Background
My name is Emilbek. I'm from Kyrgyzstan, a country located in Central Asia, near Kazakhstan. I was born and raised in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. However, I studied at a Lyceum named after Jusup Balasagyn in Tokmok. I have always been looking for opportunities to grow and improve myself in any way. I looked at local universities here in Kyrgyzstan and didn't really like them. My interest and desire to grow showed me that education abroad gives way more opportunities. And when applying, I considered the USA, Qatar, and Korea..
Why Qatar?
I considered Qatar as the country to study in primarily because of the university. Carnegie Mellon Qatar is directly related to my interests, and it was one of the best universities I got into. After everything, I attended online sessions where I got to know Qatar. It's a great country with great resources, infrastructure, and opportunities.
Stats:
SAT: 1490
IELTS: 7.5
GPA: 5.0/5.0
Extracurricular activities & Honors:
One of the most meaningful extracurricular experiences I highlighted in my application was co-founding “Green Teen”, a youth-led volunteering organization dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. Since its creation, we have grown a community of over 1,300 followers, organized and led more than 100 large-scale clean-ups, and collaborated with schools, local businesses, and municipal authorities to make a tangible impact on our city’s waste management.
In addition, I pursued my passion for finance by developing and maintaining a personal investment portfolio, which allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. As an applicant for a Finance major, this activity was a perfect way to demonstrate my analytical skills, discipline, and commitment to understanding markets.
I also gained professional experience through an internship at an audit company, where I was exposed to financial reporting and compliance processes. Furthermore, I worked a paid night shift at an exchange currency bureau, which taught me resilience, time management, and responsibility under pressure.
LaunchX Summer Entrepreneurship Program. One of the highlights of my extracurricular profile was attending the LaunchX Summer Program, an intensive four-week entrepreneurship experience where students from across the world came together to build startups from the ground up. My team developed MagPeg, a startup designed to solve a common frustration during workouts — small items like keys or earphones falling out of pockets. Our solution was a magnetic pocket closure system that secures items without altering the clothing’s appearance or comfort. We created a functional prototype, validated it with potential users, and pitched it to a panel of judges during Demo Day.
Wrestling (9 years) – I have been dedicated to wrestling for almost a decade, training consistently and competing at various levels. Wrestling taught me discipline, perseverance, and mental toughness, as well as how to balance rigorous physical training with academic responsibilities.
Research Publication – My research was published by Kyrgyz Economic University, giving me the opportunity to contribute to academic discussions and strengthen my writing and analytical skills.
I am also an English Language Olympiad participant and one of my honors is 2nd place in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Olympiad.
Common App Essay
I wrote my Common App essay about ice cream. I chose the “Share an essay on any topic of your choice” prompt, but I decided to use an idea from the University of Chicago prompt about two types of people. The main idea was to show two types of people: those who bite ice cream and those who lick it. I created a parallel: the people who bite are pragmatists and see ice cream as a function, while those who lick are dreamers who see it as enjoyment, not just food.
Carnegie Mellon also required a supplemental essay of 800 words. It was a combined “Why Us and Why Major” essay. I wrote about my experience in business and finance and how it led me to apply to CMU-Q. I also explained what facilities and opportunities at the university interested me. Carnegie Mellon has excellent opportunities for finance students, especially through its Islamic Finance program, which I also mentioned in my essay.
Preparation Process
The whole process of preparing for college took me three years, starting right after I graduated from 9th grade. During this time, I focused on learning English, mastering math for the SAT, and creating my college list. The essay writing part began in September and lasted until the Regular Decision deadline on February 1.
For preparation, I used different resources. Khan Academy helped me with exams, Quizlet was useful for learning vocabulary, and I practiced with the online Erica SAT Writing and Reading books. When building my college list, I relied on university websites and the U.S. News Global Universities Ranking. For essays, College Essay Guy became a key resource, giving me a lot of guidance and practical advice.
The biggest challenge I faced was managing the overload of tasks and activities. At the same time, I was running Green Teen, preparing for the SAT and IELTS, and keeping up with my high school exams. I tried to balance work and social life, but sometimes I had to work for as long as 13 hours a day.
Financial Aid
When applying, I received a fee waiver from my counselor, so all of my applications were free. For universities in Qatar, applying for financial aid goes through a governmental program called Qatar Foundation. The cost of attendance at Carnegie Mellon is about $84,000 a year, but I was fortunate to receive a full-ride. This scholarship covers tuition, flights, housing , supplies and meals. The only cost I had to cover was the enrollment deposit.
Advice for applicants:
Don’t lie, be honest and genuine about your activities, and just try your best! :)
