My Background

My story begins in Khodjeyli, a small town in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. I spent my early childhood there until my family moved to Nukus when I was in the second grade. This decision is something I’m still deeply grateful for. Khodjeyli had limited opportunities, and I often reflect on how that one move changed the entire direction of my life.

From grades 2 to 11, I studied at School No. 1 in Nukus. Three months after graduating, I moved to the United States to begin my studies at Amherst College, where I’m now a freshman planning to double major in Political Science and Environmental Studies.

Why I Decided to Apply Abroad

By ninth grade, I already knew that the kind of education I wanted could only be found in the United States. I was especially drawn to the freedom of the liberal arts system. The ability to design my own curriculum, explore different disciplines, and learn beyond strict boundaries was completely different from my high school experience, where we were given up to 17 subjects a year with little choice in what we studied.

My family supported me, though at first they were confused. They saw me spending long hours writing essays alone in my room, while other students attended tutoring centers and prepared for the admissions testing of local universities. At the beginning, they didn’t fully understand the extracurriculars I was doing either. But over time, they recognized how important this path was to me, and their support made the journey much easier.

My school also played a big role, especially my principal, who encouraged me and supported every project I brought to her.

Something I learned through this process is simple: you are the one who shapes your future. You can let life happen to you, or you can take control and build the future you want.

My Essays

For my Common App essay, I used the montage structure, which combines several meaningful experiences that are naturally connected to a central theme. I didn’t struggle to find my “story” because there were already important parts of my life I wanted to share. The harder part was learning how to write them well.

I didn’t use any admissions agencies or mentors, so I taught myself by watching online videos, using the College Essay Guy website, and reading example essays. Some say you shouldn’t read examples to avoid copying someone’s voice, but for me, reading many essays helped me to understand what good writing looks like.

My biggest essay takeaways:

• Pick an uncommon angle and make interesting & uncommon connections

• Be open and vulnerable, but focus on your solutions, not only your challenges

• Show that you make things happen, not just that things happen to you

My Stats

I applied SAT-optional and only submitted my IELTS score. I took the IELTS in October of 11th grade (in the 11-Grade system), and after one month and ten days of intensive daily preparation, I scored an 8.0.

Looking back, I strongly recommend finishing standardized tests before 11th grade. It makes the whole application process much less stressful.

At school, I had a GPA of 4.98 and graduated 2nd out of 153 students. Our school changed its grading system during my final years, which caused my GPA to drop slightly. I explained this clearly in my applications, and I truly believe admissions officers understand such context when you provide it.

I started preparing for the IELTS with a teacher, but my involvement was inconsistent. I then began preparing on my own by visiting coworking spaces or cafes after school and studying until late in the evening. Self-study worked for me because I value independent learning, but I don’t recommend it unless you have strong self-discipline.

My Extracurriculars

By the time I was applying, I had been involved in 41 extracurricular activities, which made organizing them more challenging than filling the section itself. I grouped similar activities together and focused on impact rather than quantity.

Some of my main involvements included:

• Volunteering for UNICEF

• Serving as a museum ambassador

• Playing piano for seven years

• Programming

• Participating in a research group abroad

• Being a party delegate at COP29

• Attending international climate conferences

• Working with NGOs

• Founding several initiatives and projects
  

The key thing here is that I wasn't engaged in those 41 activities to fill out the Common App and never counted them before I actually applied. I was genuinely curious and kept on pursuing different things, and even now, I am still involved in some of them.

Why Amherst?

I’ve always admired liberal arts education, and Amherst stood out to me from the very beginning. The open curriculum, academic freedom, and the ability to explore entirely different fields were exactly what I was looking for.

I also wanted a smaller community where I could form meaningful relationships with professors and peers. Amherst felt welcoming from the moment I discovered it, and now that I’m here, I see how right that intuition was.

I applied for Regular Decision and received my acceptance on the morning of March 22. I was filled with so much gratitude that I remember taking a walk outside and feeling thankful to the point where I found myself thanking every tree I passed. It was one of the happiest moments of my life.

What I Learned

I don’t know exactly what made my application stand out, and maybe I never will. But now, being part of Amherst and re-reading my essays, I think my intellectual curiosity and honest desire to learn played a big role.

I also received rejections, including from schools I expected to get into. The emotional exhaustion of that period taught me to let go of expectations. When I stopped trying to control the outcomes and trusted the process, things fell into place.

Here are the main lessons I would share:

• Start early and finish your tests before 11th grade

• Don’t rely on the SAT-optional path if you can avoid it

• Choose extracurriculars that genuinely interest you. The scale and number of certificates don’t matter; the impact of your extracurricular activities does.

• Get feedback on your essays (something I regret not doing)

• Research colleges deeply and apply intentionally

• Trust the process and trust yourself