Who Am I?

I am from Kazakhstan and was born in the city of Kyzylorda, but I have been living in Astana for over 10 years. I study at BIL Girls’ School, where I have been studying for more than five years, and I will graduate in 2026. In December 2025, I received an acceptance from MBZUAI, which was my top choice.

(Editor’s note: BIL is a network of schools for gifted students under the International Public Foundation “Bilim–Innovation” in Kazakhstan.)

Why MBZUAI?

My intended major is engineering with a focus on the application of Artificial Intelligence, so I was specifically looking for universities with strong AI-oriented programs. Most of these universities were located in China, and while I personally was not against studying there, my parents were not comfortable with that option.

What distinguishes MBZUAI from other universities:

• I genuinely fell in love with the campus — it is clean, modern, and visually stunning.

• The university ranks among the top 10 institutions worldwide in AI research. MBZUAI has an exceptionally strong reputation in this field.

• Through social media, I was able to see a wide range of student activities. This aspect is very important to me, as I value an active and vibrant student life.

• MBZUAI is also known for being extremely generous with financial aid. They offer full-ride scholarships, although it is definitely not easy to receive one. The university provides separate funding for accommodation, a stipend, and even laptops for students.

All of this motivated me to apply. When I learned that MBZUAI provides laptops to students, I seriously began considering it as my primary university choice. After weighing the pros and cons, I concluded that this university was the best fit for my undergraduate education.

As far as I know, starting from the third semester, students begin working, and the university actively supports student employment. Abu Dhabi offers many career opportunities, and MBZUAI assists students with internships and jobs even before graduation, which significantly eases the employment process.

Major Choice

MBZUAI offers two bachelor’s majors: Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence, which is divided into Engineering and Business tracks. I chose the Engineering track because I already have a strong and well-developed portfolio related to this field. I have always wanted to pursue engineering, and AI deeply fascinates me, making this major a perfect match for me.

Universities and Countries I Considered

I did not consider the United States at all, even though many people recommended it. I was never drawn to the U.S., and it was not a dream destination for me. Additionally, the admissions process there is currently very strict and stressful, and education is extremely expensive. Full-ride scholarships are rare, often insufficient, or require post-graduation obligations. The current political and educational climate in the U.S. also felt unsettling.

I considered Qatar and Canada. I was especially interested in Canada, particularly UBC. However, I realised that studying in Canada could be challenging due to housing issues and overall living conditions. As a result, MBZUAI became my number one choice, and I was incredibly happy when I was accepted.

SAT, GPA, and IELTS

My scores:

• SAT: 1500 (November), but I applied with 1440

• GPA: 4.85

• IELTS: 7.0

Take exams as early as possible

The first time you take an exam, you usually think, “That’s it, I’m done.” Then you take it a second time, hoping it will finally be over. I took both the SAT and IELTS twice.

My first IELTS attempt went poorly because I had technical issues with my headphones during the listening section. I was extremely stressed at that moment, which negatively affected my score. The second time, I was calmer and better prepared, which made a huge difference. I strongly recommend taking IELTS in a calm mental state. While retakes are possible, the current prices make them stressful.

The SAT was more challenging because it combines both English and math. I took my first SAT in October and scored 1440, but I believe my mistake was taking it too late. I could have taken it earlier, even during the summer. I registered for the November SAT, knowing I would miss the ED deadline, but I planned to use that score for RD if needed. However, the November score became irrelevant because I was accepted during ED.

The moral: take exams at least a year in advance. This gives you time to retake them if needed and reduces stress. Senior year is already overwhelming due to documents and applications, and adding exams makes it much harder.

Extracurricular Activities

Since the end of 8th grade, I have been fully locked in, building a strong portfolio. I was often told that strong extracurriculars significantly improve your chances of admission, as they reflect who you are as an applicant. This motivated me early on.

My activities included:

• Two years of volunteering, including volunteering as a teacher.

• Leading the school debate club.

• Running an environmental club.

• Participating in robotics for two years — something I never expected to enjoy, yet it became an incredibly valuable experience.

  

• Interning at Borderless and writing articles.

• Participating in research programs such as the Lumiere Research Program, where I received a full scholarship and conducted research with a professor who earned a PhD from UPenn. Our research combined neuroscience and engineering, focusing on how engineering technologies can improve depression treatment.

• Additional summer programs related to engineering and medicine.

When I reviewed MBZUAI’s criteria, I realised how well this university matched my profile. I also noticed their strong interest in AI applications in healthcare, which aligned perfectly with my research background.

Internship at Borderless

I had been following Borderless for a long time and was incredibly excited when I was accepted for an internship. The experience itself was amazing. A close friend of mine was admitted to Northwestern University in Qatar and had used Borderless resources, which initially drew my attention to the platform.

I applied because I wanted to write stories similar to those written about her. The experience was genuinely inspiring. We communicated a lot, supported each other, and built strong connections. The community was incredibly motivating — full of students who were actively involved in various projects and applications.

Resources Used for My Application

I relied heavily on Telegram channels related to studying abroad. Whenever I saw a channel with “study abroad” in the title, I subscribed immediately. I had no mentor or close person guiding me, so I had to independently research everything.

Instagram and other social media platforms were also helpful. I conducted extensive research on universities, their criteria, and required materials, which allowed me to strategically shape my application.

As a fun fact, I now run my own Telegram channel about studying abroad, where I share my journey and opportunities: https://t.me/aisiscooking

I also actively used the Borderless platform to revise my personal statement multiple times and evaluate my extracurricular activities. I also searched for universities aligned with my major there. Overall, it is a very useful platform for application preparation.

Financial Aid

The tuition at MBZUAI is $45,000 per year, but I received a 100% full-ride scholarship. I also receive a monthly stipend of 3,500 AED, visa support, medical insurance, fully covered dormitory accommodation, and a MacBook — a real MacBook.

The university also covers books, academic resources, internships, and international activities. Additionally, they provide funding for relocation and annual round-trip flights home, which is truly impressive.

Application Process

I began preparing seriously at the end of 8th grade (Editor’s note: in Kazakhstan, the education system is 11 years, and 8th grade is considered part of high school). I invested significant effort into activities and achievements. I tried many different things, and there were even moments when I was removed from teams due to inactivity. However, over the years from grades 8 to 11, I accumulated substantial experience, and I am grateful that I started early.

Challenges

The main difficulty I faced was related to standardised tests, which is why I strongly advise taking them early. If you graduate in 11th grade, take exams in 10th grade. If you graduate in 12th grade, take them in 11th grade. Never leave them for the last moment.

I was extremely anxious waiting for my November SAT results, fearing rejection from ED with my October score. This stress could have been avoided if I had taken the SAT earlier. Fortunately, this was my only major challenge during the application process.

Essay for MBUZAI

In my essay, I wrote about why I chose MBZUAI, what attracted me to the university, and who I am as a person. I emphasised my interest in applying AI to healthcare. After learning that MBZUAI values this field, I aligned my essay accordingly and highlighted my experience, including competitions related to medicine. I also expressed my desire to improve AI integration in healthcare in Kazakhstan.

Introduction from my essay:

When I first saw a neural network recognize a heartbeat pattern more accurately than a doctor, I was stunned not just because a machine had outperformed a human but because it demonstrated the potential to assist in healthcare. Growing up in rural areas in my country, I witnessed how geographical location, rather than medical need, determined people’s access to quality healthcare. Witnessing the disparity in healthcare access due to geography, I am driven to bridge this gap through Artificial Intelligence.

School Support

I am deeply grateful to my college counselor, Nadira teacher. I first learned about MBZUAI through her. A university representative visited our school one day, but I was absent. The representative left their contact information with the counselor, and she immediately shared it with me, encouraging me to apply and noting that I had a strong portfolio.

She supported me throughout the entire application process. I also want to thank my computer science teacher, who was also my robotics mentor, for writing a strong recommendation letter that played an important role in my acceptance.

Final Advice

• Do not postpone standardised exams. Take IELTS and SAT as early as possible.

• Close exams early so you can focus on documents, essays, and your portfolio without unnecessary stress.

• You can retake exams, but do it early — not during your final year.

• Work on all aspects of your application, not just test scores.

• Essays have a significant impact, so dedicate enough time and effort to them.