My Academic & Personal Background
Hi, my name is Aisha, and I am an 18-year-old student from Kazakhstan. Currently, I am studying at Astana IT University to get my associate degree. I have been accepted to several universities, including American University in Bulgaria, Coventry University, Kazakhstan, Constructor University, the University of Milan, and Tetr College of Business. Among them, I decided to choose either the University of Milan or Coventry University in Kazakhstan. In addition, I considered applying to universities in the USA, Turkey, and Hungary. I have an IELTS score of 7.0 and a GPA of 3.7 out of 4. On top of that, I worked hard on my CV, portfolio, and extracurricular activities in marketing and volunteering.
My Extracurricular Activities
I have been interning as a Robotics Intern in a laboratory at my university. Besides, I participated in different clubs, such as the Enactus Club, where I served as a speaker, and I mentored at an Electronics Club. Moreover, I developed seven web applications and hosted a Korean and Chinese webinar with one of the alumni of those universities. Furthermore, I have been the head of the SMM Department at the Inclusive Academy. I lead a social media account with over 2,000 followers. Also, I have been part of the Dance4Life project and organized more than five events with over 20 participants per session. In addition, I got into the Duke Pre-College Program with a 90% scholarship and developed my own research paper with an Oxford alumnus on the topic of the development of artificial intelligence for emotional recognition with ethical considerations. Moreover, I received $1,400 in financial assistance and a Coca-Cola scholarship to attend the TKS program. Besides that, I interned in blockchain and AI technologies and took part in several projects and start-ups, such as Electi and Origanima AI.
Application pathway to overseas
My college essays were about my motivation to attend universities with study abroad and exchange opportunities, internships, and opportunities to host webinars. When I was in 8th grade, I had already made up my mind to study abroad and started engaging in extracurricular activities. I have been using the Borderless website for many aspects of my application, such as brainstorming essays, reviewing activities, and receiving feedback. Along with that, I used support and resources from EducationUSA and watched numerous online application guides, such as College Essay Guy, as well as many bloggers who shared their application tips and insights on Instagram and TikTok.
Financial Aids & Scholarships
I received a 40% scholarship from the American University in Bulgaria, $100,000 from Tetr College of Business, and a full-ride scholarship from Coventry University Kazakhstan. Currently, I am waiting for the results of my DSU scholarship application in Italy and my Duke Kunshan University application. Also, I was admitted to Constructor University in Bremen, Germany, and received the JetBrains Foundation Scholarship, which can cover accommodation, tuition, and electricity for first-year students majoring in software, data, and technology programs.
Advice for international students
My top advice for students who are planning to apply to Italy or anywhere abroad:
- Keep track of the deadlines because the technology program I wanted to apply to had deadlines in October and November.
- Look for more universities where you can obtain a full-ride scholarship in Europe. For example, Constructor University in Germany offers the Software Data Foundation Scholarship, which provides a full ride to study in Germany.
- Network more with professors because they can guide you in getting internships abroad or attending summer programs.
