From a School Project
to Studying at HKUST

My plan then took shape gradually: intensive English study, school projects, competitions, summer programs, and opportunities to learn more about universities abroad.

— Projects gave me experience that ordinary lessons alone could never provide. We had to identify a problem independently, conduct research, assign roles within the team, complete calculations, create a prototype, and present the result to experts.

Public presentations were especially important. They taught me to explain an idea in simple terms, justify our decisions, respond calmly to questions, and improve the project after receiving feedback.

— Polina and I began working on S.VISHENKA in Grade 10. It is a concept for a digital platform that uses artificial intelligence to create clothing tailored to individual measurements. We started with a real problem: standard sizes do not fit everyone, while made-to-measure clothing is often complicated and expensive.

I was responsible for coordinating the team, researching the market and competitors, developing the business model and financial calculations, creating the brand concept, and designing the clothing. Polina worked on the technical aspects of using artificial intelligence.

As a result, we produced a business plan, a financial model, a website prototype, a product design, and an experimental pattern generated with the help of AI.

—Irina helped us structure the work step by step: from testing the idea itself and identifying the target audience to building the financial model and preparing for competitions. She asked questions, helped us identify weaknesses, and expected every decision to be well reasoned.

We also prepared specifically for our presentations: we shortened the slide deck, improved the logic of our pitch, and planned answers to questions the experts might ask.

— The project won the Moscow City Science for Life Conference in the Step into Business category and the national Young People's Creativity competition. It also placed third in the Business Skills Championship of Entrepreneurial Ideas.

For me, the value was not limited to awards and certificates. The experts' questions helped us see the project from a different perspective, understand which calculations needed to be refined, and identify which parts of the solution required further work.

— While working on S.VISHENKA, I saw that a modern business idea is often closely connected with technology. A business model alone is not enough: it is important to understand how the technical side of a product works, how software and hardware interact, and how a solution can be scaled.

— I first took part in the HKUST Summer Bootcamp for PolyMath. I was able to explore the campus, meet faculty members, experience the university's approach to learning, and become part of its international environment. During the program, we completed a Capstone Project with participants from different countries.

— Our team included many strong participants, but at first we found it difficult to bring our ideas together and divide responsibilities. My experience with the school project helped me propose a structure for our work: define the problem, divide the tasks, bring the results together, and prepare a shared presentation. We were developing a solution for Ocean Park, and the team selected me as its leader.

At the end of the program, I received the Most Valuable Team Member award. For me, it confirmed that I can take initiative, coordinate the work of a team, and take responsibility for the overall result.

— I was drawn to HKUST's strong technical education, international environment, and location in one of Asia's most dynamic regions. The summer program gave me an opportunity to experience the university's approach to learning and teamwork in advance.

— Cooperation between Russia and China is developing in engineering, information technology, artificial intelligence, and electronics. This creates demand for professionals who understand technology, speak multiple languages, and can work across different business cultures.

I am considering a career with Russian technology companies, joint Russian-Chinese ventures, research projects, or international engineering teams. I would be interested in acting as a bridge between Russian clients and Chinese developers: understanding business needs, translating them into technical requirements, and helping the two sides work together effectively.

Studying at HKUST will give me not only a technical qualification, but also first-hand experience of living and working on projects in Asia. Knowledge of Russian, English, and Chinese, an understanding of local business practices, and project experience will help me begin my career with greater confidence, contribute to major technology projects, and continue developing professionally.

At the same time, I understand that a degree alone does not guarantee a senior position. My career growth will depend on my knowledge, results, initiative, and willingness to keep learning.

I am also considering pursuing a master's degree in the future so that I can deepen my knowledge and apply it to projects that benefit Russia and its international cooperation in technology.

— It was not one single factor, but a sequence of steps: academic performance, English proficiency, work on S.VISHENKA, competition presentations, public speaking experience, and participation in the HKUST summer program. Each stage demonstrated not only what I had achieved, but also how my interests, skills, and level of responsibility had developed.

— For me, it confirms that the long period of preparation was worthwhile. But a new stage now lies ahead: a rigorous technical program, studying in English, working in an international environment, and continually raising the standards I set for myself.

— You do not need to know your exact future profession immediately. It is useful to try projects, technology, research, conferences, and educational programs, to speak with people from different fields, and not to put off learning English. Practical experience is what helps you understand what genuinely interests you.

I began preparing specifically for admission to a university abroad only in Grade 10. During that time, I was able to improve my English, build a project portfolio, complete a summer program, and prepare my application. This was enough for admission, but it left far less time to develop a separate funding strategy.

If I had started preparing in Grade 7, I would have had more time to improve my academic results consistently, develop my English, take part in projects, academic competitions, and other contests, and build a record of verified achievements. This would have broadened my choice of universities and improved my chances of securing a scholarship or partial or full tuition support.

It is important to research not only admission requirements, but also funding opportunities well in advance. Scholarships may have their own criteria, require additional documents, and follow separate deadlines. For this reason, academic and financial strategies are best developed together.