My Background

My name is Egor, and I study at one of the best schools in Russia. During the academic year, I live in a dormitory located in Yekaterinburg, but I come from a much smaller town nearby.

Why did I decide to study abroad?

At first, this idea seemed like a backup plan, but over time, I realized that an education in the U.S. could offer me the flexibility and multidimensionality that my home country’s system lacks. I was drawn to the liberal arts concept—the ability to shape my own academic path and combine disciplines that are truly relevant to my future career. Once I understood that I wanted to work in law and international relations, studying abroad became my priority.

Why I chose the United States

The key factor was the holistic admissions process—a system that evaluates not only grades but also the applicant’s personality, achievements, interests, and contributions to the community. In my school, earning high grades is extremely challenging, so my GPA is far from perfect. However, my application is filled with meaningful extracurricular activities and accomplishments that wouldn’t be considered elsewhere. Additionally, I was impressed by the U.S. educational system, which emphasizes critical thinking and deep engagement with subjects that genuinely interest students.

I did consider other countries but never delved deeply into the process. I was accepted to Franklin University Switzerland but did not receive sufficient financial aid. I even submitted an application to Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, but since I never paid the application fee, its outcome will forever remain a mystery.

About Bowdoin College

I applied to around 120 universities—according to Reddit, I set a record this year. My fear of not being accepted anywhere drove me to apply widely, and at some point, I simply couldn’t stop. I also genuinely enjoyed the process—it allows you to learn more about yourself and meet very interesting people.

Initially, I applied Early Decision to Penn without much research, which resulted in a predictable rejection. After that, I started thoroughly examining the schools I had already applied to, and Bowdoin stood out with its strong Government and Legal Studies program, distinguished faculty, and outstanding academic opportunities. I was also drawn to its educational model and unlimited resources available to students. It wasn’t until after my acceptance that I learned Bowdoin admits a student from Russia only once every four years, and the international acceptance rate is just 1.8% (last year, only 73 out of nearly 4,000 international applicants were admitted). This realization made my acceptance feel even more unique and strengthened my sense of responsibility and gratitude for the opportunity. Moreover, I resonate with Bowdoin’s core value of “serving the common good.” I believe education should not only develop individuals but also serve society, and that is exactly why Bowdoin’s philosophy feels right for me.

Academics

My academic credentials are quite average, but Bowdoin is truly test-optional, so my SAT score did not play a crucial role in my admission.

• GPA: 4.65/5.0

• DET: 135, 135, 140

• SAT: 1160 (not considered in the application review but included in my school transcript)

Extracurricular Activities

My extracurricular activities are closely related to my future profession and include research, journalism, legal practice, teaching, and sports:

• Journalism: Two internships in media, the founding of my own publication, where my friends and I conducted investigations.

• Legal practice: Internship at a court, where I assisted in case file preparation, attended hearings, and quickly immersed myself in the legal field.

• Research: Joint research with a PhD student from Ural Federal University from Ghana. We conducted research, won a scientific conference, and published our work in the Russian Science Citation Index.

College Essay

The overarching theme of my application was a passion for justice. Every essay I wrote reflected this in some way. One of my essays focused on the rich cultural diversity of my region and how my surroundings shaped my personality. My writing was not perfect in terms of style, but it was sincere, clear, and aligned with Bowdoin’s values.

Structuring my application prep

I started preparing as early as ninth grade by learning about the admissions process, taking my first DET, working with a tutor, and improving my English. However, my preparation was not highly structured—I followed my intuition for the most part. By September of my senior year, all my documents were ready, and all that remained was to write my essays and submit my applications.

Additionally, I actively engaged with the university: I wrote supplementary letters to the admissions office and reached out to professors I hoped to work with. Although I did not receive any responses, this process helped me better understand Bowdoin’s academic community and reinforced my confidence in my choice.

Resources & Support

My parents were my greatest support—they encouraged me to study English from a young age, which unexpectedly became my biggest advantage. My teachers also played a crucial role by writing recommendation letters for me and supporting me. I also watched Borderless Reels. Even that turned out to be helpful!

My Financial Aid

Yes! Bowdoin is one of the 10 need-blind colleges, so my financial aid covers almost all my expenses. I submitted the ISFAA and supporting tax documents. Later, I had to appeal my financial aid package, and as a result, I received an additional $2,400. Bowdoin also covers my SEVIS fee and provides additional support for campus expenses. According to my financial aid package, I will work on campus to cover indirect costs such as books, clothing, and personal expenses.

Stay in touch

I invite everyone to subscribe to my telegram channel and Instagram, where I will tell you more about my application, path, studies and will give useful advice to applicants

Telegram (in Russian): https://t.me/yourwaytodream

Instagram: @raspberryegor