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Yusuf's Sophomore Year St Olaf

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Here's a update at the end of Freshman year, looking toward Sophomore year at St Olaf:

From Yusuf: My freshman year at St. Olaf was very good albeit with certain challenges in getting used to college life in America. I took 9 classes: Principles of Economics, Differential Calculus, International Relations, Religion, Elementary Linear Algebra, Statistics for Economics, First Year Writing, Comparative Politics, and Integral Calculus. The classes were interesting and informative, and my grades were okay. I had two A+’s, two A’s, three A-’s, one B+, and one B- (I don’t ever want to see another B- again, thank you very much). My  GPA is 3.67. I want to do better next year.


The Mathematics Department is great! I got to know a few of the math professors, and to a person, they were deeply knowledgeable and helpful. I spent hours in their offices discussing mathematics, philosophy, and politics. I think there is something special about this department and I am truly in love with mathematics. I also get to work out at the gym with my Calculus professor every now and then, which I enjoy lots.


I am even more excited about next year. I will be taking Real Analysis, Differential Equations, Physics 1, Media Studies, and Introduction to Data Science. My Analysis professor was previously the head of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)!! I have talked with him a few times already, and I intend to talk with him outside of class much more. Dr. Wheeler says it’s time to begin investigating undergraduate research. Perhaps my Analysis Professor can guide me there.

Beyond academics, I continue to become more deeply involved in the life of St. Olaf, and in ways that help me financially too.  Because I’ll be a Junior Counselor (JC) at a freshman dorm, St. Olaf reduces my tuition further by $2,000. And while not a paid position, I’m honored the Mathematics Department invited me to serve as Teaching Assistant (TA) to Calculus 1.

I plan to major in Mathematics, with maybe a double major in Physics or Statistics. Or I might major only in Mathematics and take a lot of courses in Physics, Economics, Statistics. This coming  year, I will try different areas of applied mathematics, and that should be sufficient to define my major.

 
Thank you very much for everyone who has believed in my success and who have already supported me. Your support let me come to St. Olaf for a successful year 1. For that, I am lifelong thankful to you!

P.S.: I am planning to approach the Mathematics Department regarding the scholarships or any funding available for international students studying mathematics in the US. The faculty are very nice people, and I am hoping they will be able to lend a helping hand.


Yusuf.

________

From Rebecca:

Folks, Yusuf built a highly successful first year. A 3.67 GPA with that hefty, technical load? Wow! He’s set for deepening his technical expertise in the coming year.

His finances are somewhat simpler this year, coming in at a $6,454 gap for year 2. It’s lower this year because he, young man from Tajikistan, doesn’t use anything like the expected $1,000 personal expenses an American uses, and because he has saved on books, through rental, borrowing, sharing,  and checking out from library reserve. Further, he pursued and landed a position as Junior Counselor at St. Olaf, reducing his tuition, $2K further. Way to go Yusuf!

Here’s how the $6,454 breaks down:

Tuition Fall:                     $1,975 (Yusuf’s summer job pays)
Other room/board:    $   800 (not covered by grants)
Tuition Spring:               $1,975
Insurance:                         $1 ,700 (Wheeler pays)

Yusuf’s summer job covers most of his tuition room/board for Fall. I am paying his St. Olaf insurance.  But we have a **gap of $800.00 for the fall**.

Then there will be $1,975 for the second semester tuition. 

Yusuf will approach the Mathematics Department to see if they can recommend mathematics scholarships or if anyone in their alumni network might be interested in offering a scholarship to a promising international student.  I will help look for mathematics specific scholarships for international students and we will investigate whether Yusuf can take out additional loans should his funding fall short.

At any rate, Yusuf has a gap of only $2,775 (as far as we can tell) for academic year 2018-2019. Thank you for your past help. If you feel inspired to continue supporting Yusuf’s education at St. Olaf, you would surely be supporting a successful young man!

Thank you!!!


Yusuf and Rebecca
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Donations 

  • Bren Pantilione
    • $25
    • 7 yrs
  • Rebecca Wheeler
    • $1,700 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Yusuf Odinaev
    • $1,975 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Rebecca Wheeler
Organizer
Northfield, MN

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