All of you who have contributed to the Anatolian Scholarship Program; you have not only touched our lives but fully embraced it.

Have you ever tried to touch one’s life? With a subtle smile or a mere act of generosity? Only people who have experienced this are familiar with the pleasure and bliss that come with it. All of you who have contributed to the Anatolian Scholarship Program have not only touched our lives, but have gone further and fully embraced it. I would have never imagined that this program would change my life this much. Even the time between preparing my application and coming to campus for interviewing has been a great experience for me as I gained a whole new point of view in life. For my peers who are still thinking whether they should apply or not, I recommend them to stop thinking now and take action. And as for potential donors, I would like you to think about all those young people whose lives you can change.

Every successful student with big dreams yet meager financial means should benefit from the Anatolian Scholarship Program.

I applied to the Anatolian Scholarship Program in its very last week, just before the deadline. This program changed my whole life. I am already confident that I will be spending the best days of my life at Koç University, and I will get the best education in my field of study. Besides the academic environment, the resources that our school offers are all great means in our journey in self-discovery and development. If you want high-quality education and a wonderful college life, you should apply to the Anatolian Scholarship Program. I am having the best time of my life here, and I can easily say that it is an experience that is difficult to describe in words and should be lived. Every successful student with big dreams yet meager financial means should benefit from the Anatolian Scholarship Program. I would like to thank my family, my university and my sponsor for believing in me and giving me support.

I thank everyone who supported and worked for the Anatolian Scholarship Program; my biggest dream is to give back to the program in the future.

One day, as I was herding our sheep, my father pointed to the mountain across and said, “This mountain may look impassible, there may be obstacles on the way, but don’t forget that where we cannot reach is not ours.” These very words have motivated me throughout my high school years. My goal was clear: to cross the mountains. Koç University was a mountain with cliffs, and I was a poor shepherd. All I had was my university placement exam score which was not enough for me to pursue my goals. And I did not put too much hope in the Anatolian Scholarship Program to which I had applied by recommendation of a friend. But the phone rings one afternoon and hope flourishes. Now I am here at Koç University. The view from here is great! Yet there are many places waiting to be conquered, many places waiting to be seen. I thank everyone who have supported and worked for this program; my biggest dream is to give back to the program in the future.

Years from now, I would love to be a sponsor in the Anatolian Scholarship Program.

When I was at high school, I knew that I had to get a very good education to become an accomplished engineer. So I had to attend a good university. I was in despair when my university placement exam did not go as planned. But just when you have exhausted all hope, an opportunity arises that flourishes your hopes again. I became aware of the program thanks to a message from a friend, and I applied immediately. I was very happy when I was informed that my dreams would come true. I had the chance to study at Koç University. Besides its academic resources, this university offers me something new every day such as social responsibility projects, sports and club activities. Years from now, I would love to be a sponsor in this program and change somebody’s life.

I will be one step closer to my dream of changing the world for disabled individuals with the help of what I will learn from Koç University.

My goal was to get the best law education at the best university. I was a very social individual in high school as I was appointed as the National Coordinator of the UNICEF Child Rights Committee. My university placement exam score after an exhausting and challenging preparation period was not enough to get the desired law education at a very good university. At that very moment, I received the best news of my life on a phone call from Koç University. I was chosen to become an Anatolian Scholar. Now I am studying in the field of my dreams and with the academic achievements I will earn here, I will be one step closer to my dream of changing the world for the disabled. My advice to my peers, coming out of a challenging high school marathon, is that they should keep on chasing their dreams and never give up. Koç University is where dreams are realized. I would like to extend my gratitude to our donors who made our dreams come true by giving this opportunity to young people from all over Türkiye and contributing to the future of our country. I hope they provide these opportunities to more children and make many more dreams come true.

With the opportunities provided by our donors, I would like to climb the ladder and be there for another student in his/her academic journey towards a bright future.

To be considered successful at school, I had to get high grades. The Anatolian Scholarship Program has shown me that good grades are not the only requirement for success. Thanks to this program, I had the chance for a good education in the field of my dreams, industrial engineering. From the very first day I set foot at Koç University, I knew this school was the place where I could improve myself both academically and socially. The time I have spent here proved that. Koç University not only gives us high-quality education but also provides us with countless resources to improve ourselves. I extend my gratitude to our donors and Koç University for giving us such this opportunity. The Anatolian Scholarship Program is a source of hope for us. I hope the number of donors will increase in time as they continue to create hope for more and more students. With the opportunities provided by our donors, I would like to climb the ladder and be there for another student in his/her academic journey towards a bright future.

I benefit from the resources Koç University offers, which are endless in sports and social activities.

There are many beginnings in life; the moment you say “It’s over!”, a new beginning emerges. We have hope and ambition for new beginnings. However, for those who start the race with a disadvantage, this is not enough. If people who are aware of your obstacles offer you a hand, inequality diminishes. I have full belief that this is what the Anatolian Scholarship Program aims for. Once you get where you are meant to be, it is your turn to make a difference. My aim is to double major in Medicine and Electrical and Electronics Engineering and have a minor degree in Law. Besides, I will do my best to benefit from social and sports facilities here. I can promise that I will complete my college education to be a distinguished brain surgeon and improve myself in other areas as well. Keeping true to my essence and culture, I will be a part of different areas of life on campus. I thank everyone who support me along the way.

I felt the doors of a new world opening before me when they called and said, “Welcome on board!”

In my high school years, my biggest dream was to study at a university in Istanbul where I could be free and where my ideas would matter. After I figured out that Koç University was where I could realize my dreams, I started imagining myself here. After the university placement exam, I was disappointed since my performance was not enough for a full scholarship at Koç University. With the support of my family, I applied to the Anatolian Scholarship Program as the first step towards my dreams. I felt the doors of a new world opening before me when they called and said; “Welcome on board!” I feel like this is what I am experiencing at each and every moment here now. Coming from a small town, it empowers me to know that there are endless opportunities for improving myself, and there are wonderful days ahead of me. I would like to thank first and foremost to my donor and the team behind this program who are living proof that there are good hearts in this world. They have been the light of hope in my darkest times when I thought I had lost my way.

Here I acquire the skills and competence I need to improve my country and change the world for the better.

The Anatolian Scholarship Program has been a sudden light in my life as it enlightened my way like a beacon and expanded my horizon and my mind making my dreams come true. After becoming a student here, I started to divide my life into two periods; before the Anatolian Scholarship Program and after. At Koç University, I feel worthy and self-confident, I can constantly improve myself, and I learn new things. Here I acquire the skills and competence I need to take lead in society, to improve my country and to change the world for the better. It gives me hope to know that such an initiative exists, and that I am a scholar in this program. I thank everyone who works very hard to attract new donors to the program and make scholarships available for students like myself coming from different parts of Anatolia. I hope the program extends its reach to many more students.

I think the Earth revolves for the sake of those who try to diminish inequalities in life. Our sole wish for potential donors is their contribution to this wonderful cycle.

World can change in a day. And my world changed the day I got accepted to the Anatolian Scholarship Program. In the past year, I made new friends, welcomed incredible opportunities and possibilities beyond my imagination. Thanks to the superior education here, I have expanded my view of life and took part in a lot of social and volunteer projects. Even though I may not find the right words to describe what it is like to be a part of such a big family here, I can say that I feel privileged each and every day. I would like more students to experience this privilege. There is a common saying: “The Earth revolves for the sake of good people.” I think the Earth revolves for the sake of good people who try to diminish inequalities in life. Our sole wish for potential donors is their contribution to this wonderful cycle. I would like to thank my sponsor Ford Otosan and all the other donors who support this program.

I continue to improve myself as I discover the contributions of the Anatolian Scholarship Program to my life at Koç University.

The Anatolian Scholarship Program found me just as I was about to give up my hopes of becoming a lawyer. My aim was to study law and become a good lawyer. With the Anatolian Scholarship Program, everything became afresh instantly; and I took the first step of a long-sought, much desired journey. In my second year at Koç University, I continue to improve myself as I discover the contributions of the Anatolian Scholarship Program to my life. I read and I learn as much as possible. I am discovering myself; questioning my choices and preferences that have been shifting constantly. I also have resources like the Arts Club and other activity clubs. I think what motivates many donors who contribute to this program is to help raise individuals who are well-rounded, self-aware, self-sufficient and able to contribute to society. I think all my peers in this program should benefit from the resources of Koç University and equip themselves in the best way for the future.

The Anatolian Scholarship Program offers the chance to an education at a high-quality school and opportunities to many students who have achieved certain things on their own.

As an Anatolian Scholar, I am very happy to be a member of this family and to be at Koç University. Despite the drawbacks of the education system, this program offers the chance to an education at a high-quality school and opportunities to many students who have achieved certain things on their own. During my time here, I have participated in a lot of club activities. I am working hard to improve myself as much as possible. I thank my donor, Index Bilgisayar, for giving me the opportunity to study at Koç University and for being my second family.

In the future, I would like to be an accomplished academic and an individual who considers doing good as a social responsibility just like the donors of the Anatolian Scholarship Program.

I was born and raised in Erzincan. At Koç University as we receive a world-class education thanks to the Anatolian Scholarship Program, we grab the opportunity to become well-rounded individuals. I spent a semester at Cincinnati University, USA. Having relations with globally prominent schools makes Koç University all the more valuable. I started working at our university as a teaching assistant in a French language course within the work-study program of Office of Learning and Teaching. I have learned the necessities for working in an academic environment. I have also improved my German thanks to the KOLT office conversation groups. I believe that I will be joining graduate programs in the future here. I would like to become an accomplished academician and an individual who considers doing good as a social responsibility just like the donors of the Anatolian Scholarship Program. I am happy to have built valuable relations with our sponsors who are our role models. I would like to thank everyone working as part of this program.

“How will they pick me out of all these people? I will not make it,” my inner voice said. With the creeping fear and yet hope inside me, I applied to the Anatolian Scholarship Program which gave me a new horizon.

When I started high school, I knew I had to get a good education to fulfil my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer. Koç University ranked first among the institutions where I could realize my dream. I now have the opportunity to study in my desired field here thanks to the Anatolian Scholarship Program, to which my peers recommended me to apply. Since I started my journey at Koç University, I feel that this school has been contributing something new to me each and every day. With the insights I gained from the courses of the Common Core Program, I decided that Economics was a field I would be very much interested in, and I started studying Economics as my second major. The Theater Club I joined in my prep year, and later became the vice-chairman to, gave me an opportunity to improve my acting. “How will they pick me out of all these people? I will not make it,” my inner voice said. With the creeping fear and yet hope inside me, I applied to the Anatolian Scholarship Program which gave me a new horizon. I would like to thank first and foremost to my donor, Coca-Cola İçecek, to all our donors and to all those who work for this program.

Instead of solely depending on our exam results, the Anatolian Scholarship Program evaluates us from different perspectives.

I went to school in Burdur and Antalya until 4th grade, and then I got into Darüşşafaka High School and moved to Istanbul. With the resources at Darüşşafaka, I started dreaming big and set high goals for myself. Since I spent two full years studying for the university placement exam, I had to put my dreams and goals aside for a while. After graduation, thanks to the Anatolian Scholarship Program, I got accepted to Koç University. Instead of solely depending on our exam results, the Anatolian Scholarship Program evaluates us from different perspectives. Here I am double majoring in Economics and Business Administration. I do sports, climbing, and I am interested in photography. I can have spare time for cultural activities. I constantly set new social and academic goals for myself. I would like to thank the Anatolian Scholarship Program, which broadens my horizon while enabling me to access these resources, my sponsor TÜYAP and everyone who works for this program. In the future, I hope to touch a young person’s life and help him/her overcome life’s obstacles.

The Anatolian Scholarship Program, thanks to the opportunities it provides, enables us to shape our lives not according to the impositions of the society, but rather our own wishes.

Because of inequality in our education system, many students, with big dreams and the potential to develop a vision, fail in Türkiye. And people blame this failure on the student whose future depends on a single exam. Most people shape their lives according to society’s impositions, and many are not happy with what they are doing. The Anatolian Scholarship Program shines like the sun over students, who face financial and social obstacles, but still can rank in the first 20.000 on the challenging university placement exam. This program provides us with the opportunity to shape our lives according to our own wishes rather than what society imposes on us. Now I can make my decisions much more clearly. The biggest change for me is now I am doing what I love and I am feeling happy at the age of 20. I thank my donor, Zen Pırlanta, and everyone who works for the Anatolian Scholarship Program for giving us this opportunity that was once beyond our imagination.

Studying at Koç University keeps our hopes alive for a society where love and respect can co-exist and peace and science are prioritized.

I got accepted to the Anatolian Scholarship Program after graduating from Batman Science High School in 2014. Koç University contributes to its students in every field; from arts to science and sports to politics. I believe that studying here keeps us one step ahead at all times. For example, thanks to the Core Program, I acquired extensive knowledge on many different topics other than my field of study. I think this multidisciplinary scope will contribute significantly to my professional capability in the future and help me develop a broad perspective. When I am not busy with my coursework, I take part at student clubs. Studying here keeps the hope alive for a society where love and respect can co-exist and peace and science are prioritized. Keeping the education system in Türkiye in mind, I think more programs like this will help provide equal access to academic opportunities in the country. I thank Koç University, my sponsor Turcas and the Aksoy family for helping me reach my goals.

You should become a member of the Anatolian Scholars family if you want to improve yourself in every aspect of life and become a global citizen.

I grabbed the opportunity to realize my high school dream of enrolling at the best university in Türkiye thanks to the Anatolian Scholarship Program. This, indeed, was a chance to become a member of this great family for a lifetime. The Anatolian Scholarship Program opened the doors to becoming a Koç University student. The benefits of my school are countless. Taking courses from multiple disciplines outside my field of study is one of the aspects I love about Koç University. Thanks to the Core Program, I started my second major in Business Administration. Last summer I attended summer school for a month as part of the Summer Exchange Program here, and it was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life. You should become a member of the Anatolian Scholars family if you want to improve yourself in every aspect of life and become a global citizen. I would like to thank my donor, Alarko Education-Culture Foundation, and all the other donors who hold students by the hand on the path to their dreams and open new doors before them.

To my peers who are about to join our family, I recommend you benefit from Koç University in every aspect that will contribute to your new lives.

I completed my primary school education in Bursa, and I spent five years as a boarding student at Kabataş Erkek High School in Istanbul where I built a solid foundation in education and life in general. Today I study at Koç University where I am introduced to extensive opportunities for self-improvement. The Anatolian Scholarship Program was a major turning point in my life. After a long and tiring period of studying for the university placement exam, I did not score high enough for full scholarship at Koç University. Just as I felt I was drifting away from my desired path in education, I was given the chance to attend one of the best colleges in Türkiye. To my peers who are about to join our family, I recommend you benefit from Koç University in every aspect that will contribute to your new lives and improve yourself with the academic, social and extracurricular resources on campus. I thank my sponsor, Orhan Holding, for giving me with this valuable and unique opportunity.

Here at Koç University, I am trying to make use of all the opportunities that can help me specialize in the field of my choice.

I was born and raised in Düzce. I graduated from Kocaeli İzmit Science High School, and now I am a student at Koç University. As I am getting more and more familiar with my field in the department courses, I also have the opportunity to improve myself in other fields as well. Thanks to the Core Program, I would like to graduate from Koç University as a well-rounded individual with various areas of interest. I realize once again that I have chosen the best department and the best school for myself, and I try to make use of all the opportunities that can help me specialize in the field of my choice. With the Anatolian Scholarship Program, I have the chance to carry my life to a whole different level. If it were not for this initiative, many brilliant young minds could have been wasted without reaching their full potential. I could have been lost, too. I thank all our sponsors who help us reach out to the future we all dream about.