CVHS senior goes on overseas college tour

Senior Emma Leathley had the opportunity to travel overseas and meet intelligent students from all over the world when she visited the United Arab Emirates for a college interview at New York University at Abu Dhabi’s Candidate Weekend last month.

“It was such a great experience,” commented Leathley. “It was really interesting because I got to talk to a lot of smart people who come from completely different backgrounds.”

NYU Abu Dhabi is a difficult school to get into, and only about 7% of early decision applicants are invited for an interview. Leathley took on the challenge and applied Early Decision to NYU in Abu Dhabi because she felt that this school had a lot to offer her.

“I chose this university because I am interested in politics in the Middle East, as well as in learning Arabic. I am really interested in politics in the Gulf,” said Leathley.

At the Candidate Weekend, Leathley and the other 70 candidates were able to learn more about the school, meet current staff and students, and tour the campus as well as attractions in the surrounding cities and deserts. A late night trip to Rub al-Khali, the desert nearby, proved to be a highlight of an amazing trip.

“From the top of a sand dune it just looks endless. The desert was one of the best places I’ve been in my life, aside from the Grand Mosque,” Leathley said of the experience.

In addition to being interviewed, Leathley had to do a writing assessment which involved reflection on her experience at Candidate Weekend, and “Peer Ambassadors” (the NYUAD students in charge of watching candidates and leading tour groups) made observations of the students that factored in to the final decision.

Aside from being a great learning experience, the trip proved to be worth it for Leathley, who has received a full grant to the competitive college that only accepted 3.3% of applicants last year.  She is looking forward to returning to Abu Dhabi in the fall of 2012.