Turkey wasnât my first choice. But it has been the right choice!
This is my story, from my early days in Islamabad and rigorous schooling, through the application whirlwind, to the ups and downs of university life in a foreign land.
Life Back Home: The Formative Years
Growing up in Islamabad, I attended Roots Millennium Schools in Islamabad, where my foundation was built through O and A Levels. My O Levels saw me achieving seven Aâs and two Bâsâa result that set high expectations for what lay ahead. In A Levels, I secured straight Aâs my three subjects: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, a triumph that later became a stepping stone.
One of the most defining was the World Scholars Cupâwhat began in Pakistan led me to the global round in Thailand, and then to the Tournament of Champions at Yale University. Debating, writing, and collaborating with students from around the world wasnât just rewardingâit completely reshaped how I saw education.
I also attended the London International Youth Science Forum, where I connected with young scientists from dozens of countries, and the Leadership Summer School at Valparaiso University in Chicago, which gave me hands-on leadership training. Through the Junior Academy of Sciences, I joined the Global Summit Alliance in New York, working on real-world challenges with a global team.
These experiences werenât just resume boostersâthey helped me grow into someone ready to thrive in international academic environments.
A Fork in the Road: Choosing Turkey Over Home
When the time came to decide on my next academic chapter, I found myself at a crossroads. I had already planned on going to NUST, but then I received a life-changing offer: METU in Turkey.
I knew that while Pakistan provided a familiar environment, Turkey held the promise of global exposureâa launching pad to Europe, where engineering has a robust industry, especially in countries like Germany, Sweden, and Finland. It wouldnât have been easy to get from Pakistan to Europe, where I eventually want to pursue my professional career; thatâs why Turkey was perfect for me.
Turkeyâs proximity to Europe, its clear application processes, and a strong legacy of Turkish students moving on to European universities tipped the scale. Moreover, even my foray into applications for U.S. and U.K. universities didnât bear fruit as financial aid remained a major stumbling block. The U.K., though prestigious, was expensive without generous financial support.
I had been wait-listed from Cornell and accepted into Syracuse University with a decent financial aid package. However, even with that, I wouldnât have been able to cover all my costs without sacrificing my education for odd-jobs to pay the bills.
METU, on the other hand, offered a 50% tuition scholarshipâa lifeline for someone from a middle-class family like mine.
A New Chapter in Ankara: The Academic Landscape and Campus Life
Arriving in Ankara marked the beginning of a completely new lifestyle.
In Pakistan, you donât really have to worry about cooking, cleaning, or budgeting every little expense. I quickly learned that here in Turkey, life demanded a whole different set of skills. Within the first few months, I found myself learning how to cook, manage my finances (I even outgrew my initial notion that $100 a month would suffice), and navigate the maze of government paperworkâfrom securing residence permits to managing insurance.
Academically, Turkish universities are merit-focused, with an application process that is straightforward yet rigorous. My application, which I structured in less than a week, was a simple rundown of my grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. For mechanical engineering, the requirements changed over timeâwhat was once a 1410 SAT score is now a benchmark of 1500. Despite these evolving standards, the clarity of the process was refreshing. I didnât need personal essays, which was a big departure from the extensive application essays Iâd heard about in other countries.
My academic credentials include:
A Levels: Three solid Aâs in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
SAT: A composite score of 1480, with standout SAT II scores (770 in Math and around 750 in Physics).
O Levels: An impressive record with seven Aâs and two Bâs.
Language: Scoring an 8 in IELTS, which exempted me from a preparatory English course, and my ongoing journey in mastering German (already completed A1 and A2, with B1 on the horizon in May).
The Balancing Act: Studies, Internships, and Side Hustles
University life in Turkey is demanding. The academic workload, often punctuated by challenging examinations, pushed me to the brink, and many students stretch their studies to five years. Adapting wasnât just academicâit was a full-on life skill boot camp. I balanced my rigorous coursework with internships (many of which I undertook back in Pakistan, where I had familial support) and even tutoring sessions here in Ankara. Teaching, both in person and online, wasnât just a way to generate extra income; it was a practical reminder of the value of time management. I carefully planned my schedule so that my tutoring never compromised my primary goalâmy own education.
Networking turned out to be crucial. Despite an initial lack of Turkish friendsâmy early social circle consisted mostly of fellow international studentsâI eventually broke through the cultural barriers by joining clubs. I became an active member of the Rover Team and the International Student Association (ISA), which provided a much-needed platform to mingle with Turkish peers and expand my network beyond nationalities.
Overcoming Cultural Hurdles and Learning the Ropes
Living in Turkey certainly had its share of challenges. Communication was one of the biggest hurdlesâI was often the only international in clubs and project teams where the language of choice was Turkish. In these instances, English became our safety net. While professors and colleagues made an effort to communicate in English during meetings or critical project moments, everyday life outside the classroom required me to adapt quickly to Turkish. I soon realized that if I wanted to truly thrive, learning the local language was not just a necessity but a valuable life skill.
The adaptation was not solely about language or academicsâit was about crafting a life that embraced the new. I learned to cook my own meals, run errands, and manage daily chores, all while keeping up with my studies. Initially, these responsibilities felt overwhelming; after all, in Pakistan, I had never been expected to handle such tasks. However, this period of adjustment taught me self-sufficiency and resilienceâqualities that will undoubtedly serve me for years to come.
Reflections on the Education System and Future Horizons
One of the most striking differences I observed between the education systems in Pakistan and Turkey was the emphasis on merit rather than extracurricular flair. In Pakistan, extracurricular activities could tip the scales during the college application process. Here in Turkey, however, itâs all about your grades and exam scores. While recommendation letters can be a nice bonus, they arenât a deal-breaker. This merit-based approach means that if youâre committed to excellence from day one, your academic record will speak for itself.
The Road Ahead: Career Goals and Global Aspirations
Looking forward, my immediate plan shifted from pursuing a masterâs degree to diving directly into the workforce. At 25, every minute counts, and Iâm eager to kickstart my career as a mechanical engineer in Europeâspecifically, in Germany, where engineering excellence is not just a promise but a reality. While I continue learning the German language diligently, my ultimate vision is to blend work with life.
Final Thoughts: A Global Mindset for a New Era
This article isnât just a record of my academic journeyâitâs a testament to the fact that borders, both geographical and cultural, are meant to be crossed. Every challenge I faced in Turkey, from adapting to a new language to managing daily responsibilities, has given me the skills for the global stage.
