Discover how Ulugbek Shadiev's unique personal statement and focused preparation helped him gain admission to top UK universities, and learn his tips for balancing academics with personal interests.
My name is Ulugbek Shadiev. I'm from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and I just finished my second year studying Investment and Financial Risk Management.
I think my personal statement played a significant role. The uniqueness of my topic helped me stand out. I chose to discuss how China was the most booming economy during the COVID-19 pandemic while other countries were declining. In the UK, personal statements need to focus on academic topics, and I believe this focus helped me get accepted into several universities, including Bayes Business School, Queen Mary, and Royal Holloway. I chose Bayes Business School because it was ranked highly for business and finance.
I received a lot of support from my teachers and foundation program. They constantly monitored my application process, guided me on what information to include, and helped edit my personal statement, which is a crucial part of the application.
I haven't participated much in university organizations. I tried joining some societies, but attendance was low, so I stopped going. However, I did participate in our university's Kazakh Society, which organized various events and parties. For example, I attended the Nowruz celebration in March of last year, where I got to meet and communicate with friends and other people.
Balancing these was manageable for me. In high school, I had classes until 4 PM, followed by extracurricular activities from 4 to 5 PM. I dedicated three days a week to study for 3-4 hours each, catching up on what I needed. This routine helped me keep track of my academic responsibilities while still having time for personal interests.
My advice would be to have a fixed study schedule. Don’t leave study material until the last minute. Allocate dedicated time daily, from Monday to Friday or whichever days suit you, to complete your tasks. Building a study habit with a fixed schedule can prevent the stress and overwhelm of cramming for exams just a few days before.
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