Hi, I’m Pawanphat! I’m originally from Bangkok, Thailand, but I moved to Chiang Mai when I was young. I went to Unity Concord International School, where I studied a US curriculum. I switched schools 7 times!
Earlier this year, I got into New York University Abu Dhabi on a full ride that covers all expenses, including housing. I applied for Bioengineering, and I’m starting my journey there in September!
A Love for Languages
Since I was little, I’ve wanted to go abroad. I was 7 years old, at a doctor’s appointment to discuss early childhood development, when I learnt that I could speak up to seven languages! Ever since then, I have been a language enthusiast. I can speak English, Thai, and German, and I am currently studying Korean, Chinese, and Arabic. Because of my love for languages and communicating with people, I participated in multiple public speaking conferences and even gave a TEDx talk!
Why NYU Abu Dhabi
I’ve always believed that in life, we need to explore and get outside of our comfort zones. To me, NYUAD feels like a university that doesn’t let you stay stuck in one place. The program offers opportunities to do exchange semesters abroad. It puts me on a path of wonder and discovery of a world different from where I grew up. The Abu Dhabi campus also offers the most financial aid out of all three NYU campuses.
I applied to over 30 universities across the globe with the main goal of getting into a top 100 university on a full ride. NYU was actually the first application I submitted on the Common App because it only required one essay. After many rejections and acceptances, the letter from NYUAD came, and I could vividly see my future there.
Building a Cohesive Application
I believe one of the biggest advantages an applicant can have is a cohesive application. My application had a clear focus on AI in Healthcare to show my interest in my chosen major, Bioengineering, and my passion for bridging healthcare and technology. I used my one-month-long biomedical engineering research project as a Research Observation Intern at Chiang Mai University to highlight this focus. During the internship, I got the chance to perform nanoparticle experiments, build with Arduino, and explore biosensing technologies for healthcare diagnostics.
To have more cohesion between my activities, I completed a trainee experience at Chiang Mai Ram Hospital, where I shadowed doctors across multiple departments, from internal medicine to emergency care. This helped me gain a sense of the daily challenges in the job, such as managing patient data and diagnosing on time.
I was inspired by my trainee experience to take steps toward building smarter, more accessible healthcare solutions. I collaborated with ThaiCom Foundation and Siriraj Stroke Center to build the BEFAST Voice Trainer, an AI-based voice trainer to train stroke response in Thai rural communities. This AI stroke tool also includes multilingual scenarios in Thai, Hmong, and Lahu languages for better accessibility.
As for my academic profile, I had a 3.93 Unweighted GPA, a 4.13 Weighted GPA, an 8.0 on the IELTS, and an AP Chemistry score of 3. I applied test-optional.
More on Extracurriculars
My other extracurriculars and honors include:
- I designed and prototyped a Water Cleaning Robot to address water pollution in Thailand, and presented it to an international audience in Vietnam.
- As a Kode With Klossy Scholar, I developed campaigns addressing the gender gap in tech and predicted WNBA brackets using AI predictors.
- I had the opportunity to give a TEDx talk at my high school, where I shared my experience with burnout, performance saturation, maladaptive perfectionism, and questioned what ambition really means.
- I volunteered as a translator for doctors with Joyce Meyer Ministries and organized educational fundraisers for children's shelters.
- As a Marketing Officer at RevisionSuccess, I created digital content that generated 150K+ views, expanding the AI startup’s reach among students and educators.
- Received a High Commendation in History at the John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize.
A Very Personal Essay
My Common App essay centered around a childhood ritual I shared with my mother: painting nails. When that colorful routine faded and my hands went bare, I stopped viewing them as canvases for decoration and began seeing them as instruments for action. This new perspective forced me to look more closely at the subtle struggles of those around me, inspiring me to reshape ordinary spaces like our school cafeteria line to ensure everyone felt seen. A simple routine with my mother blossomed into a journey of quiet leadership. Ultimately, the piece explored how my identity shifted from something I wore on the outside to something I actively practice through empathy and responsibility.
Waitlists and Surprises
I was unable to attend the infamous NYUAD candidate weekend in person because of conflicts in the region, so I experienced it online. For the candidate weekend, I had to fill out a form ranking my interests and was placed into an online Film Studies lecture. The lectures there are designed for professors to observe how applicants move and interact in a learning environment, as well as collaborate with their peers. Participating actively is important to get you noticed. Although I was joining online, I raised my hand to answer questions and even emailed the professor after the event.
I was initially waitlisted at NYUAD.
In an unexpected turn of events, I learnt that the admissions officer reading my profile had flown to Chiang Mai to meet a different student applying Early Decision to NYUAD. I took the chance and emailed the officer, inviting them for a coffee meeting. They said yes! I am not sure if it affected my final results of the application process, but on the same day the meeting took place, the admissions results were released, and suddenly, I was going to NYU Abu Dhabi!
Tips for Applicants
While researching universities, I depended on my high school counselor, read success stories, and asked questions on LinkedIn. The Borderless platform helped me so much throughout my college application process. As I browsed through the stories, I was specifically inspired by a Borderless article featuring a Thai student who received the Lester B. Pearson scholarship at the University of Toronto. I applied and was accepted without the scholarship, but it prepared my mentality for my other applications as well.
Looking back, I would advise applicants to believe that the best path will come and remember that everyone's path is different. All of my extracurriculars shaped me and complemented each other to create an application that shows who I am. Without one, it wouldn’t have been me completely. Be honest, be raw, and be completely unapologetically yourself throughout the entirety of the application.
Whatever you do, do it with love. Do it with faith, and that gives you joy to keep going.
