Almaty, Kazakhstan
Aruzhan K. — Harvard University
Biology and medicine Started: Grade 9 3 years
In their own words
«Thanks to Pathfolio I found out about international research programmes that helped me build a strong academic portfolio. Today I study at Harvard University on a full scholarship.»
Zhautykov Olympiad → Pioneer Research → Harvard
The full path, step by step
Grade 9First olympiadTaking part in the Zhautykov Biology Olympiad — my first international experience and a sense of my own level.
Grade 10Research programmeA molecular biology project at Pioneer Research supervised by a professor: nine months of work and a scientific paper.
Grade 11Applications and a scholarshipSix applications to US universities, an essay based on my research, interviews. An offer from Harvard with a full scholarship.
Mistakes you can avoid
- · In my first year I collected certificates at random — half of them were no use in the application.
- · I started my first essay three weeks before the deadline; the next ones I was writing two months ahead.
Advice for students
- Pick one topic and stick with it: committees value depth, not the number of directions.
- Don't be afraid to write to professors — a letter with a specific question gets answered far more often than you'd think.
- Save deadlines to your saved list: in three years I never missed a single application.
Your success story starts with the first opportunity
Find programmes that match your grade and field of study — and save the deadlines.
