College Research Project

Karim MardamBey
Period.7

College is a very exciting, scary and vital part of life that requires extreme responsibility
and commitment; its also a major step into independence. Now that 2015s seniors are gone its
unbelievable to know that Im next in line to move into the real world. My fellow juniors and I

are all in the same boat. Most are going to college, some arent because they cant afford it, other
simply dont want to. It feels incredible and overwhelming to know that in one year Ill be
getting my high school diploma and making a name for myself. Ive heard that going to college
can be a hard transition, you have to make it great for yourself and unless you discover the
campus and the atmosphere then you wont enjoy being in college. Ive focused on four colleges
that I think I will be happy at and Im hoping to visit them this summer and fall. I feel that one
of these would be a great choice for me. I am basing my research on my benchmark for a great
all around college, available programs and my beliefs in a diverse community. Also I would
really like to leave the house, I need to be me. My major would be in Business with a focus in
Marketing. I am focusing on American University of Paris (AUP), Imperial College of London
(ICL), London School of Economics (LSE), and New York University (NYU). I want to be able
to afford the school I go to, I hope it has a variation of majors programs, an interesting and
multicultural student population, located in a big and cool city is important and away from
Rockville, Maryland.
I hope to be able to get into a school I can afford, my family said they would be able to
help me with 80% of the tuition. They have been saving money for my college education since I
was born, and they dont want me to have debt when I graduate. I plan on working while in
college so I can help pay for the 20% they cant pay for me and to have some spending money.
It will also be good for me to learn to be financially responsible.
From the various schools I am looking at, Ill probably be happy with whatever school I
get into. They are in cities with so much diversity and multi languages. Most of my family
speaks four or more languages, I want to take French so I can learn it and it will be my fourth
language therefore it would be perfect for me to go the American University of Paris (AUP). It

has an amazing campus layout that is very urban and fresh in the center of Paris. I want to go
explore the world and would love to see places outside the U.S.that I havent seen yet and I
would like to become more culturally educated somewhere outside of the U.S. Paris is a very
open environment and is a melting pot of the four corners of the globe. It is a very small school
with currently about a thousand students. It has a great variety of majors including one in
Marketing and its surrounded with centuries of history, I am hoping to go to Paris and visit the
university and see its environment this summer. I think AUP is at a decent price of 28000 Euros,
which is about 31,000 USD, that seems like a moderately good price considering that it is in a
major European city.
I honestly would like to leave the U.S. after high school and become more immersed in
all of the worlds cultures, I would also like to become more independent and live on my own.
Leaving home is hard for some people, and it may be for me too but I feel as though I should go
explore the world. AUP would really be my first preference at this point. The downside is that
not much financial aid is available at AUP, on a positive note the GPA requirement is 3.0 and I
would be the first one in my family to attend AUP.
As much as Paris would be enriching, I would also like to go to London School of
Economics (LSE) because its a well known and highly respected institution. Plus London is an
amazing city with so much history in and around it. They require a 3.3GPA and SATs are not a
requirement. Base tuition is 25,000 USD plus room and board. LSE has a broad selection of
undergrad programs from accounting to international relations, math economics to sociology.
London is an expensive city so as much as I would like to go to LSE, it may end up being a bit
too costly all around. But it would be easier for me since it will be in English but the challenge
may be in getting accepted. In a recent interesting study by LSE, they found that: Schools that

ban students from carrying phones see a clear improvement in their test scores, according to a
study by the London School of Economics. (www.CNN.money.com). Its a fairly large school
and campus with approximately 11,000 students. LSE is ranked 140 on the Best Global
University Index (U.S. News and World Report Education).
My second British school option is Imperial College London (ICL). With about 14,735
students, and a 3.75GPA requirement, it may be hard to get into. They do however offer some
generous hardship packages to underprivileged applicants (Imperial College London). Even
though tuition is at $15,000 per year, I have several family members who have graduated from
ICL and they dont recommend it for me because it is a science focused school with one of the
best engineering schools in the world.
My last option is NYU, its an outstanding school that is one of the most competitive
schools in the nation due to its popular allure and amazing programs. I would like to go to NYU
because I enjoy the urban surrounding, it has a great business school and NYC is an incredible
city. It is on the most expensive with a tuition of $66,000 for freshman and it might be the
determining factor for why I might not go. GPA requirements are 3.5, an SAT score of 19002140 and ACT score of between 28 and 32. According to
(https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/). There are about 58,000 students
on campus due to the campus being in a very dense urban area.
My top four schools are similar and different in their locations, tuition costs, what
programs they offer, acceptance requirements and the cultural opportunities. No matter where I
end up going Im sure Ill be happy, enlightened and well educated. Various factors that are not
in my control may end up determining where I go to college. Im excited to start this journey in

the fall and see where it will lead. And to go visit these colleges that will help shape my future.
So many exciting days ahead.

APPENDIX 1
Requirements

1) American University of Paris

You must not have any financial obligations towards the University, a GPA of 3.0 at the time of
application is required. The required SAT score is 1180-1360 and the ACT score is 26-30.
https://www.aup.edu/academics/undergraduate

2) Imperial College of London

Meeting academic requirements is only one of the factors taken into account when selectors
make their decision on an application. GPA of 3.75 is required and an SAT/ACT is not required.
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/requirements/

3) London School of Economics

The American High School Diploma is not sufficient as an entry qualification to LSE on its own.
Applicants should offer in addition at least five or four relevant two-semester subjects (one year)
at Advanced Placement (AP) level with a minimum grade of 5. They do not require a SAT/ACT
score. GPA requirement is 3.3 for non-EU.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/informationForInternationalStudents/countryRegion/northAmerica/U
SA/entryRequirements.aspx

4) New York University

Both your Common Application and your Writing Supplement (as well as your application
fee) must be successfully submitted together in advance of the application deadline for you
to be eligible for admission. Requires GPA of 3.70 and SAT/ACT scores. NYU occasionally
invites candidates to interview via Skype or similar video technology, but they do not offer
on-campus interviews for any of our applicants. If you are invited to interview with them,

they will contact you directly. http://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduateadmissions.html

APPENDIX 2
Interviews
Interviewee #1:
Bilal Kuzbari Recent High School Graduate

1) What college will you be attending this Fall?

University of Maryland, College Park
2) Why did you pick this college?

Living in Maryland made it cheaper than being an out-of-state student.

3) Did you apply to many schools?
No because money was a major factor so Im happy I got into my only option.
4) Did you visit the campus?
I didnt want to but my parents insisted and Im glad I did. Its such a big campus, I loved it.
5) Did you want to be close to your family?
Yes I did. I didnt want to miss too many big moments in our family.
6) Were you offered any financial aid?
No, we applied for it but we were denied.
7) Have you decided on a major?
Yes, Information Technology hardware and software. But that may change because I also like
architecture and psychology.
8) Are you planning on working while in college?
Yes, I have to because I need to help my parents pay for my studies.
9) Do you know anyone going to The University of Maryland?
Yes, a couple of my friends are going. And I have a cousin there too.
10) Do you plan on getting a masters degree?
It all depends on our financial situation but I hope to.

Interviewee #2:

Lina Kalla Hall Current Senior College Student at The University of Pittsburgh

1) What university are you attending?

The University of Pittsburgh.
2) Why did you decide on The University of Pittsburgh?
I wanted to live close to my dad and his family.
3) Did you apply to many schools?
No, I applied to 4: Georgetown University, The University of Pennsylvania, The University of
Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins University.
4) Was Pittsburgh University your first choice?
No, I was accepted to all but Johns Hopkins University

5) Were you offered any scholarships?

Yes, The University of Pennsylvania offered me a full ride because I had a 4.7 GPA and got
2230 on my SATs.
6) What is your major?
Major in Education, Minor in Spanish
7) How did you decide your major?
Ive always enjoyed being with young children, I used to always read to and play with my
younger brother and sister and I knew I wanted to teach very young kids one day.
8) Did you have a different major in mind before going to college?

Yes, I actually wanted to be a doctor like my dad, but I saw how much time I had to dedicate to
medical school and residency and changed my mind.
9) Do you live on campus?
I lived on campus the first two years so I could bond and make friendships, then I moved into
my own apartment.
10) Do you have a job while attending college?
I didnt the first year because I wanted to focus on my studies, Ive had a job ever since then.

Works Cited
"https://www.aup.edu/academics/undergraduate."
https://www.aup.edu/academics/undergraduate. aup, n.d. Web. 7 June 2015.
<https://www.aup.edu/academics/undergraduate>.
"https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/."
https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/. nyu, n.d. Web. 7 June 2015.
<https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/>.
"http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/requirements/."
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/requirements/. IPU, n.d. Web. 7 June 2015.
<http://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/requirements/>.
"http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/informationForInternationalStudents/countryRegion/northAme
rica/USA/entryRequirements.aspx."
http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/informationForInternationalStudents/countryRegion/northAmer
ica/USA/entryRequirements.aspx. IPL, n.d. Web. 7 June 2015.
<http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/informationForInternationalStudents/countryRegion/northAme
rica/USA/entryRequirements.aspx>.
U.S. News and World Report Education. U.S. News and World Report Education. Web. 7
June 2015.
"www.CNN.money.com." www.CNN.money.com. CNN, n.d. Web. 7 June 2015.
<http://www.CNN.money.com>