I’m in my third year at Bilkent, and looking back, it’s been quite the ride.

Early Education and A-Level Decisions

I spent the first 15 years of my life in Lahore, studying at Beaconhouse Garden Town. Up till my O-Levels, that place was my whole academic world. When it came time for A-Levels, my family and I considered a bunch of different schools - Saadik Public School, LGS JT, ISL, and even HSN. These were some of the best and most popular colleges for my A levels. I got accepted into all of them. But ultimately, I chose Aitchison College.

The decision came after a heart-to-heart with my dad. He said something that stuck with me: “Education is an investment - it always pays back.” He encouraged me to go for the most transformative experience, not just the most affordable or familiar one. And Aitchison, for all its prestige, was certainly that.

Those two years at Aitchison were eye-opening. I met people from all walks of life, and it made me think differently about the world and my future. I knew I didn’t want to stay in Pakistan for university. LUMS didn’t feel like the right fit, and honestly, it was expensive. So I started looking abroad: the US, the UK, Germany… and eventually, Turkey.

Why I Chose Bilkent

I applied to the top three universities in Turkey: Koç, Sabancı, and Bilkent. Koç asked for a massive 2,000-word personal essay. After spending months writing US college essays, I was burned out. Plus, we didn’t have ChatGPT back then to help lighten the load, so I didn’t complete that application. For Sabancı, something went wrong with the application process, and I never followed through. Bilkent, on the other hand, felt smoother.

When I received my acceptance from Bilkent, I started digging deeper. The university's campus was massive. The global ranking was impressive. They had top-notch sports facilities, and I saw that they welcomed international students from 118 countries. And on top of that, I had this weird but deep desire to learn a new language. Studying in the UK or the US wouldn’t have given me that chance. But in Turkey, learning Turkish would be necessary, and I loved the idea of building a new version of myself in a new language.

The Application Process

Now, about the application. Compared to the US process, Bilkent’s was refreshingly simple. I had to submit a short personal essay (about 400–600 words), my O-Level and A-Level transcripts, expected A-Level grades, and my SAT scores. I also included details of my extracurriculars, which were a big part of my school life. At Beaconhouse, I was part of the football and basketball teams, the MUN society, and eventually became the Head Boy. At Aitchison, I continued on that path: prefect, house captain, general secretary of the Law Society, and even part of the polo and riding teams.

For the SAT, I scored a 1290 - 700 in Math and 590 in English. Decent enough for what I needed. I also remember Bilkent asking for about $25 as an application fee - which, funnily enough, was the only application I paid for. For all of the others, I got waivers.

Academic Background and Grades

I had already gotten my acceptance and scholarship by the time I sat my A2s (second year of A Levels), and Bilkent only required that I avoid any grades below a C to keep my scholarship. I ended up with an A in Accounting, a B in Economics, and Cs in Law and Maths.

I owe a lot to my school counselor. She helped guide me through the whole process, set up meetings, and reminded me of deadlines - she really kept me on track.

Scholarship and Financial Aid

One of the biggest reasons I could afford to study at Bilkent was the scholarship I received. The full tuition fee is about $17,000 per year, but with the scholarship, I pay just around $6,000 - that’s almost a 60% reduction. It's a tuition-only scholarship, so my parents cover the rest of the tuition and living expenses.

I also got into Adelphi, DePaul, and the University of South Florida in the US. I did receive financial aid offers from US universities like DePaul - around $35,000 to $40,000 per year - but even after that, the remaining amount was still unaffordable.

So the choice was clear.

Life and Studies at Bilkent

Now I’m at Bilkent, majoring in Economics. The program is pretty research-heavy - more than I expected. I came in thinking I’d dive into finance, maybe investment banking. But even though the research side was a bit of a surprise, it’s growing on me. It forces you to think critically, dig deep, and build a strong foundation.

Adjusting to Life in Turkey

The first few weeks were a whirlwind. The biggest cultural shock? The food - way too bland for my Lahori taste buds at first. And I was surprised by how few people spoke English, even in a university setting. But the people were incredibly kind and welcoming, which helped me adapt fast. And yes, I did eventually learn Turkish - part out of passion, part out of necessity.

Learning a new language really does change you. It’s not just about new words; it’s about seeing the world through a different lens. I feel like I’ve developed a whole new personality in Turkish - one that’s more open, maybe even a bit more confident.

Can International Students Work in Turkey?

That’s one of the tricky parts. In Turkey, students aren’t allowed to work unless they have a work permit, and you can’t apply for one while studying. At least, that was the case for me. So, no part-time jobs for me. You need to know the language first anyway, and the work permit is something that comes only after graduation. So for now, I rely on my scholarship and my parents.

Looking Ahead

What comes next? Honestly, I’m still figuring that out. I’ve got a year and a half left, and I’m weighing my options: should I stay in Turkey? Go back to Pakistan? Apply for a master’s in Europe or the US? It’s all up in the air, but I’ve learned to be okay with that.

What I do know is this: choosing Bilkent was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Not because it was perfect - no university is - but because it gave me the chance to grow in ways I never could’ve predicted.

And for anyone back home thinking about studying abroad, don’t be afraid to look outside the usual UK/US route. Sometimes, the unexpected path leads to the most incredible places.