Case study #1: Arda
Year: 12 (Senior)
Region: UAE/Turkey
Target Field: Computer Science
Outcome: Admitted to the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science
Academic Focus:
Computer Science, software development, applied problem-solving
Background & Experience:
Attended an intensive coding camp in the UAE
Developed and submitted a personal programming portfolio alongside university applications
Strong technical foundation paired with growing interest in real-world applications of computing
A Short Story
By the time this student came to Agora, he had already done “everything right.”
He had worked with a well-known admissions consulting firm.
He had followed the instructions, met deadlines, and polished drafts that were technically sound.
Yet something felt off.
His application process was fragmented — advice passed down through layers of customer service, messages relayed between coordinators, and feedback that felt generic rather than considered. Face-to-face time with actual advisors was rare, and decisions often arrived without context.
What he was building did not feel like his application.
At Agora, the process slowed down.
Instead of receiving instructions, he was asked questions — about how he thought, how he learned, and why he had chosen computer science in the first place. His coding camp experience in the UAE became more than a line on a résumé; it became evidence of initiative. His portfolio was treated not as an optional add-on, but as a central piece of the application.
Together, we shaped a narrative that connected technical ability with intention — showing not only what he could build, but how he approached problems and growth.
He was admitted to the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science, one of the most competitive pathways for international applicants.
More importantly, he left the process with clarity.
Not about what admissions officers wanted —
but about what he wanted to build next.
