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 year at Columbia University! How’s it been? What are you most excited about?
Faisal: I am both excited and nervous about the year ahead! Settling into a city like New York is challenging, but Columbia’s freshman orientation program has helped me meet new people and make friends. It’ll be hard transitioning from a slow, relatively quiet life in Oman to the city that never sleeps!
Although I have traveled and seen various places around the world, I’m someone who’s very attached to home. The connections I’ve formed there made it difficult to leave. But I’m glad that I’ll always have my home, family, and friends to go back to. These connections were a significant part of my life and continue to influence who I am. Attending an IB school also helped shape me as a person. It was definitely not an easy curriculum, but experiencing that academic rigor will help me at Columbia.
IO: How and why did you choose Columbia?
Faisal: What primarily attracted me was Columbia’s Engineering for Humanity philosophy, which, along with the core curriculum, will help me become the type of engineer I aspire to be – one who promotes sustainability and benefits humanity.
IO: Did you go into the college application process knowing you wanted to major in engineering?
Faisal: Math and physics were always two subjects I enjoyed and excelled in. This gave me several options as I looked into different fields of physics and engineering. When deciding on my major, I considered what would best support me in my goal of developing renewable energy in the future. But I also wanted to find something that I could enjoy doing – something more practical where I could clearly see and feel the impact of my work. A mechanical engineering major felt like the ideal foundation for my aspirations. My goal is to use my education to contribute to Oman’s renewable energy sector and help shift our economy’s focus away from oil and gas.
IO: Tell us about your application process: How did Columbia get on your radar? Did you apply early decision?
Faisal: At first, I didn’t even consider applying to universities in the US. I always thought I would only apply to UK institutions. However, my father, who studied in California, was very keen on student life in America and encouraged me to apply. I decided to go for reach schools in the US as I was still more inclined to go to the UK. With its prestigious Ivy League status and excellent engineering program, Columbia seemed ideal. I applied regular decision because I wanted as many options as possible.
IO: Reflecting back to your application process last fall – essay writing, time management, university list, etc – what were the most effective things you did and what would you change?
Faisal: I had quite a late start in my application process and didn’t have much of a chance to boost my application with extracurriculars, which made it difficult to write my applications. If I had the chance to apply again, I would start thinking about it earlier to avoid accumulating so many different tasks. One strategy I found effective was linking some supplemental essay questions. Identifying these overlaps enabled me to answer similar questions with a unified approach, making it easier to write the essays.
IO: What advice would you give to students who are about to embark on their application journey?
Faisal: Before trying to present yourself to different universities, make sure to understand yourself and your passions. Take time to figure out what you truly want, and once you know what that is, focus your efforts on it. Don’t fake your passion. Being genuine and true to yourself in your applications will go a long way in convincing universities that you’re the right student for them!
Comments