My Background
My name is Sarah El Gabery. I am Egyptian, born and raised in Cairo, though my family is originally from a small rural village in Giza.
I attended two schools throughout my life, beginning with my elementary school. Both schools followed the Egyptian national curriculum, where the focus is mainly on academics and exam performance. In this system, there is very little awareness of extracurricular opportunities or available resources, and most students typically attend local universities after high school based on their final year exam results.
What Inspired Me to Study Abroad
I decided to study abroad because education has always been the most important value in my family. My parents were first-generation college students who later became full-time professors at a public university, so learning and academic opportunities were always central in our lives.
They even named me “Sarah” because it is easy to pronounce in many languages, hoping that one day I might have the chance to study abroad if I were lucky enough to earn a scholarship.
On a personal level, I was also drawn to the idea of being immersed in different cultures.
Growing up, many of my friends were people I met online from different parts of the world, which made me curious about learning and growing alongside people from diverse backgrounds.
In summer 2025, I had the opportunity to attend the Yale Young Global Scholars program, and that experience confirmed for me that I truly wanted to study abroad. It was there that I discovered liberal arts colleges and their approach to education, and I completely fell in love with it.
Choosing the United States for College
I chose to study in the United States because it was one of the few countries where my education system would be recognized, especially since I applied test-optional. I was also drawn to how U.S. colleges evaluate students more holistically as they care about your story, your experiences, and the narrative behind your achievements, not just exam scores.
Another reason is the incredible resources that many U.S. colleges offer. I truly believe that the opportunities, academic support, and overall resources available at top universities are unmatched. Add on that, the amount of Aid they give was a huge reason I applied, given my family’s 0 EFC.
I did consider other countries, but the United States stood out to me the most because of its educational approach and the opportunities it provides for students to grow both academically and personally.
Why Wellesley Was the Right Fit
I was incredibly lucky and grateful to be admitted to Wellesley College. I intentionally applied to women’s colleges because I plan to double major in Women’s and Gender Studies and Political Science. My interests come from my work leading a feminist nonprofit, Yalla Success, in the MENA region, and from serving as a Youth Advisor with UN Women at the United Nations in Egypt.
There is truly no college like Wellesley. It is widely considered the best women’s college in the world, with an extraordinary legacy of alumni in public service and policy, including leaders like Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, and Soong Mei-ling, the First Lady of the Republic of China.
I was also drawn to the strength of Wellesley’s social sciences programs and the opportunities it offers through centers like the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs. The college’s study-abroad opportunities are incredible, and I love how inclusive and globally minded the campus community is. Another exciting aspect is the ability to cross-register for classes at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which makes the academic experience even richer.
My Stats and Awards
I had an unweighted GPA of 3.9/4.0 and scored 140 on the Duolingo English Test. I applied test-optional for the SAT/ACT test. Throughout high school, I received several honors and awards, including being a MiSK 20 Under 30 Finalist through the MiSK Foundation. I was also a 2025 Girl Up Project Award Grantee through the United Nations Foundation. In 2024, I won 2nd Place in the Girls & Technology Award in the MENA region, organized by the Arab Women Organization in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Earlier, I ranked among the top high-achieving students in my governorate on the Grade 9 national exams administered by the Egyptian Ministry of Education. I was also recognized as an 18 Under 18 Future Global Leader 2025 by University Unlocked.
My Extracurricular Activities
My extracurricular activities have largely centered on advocacy, leadership, and youth empowerment.
I am the Founder of Yalla Success, an award-winning feminist nonprofit operating across the MENA region that has impacted more than 50,000 Arab girls in 15 countries and raised over 100,000 EGP, while also collaborating with UN Women Arab States on a regional feminist campaign. I also serve as a Youth Advisor to the United Nations Country Team in Egypt, where I was the youngest member selected to the Youth Advisory Board (1 of 40 chosen from over 4,000 applicants) and contributed to shaping youth and girls’ rights policies with UN agencies, including UNICEF, UNESCO, and UNHCR.
Academically, I participated in the Yale Young Global Scholars program at Yale University on a full scholarship, where I collaborated with students from over 150 countries and co-led a capstone project under Yale PhD mentors.
I later became a YYGS Ambassador representing Egypt, organizing workshops and outreach initiatives that reached over 500,000 views to encourage Arab youth leadership. I also served as a Youth Education and Policy Delegate with the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut, representing Arab youth among more than 120 regional stakeholders from 15+ countries and contributing policy recommendations to the Arab roadmap for values-based education.
Beyond policy work, I have led youth dialogues on sustainability and climate action as part of the Sustainable Egypt Youth Summit under the United Nations Development Programme and the Egyptian government, facilitating Egyptian-Danish youth discussions with thousands of participants. I was also a research foundation scholar at Non-Trivial, where I researched the impact of TikTok on Arab teenagers’ mental health and identity while collaborating with peers from other countries. Additionally, I create educational content on TikTok about passion projects, scholarships, and youth leadership, building an audience of more than 13,000 followers and over 2 million views to inspire Arab teenagers to pursue opportunities and create change. Earlier in high school, I also wrote as a journalist for Uthhub Magazine in the UAE, publishing articles highlighting youth identity, activism, and social change across the Arab world.
My Personal Statement and Supplements
My personal statement was titled “The Name That Guides Me.” I wrote about my name, Sarah, which means happiness, and how its meaning shaped my identity and purpose. The essay reflects on growing up between Cairo and my father’s rural village in Giza, where I witnessed a classmate leave school at fourteen to get married. That moment led me to question what could be done to change girls’ futures in my community and inspired me to start my feminist nonprofit, Yalla Success, which eventually grew to support thousands of Arab girls. I also wrote about how my father influenced my sense of curiosity and courage, and how experiences like attending Yale Young Global Scholars helped me connect my work to a broader global perspective.
My Wellesley College supplement focused on collaboration across different backgrounds. I shared how working with international peers, from building games with friends online on Roblox to collaborating with students from many countries at YYGS, taught me that leadership is about listening, building bridges, and combining diverse perspectives to create meaningful change.
Preparing My College Applications
I started preparing my applications in August when I began working on my Early Decision application to New York University in Abu Dhabi. I was later invited to Candidate Weekend but was ultimately waitlisted. After that, I continued the process and ended up applying to about 22 universities in total, completing all their supplements. In the end, I was waitlisted at three schools and rejected from the rest, except for Wellesley College, where I was admitted.
To be honest, I kept my process quite simple. I only reached out to two people who helped me review my personal statement and make sure I was heading in the right direction. Most of the work I did independently. One thing I strongly recommend is reaching out to your recommenders very early so they have enough time to write thoughtful letters without feeling rushed before the deadlines.
Support and Resources During My Application Process
I mainly relied on a few simple but helpful resources during my application process. I used documents and guides shared in a group chat for Egyptian students applying to U.S. colleges, which helped me understand different parts of the process. I also learned a lot through platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where students share advice, experiences, and tips about college applications. In addition, I received guidance from two mentors who reviewed my personal statement and helped me make sure I was moving in the right direction.
Using Borderless in My Application
I have known Borderless for a while and followed their content throughout my application process. I first discovered their simple and informative posts on Instagram and TikTok, and I also found the inspiring student stories on their website very motivating and full of hope.
also used the Borderless platform to review and rate my application. The feedback on how I listed my extracurricular activities and structured my personal statement was especially helpful, as it gave me a clearer sense of how to present my experiences and story more effectively.
How Much Does Wellesley Cost
The estimated cost of attendance at Wellesley College for the 2025–2026 academic year is about $94,000 per year, including tuition, housing, meals, fees, books, and personal expenses.
However, Wellesley meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, and many students receive substantial financial aid that significantly reduces the actual amount they pay.
My Financial Aid Award
Alhamdulillah, I received a full-ride financial aid package from Wellesley College worth over $103,000 per year. It covers the full cost of attendance, including tuition, housing, meals, and other required expenses. Wellesley was also very generous and waived my enrollment deposit as well as the SEVIS fee required for my U.S. student visa application.
The financial aid did not require a separate scholarship application—it was awarded as part of the college’s need-based financial aid process during my admission application.
How Much Does It Cost to Apply
Applying to Wellesley College cost me zero dollars. The application itself is free of charge, so I did not have to pay any application fee.
For financial aid, I first completed Wellesley’s financial intent form. Later, I received a request to submit the CSS Profile. From what many students shared in the Reddit community, international applicants are often only asked to submit the CSS Profile if the college is seriously considering them for admission and aid. When I received the request, Wellesley also provided me with a CSS Profile fee waiver code, so I did not have to pay that fee either.
A Message to Future Students
One thing I wish applicants knew is that their hard work and dedication will never go unnoticed.
You are an amazing person with so much potential, even if your circumstances sometimes make the process feel impossible. For low-income students, especially, I understand how difficult and uncertain it can be, but it truly only takes one college to say YES!
There were many moments when I doubted my path. I initially thought New York University Abu Dhabi would be the best place for me, and when I was waitlisted there, it felt discouraging. But later I realized that sometimes things don’t work out because something more suitable for me is waiting.
I was also very worried about applying from a non-competitive and relatively unknown high school. In fact, I was the first student in my school to ever use the Common App, and the first to ask teachers for recommendation letters. At one point, I even tried to transfer to a boarding school, thinking it might strengthen my chances, but that didn’t work out either. Looking back, I realize that none of those things defined my outcome.
What mattered most was staying persistent and believing that my story and efforts were meaningful.
