My name is Krish, and I come from a rural part of India. I am part of the upcoming Class of ‘28 at United World College Robert Bosch College in Germany. Here’s how my life took an unexpected turn, from building devices for my small community in India to studying the International Baccalaureate at a school with students from 90+ different nationalities and cultures.

How I Learnt About UWC

I didn’t know about UWC at all. After 11th grade, like most students in India, I had a great desire to study abroad and spent my time scouring the internet for colleges. One night, I randomly decided to ask ChatGPT, which recommended United World College to me.

That night, I subscribed to the email, not thinking much of it since applications were still closed. A month later, the long-forgotten opportunity popped up in my inbox again: Applications Are Open. I spent a long time researching what this foreign school was, and in the very last moment, I uploaded my application

My first preference was actually the campus in Changshu, China, known for its abundance of tech and robotics activities, which I was pretty passionate about. My second was RBC because I had initially planned to study in Europe and was learning German at the time. Getting into a UWC in Germany felt like everything was going to plan.

A Long and Complicated Application Process

There was a series of required personal essays in the written application. The concept of a personal statement was unfamiliar to me, and I had to look it up on the internet to find out what kind of writing the admissions committee expects. Because I was trying hard not to use AI, I took 1.5 months to finish them. Around December, I got an invitation for the offline interview. I was really hoping for an online interview, but looking back, I'm really happy that I got the offline one.

I hadn’t expected the application process to be extremely competitive in India. Of course, I was badly mistaken. There were approximately 1000 applicants initially, narrowed down to 150 for offline interviews, and in the end, only 7 students were selected for campuses outside of India, while 30-40 students were assigned to UWC Mahindra.

The offline interview had five parts. We were divided into groups of 9 students and debated among ourselves on given topics centering around social and cultural issues like wearing uniforms in public places. The next day demanded one-to-one interviews with alumni and teachers, followed by an in-person timed essay assessment on UWC values. After lunch, we had a second round of interviews. It was led by a second-year student, mostly conversational and focused on getting to know me better. I was asked basic questions about my interests and experiences that I wrote about in my essays.

In my opinion, the interview is the most crucial component because it can reveal your personality and how you communicate in a social setting. I reached out to people on LinkedIn, asking for interview tips. They told me, “Just be yourself and remember what you wrote in your essays.”

Tech and Building

My extracurriculars were mostly tech-related.

My first ever build was a device for the visually impaired. It’s a headband with an AI tool that converts captured images into detailed audio descriptions of the scenario itself, not just the objects in the picture. My project won me 7000 rupees and other prizes at competitions and allowed me to present at multiple IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology).

The second device I created is a waterproof animal smartwatch that tracks vital signs, stores unique IDs for each animal, and connects to an app where farmers can monitor their animals’ condition. This project was mainly used on cows. When they get sick, the sensor data is converted into human language and can be sent to the vet and later to the government veterinarian. In certain cases, images are required; the image captured by the farmer is used to detect the disease with AI, and all the data created is sent to the vet.

After the first project’s success, I teamed up with a friend to brainstorm our current project: a drone medicine delivery system. I implemented the project, combining her ideas and mine, to build a custom drone complete with flight controllers and code. Right now, we are working on extending its range to a 100+ minute flight time.

Most drone companies in India target the military as their market for better profits and leave no technology for the citizens to use. A future project of mine is to create a drone tech startup focused on accessible commercial use with lower cost and higher reliability, open to people from all backgrounds.

Future Plans at UWC

Since I already live alone in Delhi, away from my family for better access to opportunities, I think I am prepared to take on the boarding school environment and its challenges. I am also really looking forward to the outdoor activities offered at UWC RBC, especially the trekking and farming trips.

As for academics, I am very interested in studying Aerospace Engineering, specifically aeronautics and planes, in college. At UWC, I plan to take Physics HL, Math HL, English HL, German SL, Global Politics SL, and possibly Economics SL to prepare myself for a career. I am relying on the Davis scholarship for US universities, but to be honest, I would prefer studying in European countries such as the UK and Germany.

Tips for A Successful Application

Authenticity is the keyword here. My essays were strong because they were my original ideas, not those of an AI. I am sure I made a few grammatical mistakes, but your essay doesn’t have to be perfectly polished. Borderless played a significant role in helping me. I’ve been following them since they only had around 1000 followers, and they’ve grown a lot since then. When I was applying, I used the app to create a college list and organize my essays. I appreciate that Borderless focuses on the student rather than AI-written scripts and can connect to everything, including the Common App. I will definitely be using Borderless for my college applications as well!

Another point that I think got me in was my demonstrated ability to live independently, cook, and manage my finances. In my interview, I talked about my experience living alone in Delhi for my education and adapting to new environments. My grades were also considered above average in our system: I received an 88% for matriculation.

Advice for Future Applicants

My advice is to remember the basics and the content of your essays. What most UWC applicants completely blank out on tends to be the infamous UWC Values! I forgot two values during the interview, but it somehow turned out fine. However, it’s important to show confidence and knowledge for the program you’re applying for. And lastly, from this article, I think you will get the idea that it is advisable to focus on passion projects and having fun experimenting with your ideas rather than just academics.

Good luck!