Learn more about SYE students and alumni

SYE One Year Program Class of 2025-26

SYE admitted 45 Syrian students into the Class of 2025-26, most of whom are seniors in high school or taking a gap year to apply to college.

SYE students are not only engaged inside the classroom, but also in extracurricular activities. Many of our students have participated in International Olympiad Competitions, ranking among the top participants. Others have passionately committed themselves to volunteering for humanitarian organizations working to rehabilitate Syria, or engaged deeply in artistic passions and interests. Several SYE students have found part-time jobs while pursuing their high school diplomas to support their students in making ends meet in a wartime economy.

Meet the SYE Counseling Team

  • 5000+

    Students have applied to SYE since its inception.

  • 500+

    Students have completed our One Year Program.

  • 4 Hours

    Of direct mentor and team support per week.

  • $80M+

    In financial aid and scholarships awarded by universities to SYE students

SYE Admissions

SYE has a robust student selection process which includes submission of:

  • 4 application essays (in English) with a minimum of 200 words each

  • An application video (in English)

  • An activity list, mirroring the Common Application structure

  • Grades for 9th through 11th grade, and 12th grade for students who have already received their Baccalaureate marks

Students who are shortlisted go on to:

  • Complete a 30-minute English interview with SYE’s team of volunteers and alumni

  • Take a full-length (but uncertified) Duolingo English Test, provided courtesy of our partners at DET, or an alternative test in exceptional cases

Applications are reviewed by region and type of high school, with a particular focus on students most impacted by the conflict. SYE considers the following factors when evaluating applicants:

  • Academic readiness

  • English readiness

  • Community involvement and leadership

  • Clarity of goals

  • A desire to support rebuilding within Syria

  • Maturity to receive feedback and navigate the complex application process

FAQs

  • SYE is not a high school but serves as a CBO and college access bridging program in the absence of comprehensive support for Syrian students worldwide. SYE’s Program Manager is a member of International ACAC and SYE’s Board is comprised of Syrians displaced by the conflict.

  • SYE works with our amazing partners at Duolingo English Test and the College Board to provide testing and limited CSS waivers to students. A number of universities will waive application fees for students if the process does not happen automatically through the Common Application.

  • SYE does not provide any funding for our students’ university studies. All funding comes from universities themselves. SYE will provide support for incidentals such as the visa and plane ticket in exceptional circumstances where university or family support falls short.

  • We are a completely virtual program, with no in-person presence, and our students are from high schools across Syria and other countries.

  • SYE works with all students impacted by conflict in Syria. While some of our students are refugees, and many have been internally displaced, the majority of our students are still residing in Syria and impacted by ongoing post-war crises.

  • SYE's One Year program is not designed to be an academic program. The focus is entirely on navigating the university application process. It's also not a gap-year program (strictly speaking), although some of our students are taking gap years.

    Students progressing through our One Year Program complete all SYE requirements in English and are members of a collaborative community of students, volunteers, and alumni.

Where have SYE students received full funding?

  • Ralph completed a joint degree in Chemical and Physical Biology and Computer Science with a secondary in Statistics and Harvard, followed by an MPhil in Computational Biology at the University of Cambridge as Saïd Foundation scholar. He is now back at Harvard, studying for his MD-PhD in the Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program.

    While in undergrad, Ralph worked in Dr. Hidde Ploegh’s cancer immunotherapy lab and Dr. Douglas Melton’s lab. He served on the board of Harvard iGEM, a team that competes at MIT, directs the iGEM SynBiology Bootcamp, was an active member of the Harvard Undergraduate Robotics club, volunteered at Harvard’s homeless shelters, played music for the elderly at senior homes, and served as an interpreter at the Harvard Law School Immigration and Refugee Program. He also joined the Crimson Care Collaborative, a volunteering program that operates through Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals, on their Operations and Research teams. Ralph has also volunteered as an SYE mentor.

    Ralph has also taken a rigorous courseload, including, biology, chemistry, computer science, statistics, physical biochemistry, organic synthesis, inorganic chemistry, and quantum mechanics, among others. Ralph has also had the opportunity to assistant teach Introduction to Statistics and Probability, hosting office hours and section meetings, and grading homework and exams.

    Ralph claims that his social life was a hallmark of his undergraduate career. When asked about his experiences integrating into the social community, he commented “I keep surrounding myself with some of the most dedicated, passionate, caring, and impressive friends and peers one can find… I build my social circles around classes, extracurricular activities, passions, and research.

    When asked about the value of an education in the United States, Ralph responded “Students from war-torn countries can offer a lot to the world too. They are an untapped source of innovation, opportunity, and talent. The circumstances we go through must not be perceived as a reason for disadvantage, but one for resilience and strength. We thrive in our communities, for we have learned to cherish those we can lose. We thrive in our studies, for they empower us to empower others by making the difference we needed ourselves not too long ago, at home.”

Meet SYE Alumni

SYE alumni can be found all over the United States and the world. Over 40% of our volunteer mentors are alumni of SYE’s program.

  • Mark is pursuing a double major in Mathematics and Computer Science with a concentration in either German or philosophy. Facing challenges in obtaining a U.S. visa, Mark arrived on campus a month and a half late, and yet was still able to acclimate to the campus environment, receiving high schools in his classes and participating in several extracurricular activities. He is proud of obtaining an A- in his Algebra class, despite his late arrival. Mark’s favorite freshman class was “Mathematical Problem Solving,” which allowed him to meet students from the math community at MIT, and to learn from them as they presented his solutions, and he presented his own. During his first semester, he also participated in the William Lowell Putnam Math competition, and the Battle of Code competition. He has also been hired as a desk worker during MIT Ice Hockey matches and a tech caller, soliciting donations from MIT alumni.

    In discussing SYE students, Mark reflected: “For most of them, it takes exceptional dedication to get this far, and I believe that they would accomplish a lot they they bring that dedication to their undergrad institutions.”

  • Rose was recently admitted to Princeton. She hopes to major in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Outside of SYE, Rose plays guitar, piano, and ukulele. She started her own mental healthcare initiative, hosts a virtual book club, volunteers regularly, and completed an independent research project.

    Rose also serves as an SYE extracurricular advisor, where she guides younger students in exploring opportnities within their local communities.