Shymkent, Kazakhstan
Tomiris Zh. — Northwestern (Qatar)
Journalism and media Started: Grade 10 2 years
In their own words
«An internship in media that I found through the platform became the core of my application — a full merit scholarship at Northwestern.»
Media internship → essay competition → Northwestern Qatar
The full path, step by step
Grade 10School mediaLaunching a school online magazine: my first publications and experience working with texts.
Grade 11Internship and competitionAn internship at a regional media outlet plus an international essay competition — a portfolio of real publications.
Grade 11An application with a portfolioA selection of pieces instead of a generic CV, and an essay about the role of regional media. A full merit scholarship.
Mistakes you can avoid
- · I thought journalism only needed good grades, and for a year I collected no publications.
- · I didn't save links to my own pieces — before the application I had to rebuild the archive by hand.
Advice for students
- Build a portfolio of your work from day one: one publication a month turns into a strong selection over a year.
- Don't wait for a “serious” newsroom — start with school or city media.
- Look for essay competitions: they are free and they stand out in an application.
Your success story starts with the first opportunity
Find programmes that match your grade and field of study — and save the deadlines.