Admitory
Jia
ISC - Class of 2026

University of Arts London at Central Saint Martins

BA of Product and Industrial Design

Student profile

Jia

Since I am a design major, I believe what set me apart from other applicants was that my projects were rooted in real problems I had observed and issues I genuinely cared about. Every design came from my own perspective, and through my portfolio I aimed to showcase not just the final outcomes, but the way I think and approach challenges. It may not have been the most polished or visually perfect portfolio, but it was entirely original and authentically mine. I think that authenticity, combined with my passion for design, is what helped me gain admission to all of my dream schools.

SAT / ACT

-

Location

gurgaon, India

Status

College Student

Leadership

Activities & Leadership

MUN

Charge d'affaires - 6 months - 1 hour a week

I taught 8th graders the basics of MUN while training them on how to be sincere logistics members in MUN committees

Hero MotoCorp Young Innovators program

Summer Program

Student - 1 month - near 30 hours a week

I was honored to be selected from amongst nearly 500 applicants to participate in Hero MotoCorp's 2024 Young Innovators Program. This immersive experience provided valuable exposure to the fields of problem-solving, product design, and branding, guided by the expertise of Hero MotoCorp’s skilled professionals. As part of the program, we toured Hero's state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, gaining an in-depth understanding of the complexities of automobile design. Additionally, in collaboration with my teammates, I had the opportunity to develop a product aimed at addressing the significant issue of road traffic.

Summer School at NUS Department of Architecture

- 3 weeks - 48 hours a week

I was a part of the Design Summer Camp hosted by NUS. In these 3 weeks, we took on a series of studio-based projects that sequentially grew in complexity and formed the heart of our learning, where we experimented, tested ideas, and developed approaches to design. In parallel, workshops guided us through essential skills: drawing, physical and digital model-making, diagramming, and visual storytelling. We also attended lectures, went on walking tours and practice visits, and participated in discussions that introduced us to key concepts in architecture and the built environment. The first project was individual, the second was in pairs, and the third was in a group of 10 people. Collaborating on one project as a group of 10 taught me skills about teamwork in architecture that I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. In this holistic program, I learned the fundamentals of architecture, which deepened my liking for the field.

Results

University Results

University of Arts London at Central Saint Martins

BA of Product and Industrial Design - England

- -

Accepted

University of Edinburgh

BA Product Design - Scotland

- -

Accepted

Glasgow school of art

BDes (Hons) Product Design - Scotland

- -

Accepted

Loughborough

BEng Product Design Engineering with a Placement Year - England

- -

Accepted

University of Brighton

Design Engineering - England

- -

Accepted

SCAD

Undecided - USA

Scholarship 25000 dollars per year

Accepted

Final choice

Reflection

Reflections & Advice

Advice for Juniors

Try your hardest over these next two years—I promise it will be worth it. Focus on building a strong academic foundation first, then dedicate yourself to meaningful extracurricular activities. Set your goals early, stay consistent, and remember that no dream is out of reach if you're willing to work for it. No matter where you are right now, you're not too late. For the design students: pour your heart and soul into your work. Always choose quality over quantity. Create projects that are thoughtful, detailed, and driven by genuine curiosity. When building your portfolio, don't just showcase what you made—show how you think. Let your process, personality, and perspective shine through. Be bold, experiment, and don't be afraid to take creative risks. Listen to every piece of feedback with an open mind, but learn to distinguish between criticism that helps you grow and criticism that pulls you away from your vision. The strongest portfolios aren't necessarily the most polished—they're the ones that feel authentic, memorable, and unmistakably their creator's own. ( yes this was chatgpt-ed but the advice is genuine)

Biggest Lesson

Dream big, you can truly make it to any uni you want, its never too late.

Story

Journey Story