My background

My name is Malika. I am a recent high school graduate from Kazakhstan. I graduated from the Nazarbayev Intellectual School, where I completed twelve years of school.

Why the US

Interested in finance and fintech with computer science, I have chosen to apply to different universities in Hong Kong, Italy, and the US. The US was my priority choice because it is one of the first countries that implements different new economic systems, and then those new systems spread out in the world. Therefore, I was interested in being close to the place where everything happens.

Universities I got in

I was accepted to several American universities, such as Tulane, Bentley, and Illinois Wesleyan. I also got into Bocconi and Luiss Universities in Italy and CityU in Hong Kong. Ultimately, I opted for Tulane University for different reasons. First, I like the accounting and business program there because it covers all the topics I am interested in and provides me with the opportunity to take upper-level courses in my junior or senior years. Second, I have opted for Tulane because it is located in the US.

Stats

My GPA is perfect, 5 out of 5. I took the SAT once, and I got 1510. My IELTS score is 7.5. I passed IELTS and SAT exams during the summer before my 12th grade.

Tips for exam preparation

In my way of thinking, preparation for the SAT before IELTS would be more effective. When you prepare for the SAT, you automatically raise your grammar and reading scores, going through very intense blocks of paragraphs in a short period of time. In terms of the IELTS exam, you should not always stick to specific strategies. Nowadays, people prefer going with scanning and skimming techniques for reading, but it does not work for everyone, including me. You should try different methods during your preparation and see your own best formula that works for you.

Extracurricular activities

The first one that I mentioned in my application was participation in the Tech Innovation Girls program during my junior year in high school. I also mentioned my research experience at school and that I was the founder of a math club where I helped 10 graders prepare for an NIS exam. Additionally, I played volleyball.

Personal statement

I was writing about my life experience and how I became a hero from it. I think American universities do not like excessively desperate and dark essays. The most important thing is to show how you became a winner from that tough situation in your life and how that affected you. I started writing my Personal Statement in February of my junior year. This essay took me most of the time because it was really hard for me to write something very creative.

Helpful resources

I read a book by the College Essay Guy. I think he is one of the most popular and helpful advisors. Also, I was part of the mentoring program from the College Hub company. They helped me in the process of writing my essays and filling out the Common App.

Financial aid

I was interested in having as much financial aid as possible. Every school to which I applied, provided me with some financial aid from 50% and larger. At Tulane, I got a Presidential scholarship (an internal scholarship), which covers all of my needs. It is almost a full ride.