My Background

My name is Arailym, and I'm from Astana, Kazakhstan. I've been studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) program since 8th grade, and last year I began my Diploma Program. This experience helped me embrace the high-intensity academic life from an early age and also fueled my long-held desire to study abroad.

I've wanted to study abroad for almost as long as I can remember. At first, it was purely academic: I believed that international institutions would offer me a higher-quality education. But as I grew older, I began to realize that it was also essential for me because of my desire to constantly expose myself to new experiences and connections. That's why, when I transferred to school, I began looking for universities with the most diverse student bodies, strong international connections, and a global perspective. NYU Abu Dhabi's campus seemed like the perfect option when I was deciding where to apply a couple of months ago.

To finally choose this university, I needed to make sure my values ​​were aligned with those of other NYUAD students/alumni. Borderless was especially helpful for me because reading other people's stories helped me understand that this university would be a place where I could thrive.

Applying to University

I didn't have a specific application strategy. From the beginning of high school, I simply actively pursued things that interested me on a deep level. For example, I founded the literary magazine Timada's Diary, recruiting student editors from around the world. I've published with various digital publishers, including the literary magazine Ekphrastic Review. My poem appeared on their website when I was entering tenth grade; the acceptance rate for adult authors is only 1-2%, and for young writers (like me then and now), it's less than 0.5%.

I believe these achievements were among the key factors in my admission. Therefore, I want to give advice to current high school students: pursue what you're truly passionate about—it's the key to achieving high honors.

Of course, academic performance also played a role. My GPA has always been perfect (5.0/5.0 on the national scale, and 6-7 on the IB scale). In 11th grade, I got all sevens in all subjects, which is very rare in the IB DP. Furthermore, I scored 41/42 on my practice exams, which also reflects my excellent academic performance. This, of course, also helped me get into my dream university.

Because I had an IB score, I didn't need to take the SAT at NYUAD. I only needed to take the IELTS, as my school isn't fully English-instructed. But thanks to the fact that most of my courses are taught in English, I was able to pass the test with an 8.0 on my first try, and without any preparation.

Candidate Weekend

One of the mandatory stages of admission to NYUAD is the in-person selection round on campus, in the heart of Abu Dhabi. It's a unique experience that allows students to immerse themselves in the university environment. As Fabio Piano, Interim Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of NYU Abu Dhabi, said at the candidates' welcome ceremony, the CW is not only a chance for the admissions committee to get to know us better but also an opportunity for students to decide whether this is the right place for them.

And I must say, it truly was the perfect place for me!

NYU Abu Dhabi covered the cost of flights and accommodations for all selected candidates. Our cohort from Kazakhstan was among the first to arrive at the hotel, except for one wonderful guy from India, who arrived first (hi, Atif!). After that, the students from Egypt started arriving, followed by everyone else. Overall, the first day was entirely dedicated to networking and getting to know each other, which was absolutely wonderful. Despite the fatigue from the long flight, we were all overjoyed to finally be here in the United Arab Emirates!

Once all the students arrived, the main program of Candidate Weekend began. The highlight of the day was the city tour. The students were divided into different groups, each heading to a different destination. My group was lucky enough to visit the Qasr Al Watan palace. Along with its picturesque architecture, we were introduced to the ancient culture of this young country. It was a truly captivating experience – it was especially interesting to exchange with classmates about where we had traveled and what we had enjoyed most.

The next two days, we visited the university campus. Along with the campus tour, we attended sample lectures. It was all incredibly interesting! My group attended a lecture by Matteo Marciano, a professor of Music Technology. This is a man who has worked in the music industry for over 20 years, recording music for such famous projects as Fast & Furious, Fifty Shades of Grey, Pitch Perfect, John Wick, and so on. Instead of putting him in a classroom, we

We were in a real recording studio! We watched a group of NYU students (from both the NYC and AD campuses) record a few tracks, and then tried our hand at editing their music on a professional mixing console.

Even though almost none of us had music as a future major, everyone in our class was thrilled with the class. Many (including me) wanted to take Intro to Music Technology in their freshman year. This is one of the unique features of NYU—through the liberal arts program, students have the opportunity to explore different disciplines as part of their academic journey.

At the end of CW, we took an English test and had final interviews with professors. For those who are soon going to CW for ED2 and RD, here's my advice: just relax. As the admissions committee members told us, if you're here, you've already overcome the hardest part of your journey. The exam and interview are just your chance to shine again.

Decision

After CW, I was so filled with positive energy that I couldn't bear to think of a negative outcome for my application. I could already see myself on campus, and the night of 11-12 (in my time zone) only confirmed my hopes!

Luckily, NYUAD gave me a full-ride, fully covering my attendance costs. I'm very happy about this, as I didn't want my education to be a financial burden on my family. I'd like to express my gratitude to my university for providing such unique opportunities to students from all over the world. I can't wait to return to campus this August, inshallah!