Freshman Academy

💬 Admissions Q&A Session with Sega 

Have burning admissions-related questions? Then, join Freshman's Admissions Q&A hosted by our experienced team!

Run by Sega (Yale-NUS ’24), our first session will cover how admissions officers read and review college applications.

Listen to the first episode of Yale's Admissions Podcast, titled "Reading," to prepare for the discussion.

This event, exclusive to the Freshman Alumni, will be occasionally accessible to the general public.

📅 When: April 27, Sunday at 11 AM (GMT+5)
🌐Where: Freshman Telegram Blog (Live stream)

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🏛University Vibes: F1 Drivers🏎

Have you ever wondered which universities popular F1 Drivers would vibe with?

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👾 The Age of Algorithms: Should AI Be Allowed to Make Decisions for Us?

From TikTok feeds to job interviews and even healthcare — algorithms are quietly shaping the choices we make every day. But can we trust AI to make fair decisions? Or are we giving up too much control in the name of efficiency?

Join the next session of the Young Scholars Think Tank—an international Zoom-based forum where high school students from around the world discuss and debate urgent global questions.

During this session, you’ll sharpen your university-level discussion and critical thinking skills by:

1. Breaking down how algorithmic decision-making works in daily life
2. Unpacking how AI actually functions — from data to decisions
3. Debating whether AI can ever be unbiased and who should be accountable
4. Exploring the ethical boundaries of AI in society

Two Simple Steps to Join:
✅ Send “YSTT” under our Instagram post
✅ Follow all co-organizers on Instagram

Key Info:
📌Discussion Facilitator: Ayazhan Karabek (Incoming Freshman at Rice, RSI Fellow)
📌When: April 27th (Sunday) at 2:00 PM (GMT+5)
📌Where: Zoom (Online)
📌English Level: IELTS 7.0+ or equivalent

⚡️ Don’t miss this cutting-edge conversation about the power of algorithms — challenge your assumptions and exchange views with global peers!

@borderless_community x @freshmanblog x @grant_explorer x AWSD

🏆 Getting Into NYUAD: Lessons from Successful Admissions Cases

We’re back with the third episode of the Getting In Series: 2025 Edition! The series offers a unique opportunity to engage with and learn from extraordinary students who have secured spots at top-100 universities worldwide.

Earlier we interviewed Ruhshona Sobirova (UPenn'29, Uzbekistan) and Timur Polyakov (Cornell'29, Uzbekistan). On April 21st, we are going live with Nurshat Eshbaeva (NYUAD'29, Kyrgyzstan).

Nurshat is a FLEX alum, educator, and leader passionate about creating opportunities for youth. She co-founded Englishwood, a startup bringing quality English education to rural Kyrgyz youth. With five years in project management, she has led 20+ community-focused initiatives and currently mentors 70 young change-makers as coordinator of the Leadership Academy.

Nurshat will study Business, Organizations and Society at NYU Abu Dhabi, combining her passion for education, culture, and entrepreneurship to drive meaningful change.

At the event, she will share about her experiences during NYUAD's candidate weekend on campus, her application, and tips she has for interviews and application-crafting.

📅 Monday, April 21rd, at 8:30 PM (UTC +5)

✅ How to join:

1. Dm “+” to @freshmansupport and share this post in your IG stories or Telegram channel.
2. If your Instagram account is private, send us a screenshot of your shared story.

*Freshman Alumni Network members will receive a separate link via the official Alumni Channel.

@freshmanblog

🔥The Freshman Method: How to Effectively Prepare for the Ivy League Education?

In the upcoming webinar, Freshman Academy's founder Valera will present the unique admissions approach we have developed since 2019.

Valera will also outline the optimal admissions strategy, including essays, extracurricular activities, university choice, and research.

Finally, he will discuss Freshman's Admissions Program and Full Support Program, exploring their structure, goals, and differences.

Our webinar will aim to uncover the approaches behind our most notable acceptances—Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, UPenn, and more.

📅 When: April 20 (Sunday) at 6 PM (GMT+5)
🌐 Where: Online (Zoom)

To secure a spot, type "Freshman" under this post!

@freshmanblog

🎉Welcome to the team, Zilola!

We are excited to announce that Zilola Fayzullayeva, a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics student at Charles University, has joined our team as a Sales & Community Coordinator.

Having taken the Freshman Admissions Program, Zilola brings an insider's understanding of the program's structure, offering support and guidance for students through their technical and academic queries.

Zilola has also been actively involved in women's rights initiatives and community education, volunteering as a translator for NeMolchi and working with the United Nations Population Fund to organize workshops on gender equality and climate change.

@freshmanblog

🎉Ayazhan Got Admitted to Rice and Georgia Tech!

Congratulations to Ayazhan on her acceptance to Rice, Georgia Tech, Duke Kunshan, and the University of British Columbia!

Coming from Taraz, Kazakhstan and graduating from a high school in Astana, Ayazhan will major in Computer Science. As a Rise Global Winner 2024, she will have her undergraduate education costs covered by the program.

Having joined Freshman Academy’s Admissions Program as a Co-op student in July 2024 and later becoming a member of the Scholars Program, she dived into the art of essay writing, learning how to express her character and the unique aspects of her life meaningfully.

Ayazhan has worked with Dr. Lyusyena, Valera, Mishael, and Sega, who supported her throughout her journey and helped refine her essays.

She developed WaterGarden, a project that addresses the issue of excessive water usage in agriculture and aims to expand green spaces in urban areas.

She also worked with MIT Media Lab’s Personal Robots Team, creating a game for self-determination to improve the decision making skills of high school students.

💬 Reflecting on her journey at Freshman Academy, Ayazhan shares:

“During the Admissions Program, we tackled thought-provoking readings that challenged me to think more deeply about the world and my place in it. Writing weekly reflections helped me explore my values and priorities, which shaped both my essays and my personal growth.

With the support of the Freshman Team, I was able to choose the right topic to express my story in a way that felt true to me. Their feedback helped me refine my message and present it with clarity and purpose. I also learned that choosing the right words is incredibly important!!!

More than anything, Freshman gave me a community—surrounded by mentors and peers who truly cared. This program didn’t just prepare me for college—it helped me grow in every possible way.”

📚 At university, Ayazhan aims to keep exploring tech, gaining invaluable experience in startup development, and tackling environmental and healthcare issues. Freshman wishes Ayazhan the best in her ambitious pursuits!

@freshmanblog