American English
Academy in Sofia ‘20
EducaionUSA Opportunity
Funds-Bulgaria Grant Recipient
New York University
in Abu Dhabi, Class of
2024
My Way to NYUAD: A Success Story
College interview, conducted by Fulbright ED Angela Rodel
My name is Veselina Tomova, and I am part of the Opportunity Funds
program*. I study at the American English
Academy in Sofia. Last month, I was accepted in New York University in Abu
Dhabi to study biology. This offer made me extremely happy because the
university is highly selective, with a 2% acceptance rate, and I was offered a
full merit scholarship, which even included personal and travel expenses. I had
a chance to see NYU Abu Dhabi’s modern campus this February when I was invited
to Candidate Weekend at the expense of the university. And I fell in love with
the facilities and the peaceful atmosphere.
Getting here wasn’t easy at all. But to make it a little bit easier on you,
I want to share my story.
Coming from an American high school, I always knew that I wanted to
continue my education in an American university. It was just natural. So, I
began my standardized-test preparation very early. I think I was in ninth grade
when I took my first SAT Subject Test in U.S. History. When I got an 800, I was
motivated even further. Later on, I took four more SAT Subject Tests—Biology E,
World History, Literature, and Math Level 1—and the SAT itself, of course, on
which I got a 1550. And I also managed to squeeze in two AP exams.
Even though I began preparing before I joined Opportunity Funds, I
learned a lot from my participation. All the information that I received as
part of the program was invaluable and helped me immensely during the
application process.
Actually, even before I became a part of Opportunity Funds, I had joined
Mrs. Teneva’s mailing list, which was full of useful tips and advice. It was
from there that I learned about taking online courses and organizing my resume.
The program built on all that, offering three Modules with in-depth preparation
for the TOEFL, SAT, and the personal statement. The third one was especially
useful for me in terms of actually writing the personal statement, filling out
the Common App and the CSS Profile (the financial aid document), and navigating
the interview. Believe me, the application process is very specific, and
without assistance from someone who knows the ins and outs, it can be quite
challenging to complete. Luckily, we had Snezhana Teneva’s steady guidance to
help us throughout the program. I'm also thankful to Opportunity Funds for
bringing me in touch with so many like-minded people who were all striving to
reach the same goal. It was amazing to share this journey with others like me.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway is to start your standardized-test
preparation as soon as possible, around two years in advance. Admissions
committees want well-rounded individuals for their universities. So, whenever
possible, I would also recommend taking SAT Subject Tests from different
fields. For example, if you’re applying to study science, it’s a good idea not
only to take SAT Subject Tests in science, but also another one in social
studies or languages as well, and vice versa. This way you can show the
admissions committee that you have an interest and aptitude in different
fields. I think this was one of the strong points in my application.
It’s also important to choose your universities well in advance. Take
their programs, activities, and focus into consideration when making your
decision. After you’ve made your selection, your next task is to get
well-acquainted with them. Knowing relevant information about your universities
will come in handy during interviews and when you’re writing “Why this
university?” essays in the application.
American universities, unlike Bulgarian or even European ones, place
great weight on extracurricular activities and community involvement. They want
to accept you not just because of your grades, but because of who you really
are as a person. So, your job is to show them. Attend competitions or Olympiads
or anything else like that to showcase your skills, and engage with societal
issues that you’re passionate about. Remember that all of your application
elements have to align perfectly like puzzle pieces to form a bigger picture
that represents the real you.
Maybe everything I’ve said so far has intimidated you. But even though
this process is time-consuming and arduous, believe me, it is incredibly
rewarding. The hard part is sticking through it all the way to the end. I just
hope that my experience and advice could lighten the burden and help you
achieve your goals. Good luck!
*
The Fulbright Commission and EducationUSA launched the
U.S. State Department-funded Opportunity Funds program in Bulgaria in February
2016. The program provides financial resources to highly qualified, yet
economically challenged, Bulgarian students to cover the up-front costs of
applying to U.S. universities, such as testing, application fees, or airfare.
In addition to their impressive academic achievements, Opportunity students
also bring cultural and socio-economic diversity to U.S. campuses.
