My name is Rishikesh, and I’m from Bangalore, India. I completed my schooling at Neev Academy, where I did the IB Diploma Programme, and I’m currently a freshman at Emory University, majoring in Computer Science. Outside academics, I’m deeply involved in music—I’m an electric guitarist and composer—and I’ve been playing tennis competitively for several years.
I chose computer science because, from a very young age, I’ve been drawn to math, logic, and problem-solving. CS felt like a natural extension of those interests, and so far, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the balance of theory, application, and creativity it offers at Emory.
High School Academic Background
I’ve always been a STEM-oriented student. During the IB MYP, I took Extended Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, along with the core MYP requirements (English Language and Literature, Music, IDU, Integrated Humanities, Hindi, Personal Project) and graduated with a 50/56 E-assessment score.
In the IB Diploma Programme, I continued on a similar path, taking Mathematics AA HL, Physics HL, and Chemistry HL, with Economics SL, English Language & Literature SL, and Spanish Ab Initio. I also wrote my Extended Essay in Mathematics. I graduated with a final score of 38, which matched my predicted grade, and I performed the strongest in my HL subjects.
For standardized testing, I took the SAT twice. I scored 1510 on my first attempt and improved to a 1550 on my second, with 790 in Math and 760 in English, from an initial score of 710 in English. I also took the IELTS, scoring a Band 8, which comfortably met the US university requirements.
Activities & Extracurricular Profile
Since I applied for Computer Science, I structured my profile around depth, not breadth.
My most significant experience was a long-term internship (2.5 years) at an automotive parts manufacturing factory in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, where I developed an IoT-based live quality-tracking system. The system directly improved productivity by changing how quality control was monitored, making this my most impactful and sustained activity. I truly believe my work helped the company improve its production efficiency, which I highlighted in my application.
I also worked on a computer vision research project with a university-level professor, focusing on low-cost, phone-camera-based quality inspection using Python—a project aimed at replacing expensive industrial vision systems. This activity later tied into how I wrote my essays, connecting my interest in this field of research with what Emory offers.
Outside academics, my extracurriculars reflected my long-term interests:
Music: I have trained in Carnatic music and piano for almost 12-13 years, the Piano for several years, and have been an electric guitarist since Grade 10.
Community service: I co-founded a program teaching Carnatic music for free to underprivileged schoolchildren along with a classmate, culminating in a final student recital.
STEM tutoring: I mentored an orphaned student in mathematics, tying back to my STEM-oriented profile.
Leadership: I was the Class Representative in Grade 11, head of my school band for a couple of years, and played an instrumental role (no pun intended) in my school’s Music Club.
Sports: I was also a member of the school tennis team; I competed in and won numerous doubles tournaments.
Essays & the Emory Application
I believe my essays were one of the strongest parts of my application. I genuinely spent a lot of time on writing and refining them; I applied to 11 US colleges, many with supplemental essays, along with the University of California system, which had its own separate 4 essays.
My Common App essay was about a moment of realization during a running tournament that made me question gender stereotypes within my household. I intentionally balanced personal narrative and social commentary, without making it overly political or performative.
Since Emory was my Early Decision (ED1) choice, I spent significant time on its supplements. In my “Why Emory?” essay, I focused on:
Emory’s strong liberal arts foundation - which aligned with the interdisciplinary and balanced education I sought
Its rapidly expanding computer science department
The balance it offers between technical depth and interdisciplinary thinking
I also referenced specific faculty members and research areas, including a specific professor’s work in human-computer interaction, to show genuine academic alignment with the research I had done in high school regarding computer vision.
Another Emory essay asked about a fictional character I resonated with. I wrote about Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit, connecting his journey to my own growth and curiosity.
Life at Emory University
I’ve been at Emory for 6 months now, and have loved the balanced experience it provides regarding its location. It is located in Druid Hills, Atlanta, about 20 minutes from downtown. The campus is surrounded by greenery and feels somewhat secluded, while still offering proximity to a major US city. This balance—between nature and urban access—is one of Emory’s biggest strengths.
Academically, Emory is rigorous and highly collaborative. It’s a smaller private university, which makes it easier to form close academic and social communities. You see familiar faces often, and finding your place doesn’t feel overwhelming.
The weather can be a shock for students from regions like India. Here, summers can reach 30–35°C, while winters can dip unexpectedly low—we recently experienced temperatures close to –10°C during a winter storm where it snowed (although snow is relatively rare). The weather is also highly unpredictable, sometimes changing dramatically within a single day (similar to Bangalore, I guess).
Friends, Community & Campus Life
Coming in as an international student, I made a conscious effort not to restrict myself to only people from my home country or ethnic background. I’ve made friends from Kenya, across the US, and from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
What stands out most at Emory, however, is how academically driven almost everyone is. Regardless of major—whether it’s pre-med, business, computer science, or the humanities—students here take their academics seriously. It’s common to be surrounded by people juggling heavy course loads, research, leadership roles, and internships, and that environment naturally pushes you to raise your own standards.
Because Emory is a smaller private university, this academic intensity doesn’t feel cutthroat. Classes are discussion-heavy, collaboration is encouraged, and people are generally willing to help each other out—whether that’s sharing notes, forming study groups, or working together on problem sets late into the night. You’re constantly learning with people who are sharp, curious, and motivated.
At the same time, Emory has students from very different financial and social backgrounds—ranging from those on full financial aid to students with strong legacy connections. That mix creates varied perspectives in classrooms and conversations, which has been one of the most intellectually enriching parts of my experience so far.
That said, connecting with other Indian international students—many from cities like Mumbai and Delhi—came naturally as well. That community has been culturally grounding, especially during festivals, shared meals, and moments of homesickness, while still being part of a broader, academically intense campus culture.
Academic & Extracurricular Opportunities
While Emory is strongest in Biology, Business (Goizueta), Pre-Med, and Nursing, computer science students still have access to numerous meaningful opportunities.
So far, I’ve:
Joined an AI/Data Lab, working with real datasets using Python
Become an Executive Board Member of the Computer Science Club
Participated in hackathons hosted by Emory and Georgia Tech
Being in Atlanta, a hub for strong universities, also makes it easy to collaborate beyond Emory through competitions and academic events, as I did through the Georgia Tech Hackathon. With the computer science department aggressively growing, being an undergraduate student during this period makes it relatively easier and less competitive for me to tap into opportunities related to my degree, compared to those who are pursuing competitive degrees such as nursing or biology.
Sports, Music & Trying New Things
I’ve continued with music and tennis, regularly jamming in music rooms and playing on campus courts. I’ve also picked up pickleball, which is surprisingly popular here, along with experimenting with basketball and squash. Emory’s facilities make it easy to explore new interests.
Visa Process & Advice
My US student visa process was relatively smooth. I wasn’t subject to social-media screening, which was introduced shortly after my approval. The interview focused on standard questions: my intended major, reasons for studying in the US, post-graduation plans, finances, and family background.
My biggest advice is to be extremely organized. Carry all documents—even if they don’t explicitly ask for them—including bank statements, acceptance letters, transcripts, travel history, and financial proof. Being prepared reduces stress and helps you answer confidently.
One important point for current applicants is to stay mindful of your online presence, especially on platforms like Instagram. Even if social-media screening isn’t always enforced consistently, it’s best to avoid public content that could be misinterpreted—political extremism, misleading claims about work intentions, or anything that contradicts what you state in your application. You don’t need to delete your personality online, but staying sensible and professional is a smart precaution.
For students applying to the US—and to Emory specifically:
Don’t panic about the political climate; student visas remain comparatively stable
Focus on depth over breadth in activities
Build a profile that reflects genuine interests, not what you think colleges want
For Emory, emphasize academic curiosity, balance, and interdisciplinary thinking
Emory is an excellent choice for students who want a rigorous academic environment without losing the benefits of a holistic, liberal-arts education.
