholarship opportunities.

Early preparation and effective time management are key to a successful application when applying and balancing academic and social life in a new environment once you attend university.