By Wajeeha Malik

As Northwestern University in Qatar’s class of 2014 prepares to graduate this May, at least six students out of the 30 graduates will be continuing their education in prestigious graduate programs after receiving acceptances from institutions including Harvard, Columbia, McGill, New York University and the University of Cambridge.

Hind Al Ansari, a communication student from the Class of 2014, has been accepted into The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University and New York University. Saif-U-Din Alnuweiri, a journalism student, received acceptances from McGill University and Columbia University. Zineb Abdessadok and Penny Yi Wang from the graduating journalism class were accepted into Columbia University and Northwestern University’s home campus.  Yara Darwish from the journalism class has been accepted into the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. Dhoha Abdelsatar, a communication student, was accepted into the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.

Al Ansari will be pursuing a degree in Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard. “I was in disbelief the moment I read the acceptance letter,” said Al Ansari about her acceptance.  “I consider myself very blessed for being granted admissions at Harvard, since it was always at the back of my head for many years.”

“I decided to go to grad school because I am not prepared to enter the real world without having enough expertise in the area I am interested in the most, which is the Middle East,” said Al Ansari.

 “Going to grad school is a great opportunity to build a network in addition to what we have as NU-Q students. Since my family expects me to eventually go work somewhere closer to home [in China], I hope I can find more opportunities in Asia through the grad school network,” said Yi Wang about her plans for the future.

Since the graduation of its first class in 2012, NU-Q has seen an increase in the number of students going to graduate schools.

 “There has definitely been a rise in the number of students going to graduate school. This year, approximately 20 percent of our graduating students will be pursuing that avenue,” said Marie Newkirk, career service coordinator at NU-Q.

 Dina Mutassem, an alumnus from the Class of 2013, went on to King’s College London for a master’s degree in Education in Arts & Cultural Settings.

“I hope to come back home, to Qatar, and help in the re-building of the educational system at home. I want to take some of the concepts I have learned at King’s to help future educators in the country understand new methods of learning and teaching, methods specific to culturally diverse nations,” said Mutassem.

Students going to graduate school expressed their appreciation for the support of NU-Q staff and faculty members in their decisions to pursue further education.

“NU-Q has been great preparation…the past three years really helped me gain some international perspectives on journalism and media. I believe it is one of the reasons both Columbia and Medill (Northwestern) admitted me. Faculty and staff at NU-Q have been great help,” Yi Wang said.

NU-Q’s Associate Professor in Residence of the Liberal Arts Program, Tracy Vaughn, is proud of the rising number of number of NU-Q students pursuing graduate-level education.

 “I am absolutely delighted to see so many students going to graduate school, and seeing that undergraduate education is just the beginning to their intellectual journey,” said Vaughn.  “While you are in this place, it is a very unique, privileged position. Why not be in pursuit of your interests? I would encourage all of you [students] to go to graduate schools, to pursue, to develop your intellectual selves.”