Hi buddies, I am Diana Zhanakulova, and in this review, I will be sharing how I found my current university, Solbridge International School of Business, and my overall experience of the journey that led me there. I recently finished my junior year at Solbridge, and I hope my story can help those of you preparing to study in Korea.

 A fate or my destiny 

To be honest, I feel like my university found me rather than the other way around. Back when I was in my final year of high school, I attended an education fair X is Astana, Kazakhstan to explore opportunities to study abroad. Like many students, I was curious and excited about the possibility of studying in a foreign country but had little idea of where to begin.

At the fair, I came across the booth for Solbridge International School of Business. I was intrigued by their representatives, who introduced me to the concept of studying business entirely in English in Korea. However, there was a catch: with my then-current English proficiency, I was told I could only qualify for a 25% scholarship for the first semester. While this was a good opportunity, the tuition fees were still quite expensive for an average Kazakh family, so I left the fair feeling unsure and discouraged.

Learning English and Exploring Online Resources

Determined to keep my dream of studying abroad alive, I continued to work hard on improving my English. I explored online resources, watched vlogs, and joined various communities to learn more about studying in Korea. It was during this period that I discovered a teacher and consultant on social media. She was an expert in studying in Korea, fluent in Korean, and had even earned her master’s degree from Yonsei University.

Believing her expertise could help me navigate the process, I purchased a consultation with her. Little did I know, this consultation would change the course of my academic journey.

The Consultation: A Singular Option

From the very beginning of our session, the consultant strongly recommended Solbridge. She emphasized that as someone with no prior knowledge of Korean, Solbridge was my best and perhaps only viable option to study in Korea. She explained that Solbridge is a fully international school where all classes are conducted in English, and they actively welcome international students. Additionally, she pointed out that the tuition fee at Solbridge, while high, was comparable to other international schools in Korea and came with scholarship opportunities.

While I appreciated her insights, I couldn’t help but feel skeptical. I repeatedly asked her if there were any other options or universities she could suggest. To my disappointment, she dismissed all my suggestions and maintained that Solbridge was the only realistic choice for me. I wanted to have the freedom to choose from a range of options, but it felt like I was being pushed toward Solbridge for her benefit rather than mine. In hindsight, I realized that Solbridge’s strategy includes partnering with consultants and offering them incentives for bringing in new students.

Deciding to Trust the Process

Despite my initial reservations, I eventually decided to apply to Solbridge. The consultant’s arguments were compelling, and after researching the school further, I realized that it indeed aligned with many of my goals. Also, with my IELTS 6.0 Score at that time, I was able to get 60% scholarship for my first semester, which was quite reasonable price.

Solbridge offered a diverse international environment, opportunities for networking, and quality education in English, which was crucial for someone like me who didn’t speak Korean.

Looking back, while I initially felt pressured, I’m glad I gave Solbridge a chance. The university provided me with a solid education, amazing friendships, and countless opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.

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