Although I do not have to declare my major until the beginning of junior year, my intended major as of now is Economics. It is a subject of interest to me because it involves rigorous reasoning backed by the mathematical analysis of data.
Mohammad Saad Malik
Heading to Princeton to study Economics, here’s what former Competitive College Club member, Saad Malik had to say about the program and how it has helped him get into a top U.S. university.
How has the CCC helped you with your college applications?
Saad Malik (front row, left, in red) joins fellow Competitive College Club members in Lahore.
Like thousands of talented students across Pakistan every year, I joined the Competitive College Club (CCC) program with complete faith in my own ability but an obscure understanding of the U.S. college admissions process. The advisers at CCC however, helped me to approach my goals with a more sound conception of what it takes to illustrate, highlight and reinforce ones strengths in their application. They inspired me to create a piece of writing that spoke less about what I had achieved – the accolades I had amassed and the awards I had earned – but more about myself as a human being who had faced both adversity and success, my personal journey as a young adult, and what my dreams and hopes stand to be in the coming years.
What aspect of the CCC did you find most beneficial?
In my experience, the CCC promoted a unique and healthy team building ideology. As fellow members (and eventual friends) we would eventually share our ups and downs and help each other improve the strength of our college applications. We engaged in group activities such as mock college interviews and collective essay evaluations. In the latter stages of the program, some of us were even a part of the committee that qualitatively assessed candidates for the upcoming class of CCC students, alongside our advisers. Full circle!
What was the most challenging aspect of the college application and how do you think the CCC helped you address that gap?
The common goal for most students is to create an application that they believe best represents them. But with hectic study schedules, several deadlines and essays/supplements to prepare, creating one’s best work often becomes difficult. In that sense, the CCC’s advisers helped me pace myself, to approach these tasks well before time and to make the most of my hours. Consequently, I found myself taking more of an interest in what I was doing and was able to successfully complete and application that I felt best reflected me.
They inspired me to create a piece of writing that spoke less about what I had achieved, the accolades I had amassed and the awards I had earned, but more about myself as a human being who had faced both adversity and success, my personal journey as a young adult, and what my dreams and hopes stand to be in the coming years.
The Competitive College Club program is an intensive group-advising program for Pakistani high school students organized by EducationUSA at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP). Saad Malik is one of the 58 Pakistani high school students who were selected to participate in an 18 month program which aims to help the best and brightest students apply to competitive U.S. colleges and universities.
Want to be a step ahead of the rest? See how you can be part of the EducationUSA Competitive College Club program at USEFP. Email advising@usefpakistan.org for more information.
