Journey to
Princeton
Sayfullo Saidov | Princeton Class of 2028
Who Am I Actually?
Sayfullo Saidov
Born in Bukhara, grew up in Fukuoka, Japan, living in Tashkent
Tashkent Presidential School (PS Product:))
Since 2019; Studying Cambridge International A Level Program
Class of 2028
Acceptances: Princeton (U.S. News #1) , UCL (QS #9), etc
Plans
Study Chemical and Biological Engineering -> Sustainability / Environmental Chemistry
My Application Journey
2020: Dreamed to Study at Cambridge or UCL
2022 Aug: Understood UK is impossible but USA
2022 Sep: Learned about basics of College App.
2022 Oct: Focused on Extracurriculars
2022 Dec: Start SAT Preparation
2023 Mar: Took 1st time SAT
2023 May: Second SAT
2023 July: Extracurriculars & English Test
2023 Aug: IELTS & Essay Prep
2023 Sep-Nov: Chose Princeton and Applied
2023 December: Princeton Acceptance
Let’s Get to Know Princeton
Ivy League Location Liberal Arts University
Founded in 1746, the 4th Princeton municipality, New Main focus is
oldest Ivy. Initially called: Jersey State - Suburban undergraduate. Provides the
College of New Jersey Nassau Street is fancy best undergraduate program
in the country
Princeton was a capital Word Campus Ivy League Sports
Nassau Hall was Princeton’s First-time use of word Princeton has won most Ivy
Capital for 4 months:) Campus in the USA League Sport titles among
originated from Princeton other Ivy League universities
Let’s Start with my Stats
● GPA: 5.0/5.0 (A Level Curriculum)
● Predicted: A*A*A
● Mock Results: A*A*A*
● IELTS: 8.5
● TOEFL: 111 (U.S. Embassy EducationUSA Sponsored)
● Duolingo: 135
● JLPT: N1 (96.5th percentile), N2 (98th percentile)
● SAT 1520 (English 720; Math 800)
Extracurriculars
Choosing my Theme for
Extracurriculars:
Research + Environment + Japan
1. Internship at Japanese company - Agritech Project in
Uzbekistan
2. Chemistry Research under PhD student from Japanese T5
University
3. Qualitative Research under Japanese Professor and Uzbek
Researcher from T5 Japanese University
1. Zakovat Captain and Member Since G7
2. Student Body President of Student Government at TPS
3. World Aral Region Charity Volunteering
1. School Magazine Club Writer & Interviewer
2. [Link] Japanese Translation Team Leader:)
3. Bukhara Guide for Japanese Tourists
1. Swimming since 6 years old
Honors
● Zakovat Students’ League 1st place among 4000 students
● Science Olympiad Gold
● Zakovat Agency Republican Tournament Silver
● Another International Olympiad Semi-finalist
● Japanese Language Certificate
Why I think my ECs and Honors fit Princeton?
Values of Princeton Some “unusual” activities
Princeton is heavily academic I tried not to include ECs that are
university. They might have liked common among Uzbek applicants.
my Research Activities.
I did activities for the sake of my
Their unofficial motto is: In Service interest -> not because of College
of Humanity. I had two Application
volunteering activities…
Essays
My Common App Essay was about how I navigated my journey after coming back to Uzbekistan
and realized different things through different experiences (Bukhara, Zakovat, Internship)
Supplemental Essays
● Why Princeton Engineering -> Connected each resource at Princeton to myself and
experiences I had
● Life Lesson Essay -> Talked about my guiding experience in Bukhara. How I compared
Japanese and Uzbek cultures
● Civic Engagement -> World Aral Region Charity Volunteering and international exposure
● Short Questions and Answer
Some insights I got from Application Journey
Make University
Google is your friend Have Roadmap LOVE you
How I found ECs idea? All Score-making should be Make so that they do not
tips about admission? done earlier - SAT & IELTS want to reject or even
Searching on Google! Use waitlist you. How? You
Reddit, Telegram Blogs, September - Full Focus to should match them.
reliable websites… Essays and some ECs Understand their mission
Know how to research! and values
General Plan I recommend everyone
02 04
01 03
Start working on Spend everyday
Set clear reason your english Academics!!! searching on
behind Study Stable GPA Web
Abroad
07 05
08 06
Maximize G9-10 Reading
G10 May -> summer for SAT Writing Reading
Brainstorm and ECs Writing Reading
Essays Writing
Thanks!
Instagram / Telegram: @Sayfullloo
Any questions?
Sayfullo Saidov | April 2024
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