Hi, I'm Andria, the first student from Georgia studying for a bachelor's degree at Stanford. But to make this happen, I had to go through a lot, and I'm about to tell you all about it:
Early Passions
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to try a bit of everything. My parents leaned into that early on, pushing me into basketball and water polo, both of which I ended up taking pretty seriously. On top of that, I played chess competitively, sang, played guitar, and fell in love with music. Looking back, that constant urge to push my limits was probably what eventually pointed me toward studying abroad.
Discovering Real Opportunities
To be honest, studying abroad wasn’t some lifelong dream of mine. As a kid, I didn't give university much thought; it just wasn't on my mind, like most kids back then. But toward the end of 9th grade, when I actually started thinking seriously about my future, the idea hit me. I realized there were far more opportunities abroad, and I knew I could bring those experiences back home to benefit my country. From that day on, with a huge push from my parents, I got down to business and started preparing for college.
First Steps on a Long Path
Having spent my early school years at Kutaisi Andria Razmadze Physico-mathematical Public School N41 before moving to Niko Nikoladze School, I always had solid opportunities around me, and I definitely wasn't about to waste them.
During my school years, robotics joined my growing list of interests. I ended up traveling to tournaments in Turkey and the US, which gave me invaluable hands-on experience in the field.
At the end of 10th grade, I took my very first SAT. Honestly, I wasn't happy with the result; I got a 1200 out of 1600. While math went decently well, my English score took a hit, which set me back for a little while.
Before moving on, I should mention that my eyes were firmly set on the US, so every single move I made was aimed at getting into top-tier American universities. From the very beginning, I aimed high, dreaming of places like MIT and Stanford, so I knew my steps had to be just as big.
Why America?
If you ask me why America, the answer is pretty simple for me. All my life, I always saw America as a place packed with endless opportunities. Plus, ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved jazz and rock, and America is deeply rooted in both genres. So, it was always my number one choice without a doubt.
Splitting the Prep Phase
I split my university prep into two main parts: essays and exams. The exams turned out to be the harder piece for me, not math so much, but English. I hadn't grown up with much exposure to English outside of robotics and extracurriculars, where I actually needed it. So, along with getting extra help, I put in hours of hard work every single day. I used various sites and lesson platforms like Khan Academy, which really made a huge difference. For math, I sat down with a tutor and hit my top score in just two months. After a lot of effort, I got a 1510 out of 1600 on the SAT: a perfect 800 in math and a 710 in English. I also took the TOEFL and scored 110 out of 120.
The Essay Phase
Essays, on the other hand, were a bit smoother for me. I had support from experienced people who shared valuable advice and insights along the way. Alongside the required essays, I wrote a main personal essay where I focused heavily on my connection to technology and how it's shaping the world globally.
Beyond the Classroom: Key Activities
The extracurriculars section is another crucial part of your application; it's what really ties your whole profile together. Thanks to everything I'd been involved in growing up, I had plenty to share. I included certificates from chess and sports, along with awards I'd won for singing. They also took an interest in my guitar playing and asked for video clips, which I was more than happy to send over. I also competed internationally in robotics as a member of Team Pascal, representing Georgia. We traveled to Turkey for a robotics tournament, where we competed in the maze category, and to the United States for the Genius Olympiad, an annual competition that covers a much wider range of categories beyond robotics. On top of that, I think teaching coding made a huge difference; I'd taught over 200 students, which gave me solid hands-on experience in tech and leadership.
Crossing the Application Finish Line
When it came time to submit everything, I spent about a week gathering and sorting through all my materials, figuring out what was worth including and what wasn't as relevant. I didn't actually end up applying to a huge list of schools because I applied Early to Stanford, and once I got accepted, I didn't need to apply anywhere else. At first, I was torn between MIT and Stanford for my top choice. Honestly, I would’ve been thrilled to attend any top university in the US, but those two always stood out to me.
What finally made up my mind about Stanford was taking one of their online AI courses, getting a feel for their teaching style, and seeing the incredible opportunities they offered. A little while later, I was scheduled for an interview where we talked about various topics that mattered to both me and the university. Then came the decision: I was accepted. I was heading to Stanford with full funding to study Computer Science, with a focus on AI and Machine Learning. On top of that, I got a great option to start my first few months remotely from home before moving out to campus. I was really relieved by that because, like most people, saying goodbye to my family, friends, and home country was tough, and having that transition period felt like a really meaningful step in my personal growth.
Passing On What I’ve Learned
Looking back, I gained a lot of firsthand experience during the whole college prep journey, and I’d love to share a few key pieces of advice that people don't talk about enough.
First off: start early. I think 10th grade is the best time to begin, giving you plenty of runway to get everything done without rushing.
Second: don't burn yourself out. Don't spend every waking hour glued to your books. Make time to step outside, hang out, and unwind. Getting ready for college comes with a ton of stress, and if you let it pile up, it’ll work against you. So, whenever you feel like you need a breather, actually take it.
Also, top universities aren't just looking for perfect scores; that’s far from the only way they get to know who you are. Focus more energy on showing them who you are as a person rather than obsessing over test numbers. Highlight what drives you and what you genuinely love doing.
Lastly, never let fear hold you back. My advice might sound a bit cliche, but what really matters is your mindset and whether you let this challenging road shake your self-belief. Remember, behind every setback, there’s a major comeback waiting something I learned firsthand through my own journey.
