My name is Aarna Chopra and this is my story.

Growing Up in the City of Nawabs

I grew up in Lucknow-a city drenched in heritage. There’s something romantic about being raised in a place that remembers its history. But while my hometown gave me depth and roots, I always dreamed of a life that extended beyond its borders.

For a long time, I thought that dream would find its form in a white coat. In 11th grade, I was preparing for India’s NEET exam, the national gateway to becoming a doctor. I went to the coaching, I followed the path, and yet, I felt a kind of hollowness. It would have drained me.

That’s when I remembered a dream that had quietly lived inside me since I was eleven- of studying abroad. It started innocently enough, watching shows like Modern Family on Disney International. So I turned around, mid-journey, and chose the road I’d abandoned years ago.

Academic Snapshot

I scored 97.6% in my 10th board exams, and 96.5% in my 12th. I didn’t submit SAT scores-not because I didn’t want to, but because of a Diwali injury that prevented me from giving the test. Instead, I went test-optional and focused on the rest of my application.

What strengthened my academic profile was my AP coursework. I took AP English Literature, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Comparative Government. Scoring well across all four earned me the AP Scholar Award, making me one of the few students in India to receive it.

Applying Around the World

Once I decided to apply abroad, I went all in. I applied to Canada, the UK, and the U.S. I received multiple offers from schools in all three countries, and after weighing each option carefully I chose the University of Toronto. It was the one that made the most sense to me. 

Why I Chose Toronto Over the Others

I get this question a lot: Why didn’t you go to the U.S. or UK if you had the offers?

Here’s my honest answer: studying abroad isn’t just about what looks best on Instagram or LinkedIn. It’s about what makes sense for your values, your goals, and your life.

In the U.S., the current political climate didn’t feel stable. Visa processes are complicated. In the UK, the NHS-while admirable-is falling apart. The path to medical school is narrower and more rigid.

Canada stood out. It offers a streamlined medical path, a strong public health system, and an immigrant-friendly environment. It also keeps the door open-many U.S. medical schools specifically mention they prefer applicants with Canadian or U.S. undergraduate degrees. Choosing Toronto didn’t close off options; it expanded them.

And then there was the financial aid.

I received the International Scholars Award-CAD 125,000, covering around 70% of my tuition over four years. The scholarship didn’t require a separate application-just a checkbox indicating I wanted to be considered. It was awarded based on academic excellence and exceptional extracurriculars.

OUAC, UCAS, and a Thank You to My Counselors

Applying to Canadian universities is refreshingly streamlined. Through OUAC (Ontario Universities' Application Centre), I submitted my scores, mark sheets, personal statement, and extracurricular details. After acceptance, I got a join ID for the University of Toronto and began communicating directly through their internal portal.

The UK’s UCAS system was similarly efficient. One statement, one portal, and one clear set of instructions. That said, for a course like Applied Medical Sciences, your personal statement matters more than people think. They won’t hesitate to bump you into another program if your passion doesn’t shine through.

Through all of this, I had the support of two incredible career counselors:

• Mrs. Pooja Kapoor (La Martiniere Girls’ College)

• Mrs. Rashi Ahuja Dixit (City Montessori School)

They weren’t just advisors. They were mentors who reminded me who I was when I doubted myself. They made sure I didn’t follow a path just because it was the most traveled one.

The Work Beyond the Classroom

Grades got me in the door. But my extracurriculars helped keep that door open.

Grade 9: The Harvard Conference That Started It All

At the Harvard Youth Lead the Change Conference, I was one of 100 students from across South Asia selected to create a real-world project. My team launched Project Kavach, an online platform that helped bridge the vaccine information gap in India’s rural areas. We reached over 500 villages, helping people register for vaccines and understand the importance of getting them.

Grade 10: Finding My Voice in Debate

While most of my classmates focused solely on academics, I dove headfirst into international MUNs and debates. I realized I wasn’t just passionate- I was persuasive. I loved negotiating, listening, building arguments. I wasn’t the loudest speaker in the room, but I knew how to connect.

Grade 11: Robotics, Research, and Representation

This was the year things escalated.

• I became Head of Council at City Montessori School (the largest school in the world). Leading thousands of students wasn't just an honor- it was a masterclass in accountability.

• I co-developed a patent-pending sanitation suit, called BRESS, designed to protect workers cleaning manholes. This was personal- I witnessed a worker near my home being sent into a sewer with no safety gear, only alcohol to numb the fumes. That moment changed me. No person should lose their dignity to do their job.

• I began a research project on Alzheimer’s, which is still ongoing.

• I organized a school-wide health camp for custodial staff, where we discovered that nearly 45% of the women had untreated anemia. We partnered with local doctors and distributed supplements. It wasn’t just about diagnosis- it was about action.

Grade 12: CERN, Publishing, and Global Platforms

Grade 12 was the year I stepped into global spaces.

• I was selected as India’s ambassador to CERN, the nuclear research organization in Switzerland. I spent days doing cancer research-fully funded.

• I published a book with Scholastic, challenging patriarchy and advocating for women’s freedom.

• I co-authored a research paper on applying CERN’s particle-tracking methods to agricultural diagnostics in India, which was published in the International Journal of Science.

• I was selected as a Youth Delegate to the World Bank Group’s Youth Summit. Although I couldn’t get a visa in time, I’m attending virtually- because you show up however you can.

Right now, I’m also organizing our school’s Model UN in July, which is coming full circle from the day I fell in love with MUNs back in 10th.

What Truly Kept Me Going

Yes, I cried over rejections. I doubted myself. But I learned that rejection is redirection. That no, you don’t need to go to Harvard to be successful. You need to know your why. Your reason. Your story.

And truthfully, one of the things that kept me going was watching stories on Borderless. I’d scroll through their posts and think, If they can do it, so can I. So if you’re reading this on the same page I once read from- maybe this is your sign, too.

Final Words: Don't Chase Places, Chase Purpose

To anyone reading this who wants to apply abroad- especially if you’re from South Asia-let me say this:

Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait to be “good enough.” If you want to start a book, Google how to write a book. If you want to build something, start with paper and tape. Just begin.

And don’t chase places. Chase purpose.