Hear from Our Students

Communicating My Story to NYU Abu Dhabi

My 12-year experience in choreography was my primary activity as I struggled to relate it to my interest in Biomedical Engineering.

Admissions Program's classes, one-on-one meetings, and assignments directed me to connect the dots and effectively communicate my narrative.

Through many editions, I turned my initial draft into a final college essay for NYU Abu Dhabi, eventually receiving a full-ride $350K scholarship.

I still remember how on a dark, cold night I was writing essays for my application for the Freshman Admissions program about 240 km from home. After an interview with Mr. Sega, I enrolled.

At Freshman, l practiced writing a lot. I received valuable feedback to correct mistakes and write precisely and immersively. Thanks to Dr. Lyusyena, I started my research project, which I am still conducting. I collaborated with museums to ask for access to the ancient artifacts. I really liked the variety of tasks that we got exposed to, including video materials, audio podcasts, and even cartoons.

I am very happy to be part of Freshman Academy. The Admissions Program gave me this opportunity to risk and refine my interests, enriching their quality and meaning. During the program, I changed my life entirely.

For me, Freshman became something I had never experienced before. It helped me shape my dreams and provided help with time management. I never thought that it is possible to do so much work in just a week. Daily and weekly exercises had built a strong understanding of diversity and created a sense of critical thinking. Reading and reflecting became my daily thing. Also, with Freshman, my writing had improved, and learnt different writing styles. It was a wonderful experience that i would recommend to anyone who is inspired and interested in professional growth

The admissions program was really helpful.
Seminars and Lectures were engaging and lively.
Dr. Lyusyena did more than expected, holding office hours and spending much time reviewing our research papers. Consultations I had with Mr Sega were honestly the best. He didn't give straight ideas but asked questions that helped me think deeper and find my own ideas. Mr. Valera was great too, though I wish he checked his DMs more often. Overall, I enjoyed the sessions a lot.

I have nothing to tell apart from praising this course.
Not only was I accepted with zero admissions knowledge and then boosted it to a level I could not imagine at such a stage of my life, I gained new friends. Even though some of my classmates are nerdish, overall I loved them all and do not know how I'm gonna live without this routine when the course will be over. Seminars were great! I once read that if lessons are not mixed with jokes and stories, a student would not gain as much info. Expectations were definitely met if not exceeded.

Getting the Scholarship at the Yale Program Solidified My Educational Goals

The Admissions Program helped me visit Yale and the United Nations as a part of the Yale International Relations Leadership Institute.

Constant lessons, challenging readings, and personal meetings with Dr. Lyusyena and Valera prompted me to understand my interests and values.

After the Admissions Program, I was confident in my knowledge of admissions, financial aid, and university programs, gaining unique admissions perspectives.

From E-Commerce Startups to Acceptance to Top #1 U.S. Entrepreneurship University

Initially, I considered venturing into cybersecurity. Thus, Valera connected me with one of the leading cybersecurity specialists in Singapore.

After consulting with him and trying cybersecurity hands-on, I decided it was not for me, instead realizing my passion for social entrepreneurship through E-Commerce.

My proactiveness, bolstered by Freshman's guidance and resources, helped me launch entrepreneurial ventures, culminating in my enrollment at Babson College, the Top #1 U.S. university for entrepreneurship

From Research Project to Johns Hopkins Graduate Acceptance

Dr. Lyusyena guided me through every step of the research process and helped me complete my first study.

My International Relations paper became the only undergraduate research presented at the ESCAS Central Asian conference. I also received the Kennedy Eloquence Prize at the HPAIR Harvard conference.

These efforts led to my recent acceptance by the selective Johns Hopkins International Relations Master's Program.

Exploring My Bee-keeping Passion

Freshman Academy's unique approach inspired me to go beyond learning the art of bee-keeping from my uncle to starting my apiary.

Dr Lyusyena and Valera advised me to read and reflect on Seeley's books, such as Honey Bee Democracy, The Wisdom of the Hive, and The Lives of Bees.

My Admissions Program experience prompted me to choose Politics, Philosophy, and Economics as my major, equipping me with the narrative ideas, experiences, and mindset needed to apply to competitive universities.

During the Full Support Program, writing thousands of words of reflection and brainstorming ideas for essays helped me better understand what I want from my college experience and what I can offer to colleges.

In this process, I not only received continuous guidance and support from the Freshman team in constructing an outstanding application. The program also encouraged me to build friendships with like-minded peers and connect with incredible people from all around the world.

Being admitted to Full Support, I went as far as I could to reveal the full potential of my application. I truly enjoyed the program and still reminisce about fun stories from our Zoom conferences. I am grateful to be a part of such an inspiring and driven community that never stops pushing beyond its limits.

I am thankful for this experience. Freshman helped me understand who I am. They let me, through the questions and reflections, which I would have never sat down and actually worked on, realize what I truly want in life. Even though I’m still 18 and I do have a lot of pathways to follow in the future, right now, I was guided to follow a path that I genuinely enjoy.

I first learned about the Freshman Full Support program in ninth grade, during a summer camp where I met students already enrolled in it. Their experiences inspired me to start thinking about applying. By the winter of my tenth grade year, I decided to take the leap. The application process was competitive, with interviews and many strong candidates, but fortunately I was accepted.

From the very beginning, I was impressed by the team’s dedication. It wasn’t just one or two people helping me—it was a whole group of experts guiding me step by step. We started with the basics of the college application process and built all the way up to the most important parts, like crafting strong essays, navigating the Common Application, and making wise choices about where to apply.

I can confidently say that Freshman Full Support is one of the best programs out there. From the moment I joined, I’ve never regretted it. Thanks to their support, I was able to get into Harvard with a full ride. For that, I’m truly grateful to Valera, his team, and the entire Freshman program.

To any student considering joining: I highly recommend it. This program not only equips you with the tools you need but also surrounds you with people who genuinely care about your success.