IVY OPTIONS

William got his wish! He’s headed to the University of California, Berkeley for academic rigor and sunshine. The bilingual British student, who is half Polish, successfully juggled 10 years of boarding school in Hampshire while playing tennis at the national and international level. Read on to learn about the key factors he thinks helped him unlock his multiple, top-tier admissions results. IO: Congratulations on getting into so many great universities: Vanderbilt with schol

Growing up in the UAE, Wynona never considered being an entrepreneur. She perceived it as a male-dominated field. But her empowering education from Barnard College inspired a change of heart. Earlier this year, she partnered with her mother to launch Gunaa, a company that produces custom-made women’s clothing from the distinctive, heirloom silks woven in Assam, a region in Northeast India. She talked to us recently about her evolution and the challenge of starting a new busin

Graduating this spring with a UC Berkeley-Sciences Po dual degree, Theo is thrilled and relieved that he has secured a job at an AI startup in Manhattan, New York. The French native who grew up in Dubai urges international students aspiring to an American college education to be intentional and realistic from the beginning, noting that careful planning is now essential in navigating the shifting US study and work visa policies. IO: Congratulations on your pending graduation f

By focusing on his interest in the environment and the sport of rowing, Zaidan received a coveted Early Decision acceptance to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. The British American, who grew up in Dubai and now lives in London, shares how he got to this point. IO: Congratulations on your ED acceptance to Dartmouth College! What was it like getting the news, and how are you feeling? Zaidan: Quite surreal and happy! My dread on decision day was awful, but I tried to stay c

Keeping up a family tradition, Leen followed her two sisters to McGill University. The Jordanian-Palestinian, born and raised in Dubai, has just completed her first semester. As a finance major, she’s found her classes both challenging and interesting—her favorite: International Relations. She says she loves the traditional college lifestyle in the vibrant city of Montreal. We recently caught up with her. IO: Congratulations on completing your first semester at McGill Univers

As a graduate student in filmmaking at the University of the Arts London, Sophie’s latest fascination is the city's surfaces–its walls, pavements, and hidden cracks–and the histories they reveal. While working on a documentary about graffiti culture, the Austrian-Kazakhstanti, who grew up in Dubai, became fascinated with applying portable scanning– typically used for flat documents–on textured surfaces. She says her experimental techniques and results have sparked a new creat

Since her acceptance to Tufts University, Emma has been excited to study in Boston. But with the US government's shifting policy on international students, the Indian citizen who grew up in Dubai faced one obstacle after another on her path to obtaining a student visa. By staying alert and being proactive, she recently managed to get her interview with the US consulate in Dubai–a major step toward her college dreams. IO: Congratulations on your acceptance to Tufts University

Maha was in an enviable position as the final university selection deadline approached on May 1. The Dubai College student had been accepted to Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, and other universities. She says she ultimately chose Stanford because it felt like the place where every part of her—engineer, artist, athlete, and advocate—could thrive. She provides insights into how she made her decision, and the extracurriculars she pursued in high school to achieve her college appli

Lyndon lived most of his life abroad in Asia and the Middle East, and attended the American School of Dubai for three years. But when it came to college, Lyndon returned to his home country, landing in the heart of the U.S. Midwest. The Grinnell College freshman explains what attracted him to a classical liberal arts education and shares its distinct advantages. IO: Hi Lyndon. What initially drew you to apply to Grinnell? Was it always on your radar, or did you discover it

Working toward a Master's in International Relations and International Law at the University of Edinburgh, Noor Al Kharusi is currently doing an exchange program at American University in Washington, DC. The Omani student has created an exceptional LinkedIn account, meaning a strong, professional online presence. She shares her insights on the importance of the platform and tips on building a strong profile. IO: At what point did LinkedIn start to feel like more than just an

From a young age, Mishka loved art. But this evolved in 10th grade when she began working on a project to design a residential space for the virtually impaired. She gained an understanding of how art and design intersect, and her passion for architecture was born. Throughout high school, she nurtured this interest through her academics, creative endeavors, leadership positions, and international competitions. Her efforts paid off recently when she was accepted Early Decisio

A dual citizen of the US and Greece, and raised in Dubai, Vicky studied biology at the University of Bath. However, she wanted to step beyond the confines of pure science and into the commercialization and business side of the field. To do this, she is now pursuing a Master’s in Bioscience Enterprise at the renowned University of Cambridge. She provides a window into her new life in Cambridge and what led her there. IO: Hi Vicky. Congratulations on pursuing your Master’s at y

Born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in the diverse city of Dubai, Hirad set his sights on the University of Toronto four years ago. He believed he would thrive in Canada’s largest metropolis and one of its top universities. However, he faced unexpected challenges, including the impact of COVID-19, the impersonal nature of a big city, and starting in the wrong academic major. It took him several years to find his footing and get back on track. IO: Hi Hirad. As a fourth-year stude

In the historic city of Reims, France, Natalia is finishing up her second year in the Columbia University-Sciences Po Dual BA Degree program. The multilingual Spaniard, who was raised in Madrid and Dubai, will head to New York City in the fall of 2025 to start her second degree. She gives us a glimpse of her current European university experience and excitement for the American phase of her education. IO: Hi Natalia! What sparked your interest in the dual degree program? Na

Fascinated by space exploration from a young age, Colombia-born Felipe set his sights early on working in this field. After graduating from the University of California-Berkeley with a bachelors in mechanical engineering, he worked for a major US auto company – but SpaceX was his dream. He applied to the Texas-based space company three times before finally being hired last year. He is now one of the engineers formulating plans for space rockets. He recently talked to us about

Born and raised in Oman, Faisal recently started his first year at Columbia University as an engineering major. He initially hadn’t considered attending university in the US, focusing on UK institutions, but was drawn to the New York school’s engineering philosophy of Engineering for Humanity. His goal after graduation is to return to his homeland to help shift its economic focus away from oil and gas to renewable energy. IO: Hi Faisal. Congratulations on starting your first

Ethnically Turkish, but raised in Moscow and Dubai, Defne has a way with English. Two years ago, her creativity and strong time management enabled her to write the bulk of her college application essays before the start of 12th grade. Her efforts paid off. We recently caught up with her. IO: Hi Defne! Thank you for speaking with us. You’re completing your freshman year at the University of Chicago. Has it met your expectations, or was it surprising in any way? In particular,

Yasmin is graduating from Georgetown University this May after an exciting journey of self-discovery. Find out how the British student, who grew up in Dubai, sought out great mentors on her DC campus, secured brilliant internships, and discovered how majoring in economics can lead to an impactful business career. In September, she will start working for one of the most sought-after companies in the United States. IO: It seems hard to believe that you graduated from ASD four y

For Celeste, graduate school had always seemed like the ultimate goal that she would ‘one day’ pursue. But after a life-altering London internship in the British Parliament, she's fast-tracking her way to a masters. The British-Lebanese senior, who grew up in Dubai, will get her undergraduate degree in May and has already been accepted to her top-choice universities. IO: Hi Celeste. Thank you for taking time to talk with us. I know it’s a busy time for you with graduation in

Attending a French high school in Dubai and ethically Tunisian, Rayane wasn't planning on applying to universities in the US until his father intervened. Although he got a late start on the college application process and had to scramble a bit during the fall of 12th grade, he is now a sophomore at UCLA studying chemical engineering. IO: Hi Rayane. How are you enjoying UCLA and life in Los Angeles? Rayane: College life in LA is surreal and limitless! The university and city h