Thank you to everyone who participated with thoughtful answers, I LOVED reading your persona statements 🤍 I’m excited to announce the winner of this challenge: 🥇 Winner: @Maseeha Omarjee Motivation: Completed the exercise thoughtfully and produced a sharp application persona statement that clearly reflects her experiences and goals. Identified practical steps to strengthening her application accordingly. 🎁 She’s earned a private 1:1 strategy session with me — normally only available to MasterPath students (value: $499, not open for booking). 📣 Shout-Outs: • @Rishi Rathi – Produced a thoughtful and timely submission. Strong first persona statement that I believe will be very valuable going forward (and expect to revise it continuously as you go along, Richi!). • @Evanna Kyles, @Gnana Santino, @Luni Lin – For your thoughtful participation in the challenge but also for your continuous energy and engagement in the community. Loved seeing you support others’ posts too — especially how Evanna connected with Gnana’s and Maseeha’s! 📬 @Maseeha Omarjee — CONGRATULATIONS!! Expect booking link and coaching prep form via DM tomorrow. More challenges coming soon. Looking forward 🤍

1️⃣ Step 1: Watched video ✅ Done! 2️⃣ Step 2: Completed worksheet ✅ Done! 3️⃣ Step 3: Share What You Found A. Snapshot of You Academic interest: Mathematics, computer science/AI and Physics (strongest grades & taking more advanced classes- Further math and extended physics with a practical component) Extracurricular standouts: Coding classes Math Olympiads Volunteered to teach kids coding Math and coding centric Instagram account @maseehaomarjee on Instagram Future goal: Create more advanced tools in tech from the standpoint of mathematical innovation, with a focus on sustainability B. Core Themes Scientific research and discovery Creativity and exploration Problem solving Sustainability C. Application Persona Sentence "A math-focused student with a desire to revolutionise technology and AI while driving the industry to sustainability" 4️⃣ Step 4: Reality Check Supports my story: Completed several extra courses in CS and computing High marks in mathematics and possible recommendation letter from teachers (math and science) Could improve by: Taking a current AI math tutoring web app I am building to national levels in the ISF Eskom Expo Complete the FNB App Academy course I am enrolled in 5️⃣ Step 5: Invited 3 Friends @Ogto Igog @Tresan Sura @Manaan Chatri (all joined!)

By now, you’ve strengthened your activities list—but how do you truly stand out? The answer: A Passion Project. A Passion Project is your signature initiative, something YOU create that highlights your academic focus and personal interests while making an impact. It shows colleges that you’re not just participating in activities—you’re leading, building, and innovating. 1️⃣ Step 1: Identify Your Niches Before you start, identify your two core niches—one academic and one secondary—based on your existing strengths, focus, and future goals. ✅ What’s my academic niche? The subject I’m strongest in, most involved in, and likely to major in. ✅ What’s my secondary niche? Either a second academic focus (intended minor) or a non-academic passion. ✅ How can I combine them to create something unique? ❤️‍🔥 Your Passion Project Formula: [Academic Niche] + [Secondary Niche] = Real-World Impact 2️⃣ Step 2: How to Start Your Passion Project ✅ Identify your focus: what connects your academic interests with your personal passions? ✅ Find a unique way to make an impact: solve a problem, educate others, build a tool, create an initiative. ✅ Start small & stay consistent throughout high school, it doesn’t have to be huge on day one! ✅ Showcase your work through social media, a website, partnerships, or real-world implementation. Examples of Strong Passion Projects 🧪 Biology + Social Justice: Start a podcast on healthcare disparities. 🎨 Art + Psychology: Create an illustrated mental health guide. 📊 Business + Writing: Launch a blog teaching finance to high schoolers. 💻 Computer Science + Music: Develop an AI tool that generates music compositions. ❤️‍🔥 Your Passion Project makes you more than just a student, it shows you’re a creator, leader, and problem-solver. 3️⃣ What’s Your Next Move? Think about what your academic and secondary niches are. How could you turn them into a meaningful project? 💬 Drop a comment if you’re working on something or thinking about starting! 🔜 Next up is last post in Extracurricular series: How to Strategically Use Honors & Awards!

Loving all the engagement and great questions in the past weeks! 💜 In addition to my written post series, I’ll now be doing a bi-weekly Q&A video where I answer your top questions. 📌 How it works: ✅ Drop your question in the comments—ANYTHING about college admissions, extracurriculars, essays, financial aid, or beyond! ✅ Upvote (like 👍) the questions you want answered (even if you didn’t ask them). ✅ The 8-10 most-liked questions by Friday at midnight CET will be covered in a Q&A video uploaded on Monday! 🔹 I recommend you to also check out my recent post series! Many of your questions may already be answered in my deep dives on: - Personal Statements - Extracurriculars - Financial Aid - Application Strategy - UK Admissions You can find them all on the community wall 😊 🔹 Prefer written content? Drop those requests in the pinned "Introduce Yourself & Request Your Topic" post and I'll address them bi-weekly (in between video Q&A weeks)! Let’s make this session as valuable as possible—ask away below! 👇

Studying in the UK is a significant financial investment, but scholarships, financial aid, and external funding can help. Here’s how to navigate your options. 1️⃣ UK Tuition Costs for International Students 💷 General Tuition Ranges (Per Year): - Russell Group: £15,000–£38,000 - Oxbridge: £30,000–£40,000 - Non-Russell Group: From £12,000 (some lower-cost options available) 📌 Additional Costs: Budget for accommodation (£10,000–£15,000 per year), visa fees, and living expenses. Since government loans aren’t available for international students, securing scholarships and alternative funding is key. 2️⃣ University-Specific Scholarships Most UK universities offer merit-based and need-based scholarships, though full funding is rare. 💡 Examples of UK University Scholarships: - Oxford – Reach Oxford Scholarship (Full tuition + living expenses for students from low-income countries; primarily undergrads) - Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford -- Ellison Scholars Program (Full scholarships, project-based only; undergrad & postgrad) - Cambridge – Cambridge International Trust Scholarships (Partial tuition funding; primarily postgrads, limited undergrads) - Imperial College London – President’s Undergraduate Scholarships (£1,000–£3,000 per year; undergrads) - Edinburgh – Edinburgh Global Undergraduate Scholarships (Partial funding; undergrads) - 📌 Reality Check: Most scholarships only cover part of tuition, so students often combine funding sources (scholarships + savings + part-time work). 📌 Where to Find Them? Visit each university’s International Student Scholarships page for details. 3️⃣ External Scholarships (Not University-Specific) 🌍 Government & Global Scholarships - Commonwealth Undergraduate Scholarship – Covers tuition & living expenses for students from select Commonwealth countries (postgrads) - GREAT Scholarships – £10,000 tuition grants for select UK universities (postgrads) - British Council Women in STEM Undergraduate Scholarships – For women pursuing STEM degrees at select UK universities (postgrads) - Laidlaw Scholars Programme – Fully funded research and leadership program for students at select UK universities. Covers stipends, travel, and project costs but does not cover tuition (undergrad)