Hey!

My name is Mina Samy. I’m a 17-year-old student from Egypt with a dream of studying at a top U.S. college — and when I say “dream,” I mean something ineffable, something deeper than words. I sleep just to wake up and work on it.

Growing up in Egypt, I was raised to believe that success means becoming a doctor or an engineer — that your value comes from studying hard, not from following your passion. So I did exactly that. I pushed myself. In Grade 9, I studied 14 hours a day to earn a place at the most competitive high school in the country: STEM High School in 6th of October.

But once I got there, something changed. While designing and building small machines, robots, and mechanical systems for school projects, I discovered my true passion: mechanical engineering. It was the harmonious mix of everything I love — robotics, stimulation, creativity, logic, and hands-on problem-solving.

Since then, I’ve worked hard to build a strong profile to apply to U.S. universities: a 4.0 unweighted GPA, awards in international engineering contests (like IEEE,) top 12 in the Egyptian Physics Olympiad, top 1% in STEM exams among already gifted students, and ranked 63rd internationally in the Purple Comet Math Competition along with outstanding extracurriculars. I’m hoping for a full-ride scholarship — ideally at my dream school, Yale University, where I plan to apply through Restrictive Early Action (REA).

But the biggest challenge I face now is financial. My family’s annual income is less than $5,000, and Standardized tests like the ACT ($185) and TOEFL ($200) are simply beyond what we can afford. So, I launched a paid robotics and mechanical design course for 12 students. I teach them weekly and earn a small monthly income doing something I love, while also supporting my family because I don’t want to be a burden on my father. But I’ve realized that alone won’t be enough — which is why even $1 can bring me one step closer to Yale. If you can’t donate, just sharing this message would mean the world to me.