Personal & Academic Background

Hi, my name is Aiza, and I live in Kyrgyzstan, a country bordering Uzbekistan, China, and Tajikistan. I attended Aga Khan School, established by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), which has branches in India, Pakistan, Africa, and Tajikistan, for seven years. I began learning English in ninth grade, and at that time, the FLEX program captured my interest strongly. However, in my first attempt, I was not selected as a finalist, which motivated me to focus on improving my writing and self-expression. After my rejection, I started learning how to write essays and continued to volunteer and build projects.

The second time, I applied to both the FLEX and Tech Girls programs and was very strategic in my essays and interviews. During the summer, I watched many YouTube videos of FLEX finalists and noticed that all of them emphasized flexibility and open-mindedness. I also studied the program’s website and mission statements, realizing they wanted us to be “leaders.” Recognizing that leadership was what they were looking for, I wanted to first define what a “leader” meant to me. Then, I brainstormed ideas and wrote essays about leadership and potential interview questions.

In the first round, I had to describe a time when I was a leader. I used a simple situation—my parents worked full-time, and I took the initiative to care for my siblings, help them with homework, and cook for them when they were tired. In another essay, I wrote about the Rubik’s Cube, which my parents considered a waste of time. There, I described how persistently I challenged myself to learn how to solve it quickly and eventually succeeded because I refused to give up. Learning the Rubik’s Cube helped me gain confidence around my friends. At that moment, I realized that if you want to learn something, don’t listen to anyone who doesn’t believe in you—just try again and again.

In my FLEX interviews, I was asked questions like, “What are your three strengths and weaknesses?” and “What do you want to do when you get to the U.S.?” I responded that we don’t have ice skating in Kyrgyzstan and would like to try it in the U.S. They also asked many situational questions, such as, “What are you going to do at your first lunch at your new school if you have nobody to talk to?” My response was that I would sit with people I had gotten to know from other classes before lunch.

My FLEX, TechGirls, and YYGS Experiences

When I was in the U.S., I indulged in two sports: soccer as a midfield player and track as a high jumper. In terms of classes, I took ceramics, theatre, and joined the film club. When there were plays in the theatre, there were people who organized them, and I was in charge of the audio. In my film club,I served as director of photography, and in my leisure time, I learned American Sign Language because there were deaf students in our class, along with their interpreters. Academically, I took AP English Language and AP Statistics.

Regarding my Tech Girls application, there was a visa rule that J-1 visa holders cannot travel to the U.S. on the same visa type for two years. Since I had won both scholarships, I chose FLEX and gave my spot to the waitlisted girls. For the application, I used the same approach and strategy in my essays. During the interview, they asked about myself, my projects, and my interests.My top advice would be to show that you are genuinely passionate about technology, STEM, engineering, and mathematics.

YYGS was one of the most amazing experiences, and I would like to emphasize that it has a strong focus on networking and community building. As a major study focus, I chose the Politics, Laws, and Economics (PLE) session.The application and admission process to YYGS is very rigorous, especially for full financial aid—I received a full scholarship. Their aid is typically need-based and considers your parents’ ability to afford it; in my case, I clearly explained my situation, noting that as a sister of four siblings, I needed financial assistance to attend. Additionally, YYGS has a media team that manages the Instagram and YouTube pages, where I created photos and videos. After the program, I became an Ambassador of the program.

The Structure of My Essays

In all of my essays, I use the same strategy and approach: focusing on the question and analyzing what achievement, activity, or type of interest I would like to demonstrate. For instance, when I chose economics, law, and politics, I showed my passion for international relations by highlighting the Model UN conferences I attended—such as the Harvard Model United Nations Conference, where I received a 100% scholarship—and by mentioning that I was a co-founder of the debate club. Notably, my emphasis in my essays changes according to the mission of the program, and I try to highlight my passion for the subject by showcasing my activities related to the major.

Additionally, as an example of my involvement in Tech Girls, I emphasized my passion and strong interest in STEM-related activities. In my essays, I mentioned my achievements in technological and STEM fields, such as my experience in 3D modeling and cybersecurity. One essay question was “Who inspires you?” and I wrote about Ariana Grande, explaining how I admire her as an ambitious woman who never stops exploring. Furthermore, my response to another essay focused on my interest in creating Instagram beauty filters through 3D modeling software to make the final result as smooth and flawless as possible. Along with that,I believe my participation and winning first place in the Cybersecurity Championship, as well as my team receiving a $500 award from the C5+1 Youth Console Project, significantly contributed to my selection for the program.

University Applications & Conferences

Talking about my latest initiatives,I co-founded a project called “Kelechek Initiative”, a career mentorship program for youth in Kyrgyzstan. In June 2025, we organized a two-day career forum where we received more than 1,000 applications but had only 300 seats available. We tried to support everyone by providing hotel accommodations, transportation, and meals. We also invited speakers from Dartmouth, Columbia, MIT, McKinsey, and Amazon. Additionally, we invited women entrepreneurs to support women interested in ventures and to encourage female leadership.

This year, I applied to several universities and was waitlisted by Stanford University.My GPA is 3.9 out of 4.0, and my SAT score is 1510—740 in reading and 770 in math. For language proficiency, I took the Duolingo English Test and scored 140 out of 160. For other exams, I took only two AP classes:I scored 109 out of 100 in AP Statistics and 97 out of 100 in AP English Language.

Additionally, I have participated in several conferences and programs abroad, usually on fully funded scholarships.First, I attended the “Global Village” conference in Istanbul, Turkey. Then, I was selected for a summer school “TFAS” in Prague, Czech Republic. This upcoming June, I will attend a “GetEngaged” conference in Bangladesh.

My top Motivation for Students

If I had a chance to go back and change something, I would start early and have a mentor to guide me in the right direction. Even though I started in 9th grade, it took me a long time to learn English and prepare for exams. Therefore , I would truly recommend starting early, taking action to build your profile, and researching opportunities. As for why we need a mentor: you need someone who can guide you and help prevent you from making mistakes—like the ones I made with my mentees and siblings. This cycle, my younger brother got accepted to Cornell University on a full-ride.

Secondly, I would suggest choosing a specific major field, as my brother did—he chose engineering and pursued it relentlessly. Every activity he undertook was related to his major, and his passion for the field led him to succeed in getting into his dream university. Admissions officers will review your profile, and you should be able to clearly demonstrate that you are sincerely and deeply committed to your chosen field.