Hey friends! I am Muhammet, a senior management student.
My Education
My educational journey began in my village, Sanezer, Körpeçayır, in Ağrı, where I completed my primary school education. For middle school, I attended school in my town, Eleşkirt (Zetga), as there was no middle school in my village due to the declining population. Unfortunately, the primary school in my village closed just one year after I graduated, also because of the decreasing population.
For high school, I studied at Ağrı Dağı Anatolian High School in the city center of Ağrı. During those four years, I stayed in the school dormitory and only returned home on weekends. Unfortunately, I don’t have any relevant pictures to add for this section.
My University
When it comes to my educational background, I would like to talk about Boğaziçi University, as most of the stories and experiences I’ve shared on my website came to life thanks to the environment this incredible university provided me during my four-year journey. With its inspiring students, dedicated teachers, breathtaking campus, and so much more,
Boğaziçi became a place where I grew not only academically but also personally. You might think I’m exaggerating, but words alone cannot fully capture what this university means to me.
During my high school years, I always dreamed of attending Boğaziçi University, but I often doubted whether I could make it. The Department of Management, which I aspired to join, only accepts students who rank in the top 0.01% of the nationwide university entrance exam. Competing against nearly 3 million students each year, getting into the top 500 seemed like an impossible challenge. Despite the odds, I held onto that dream. When the 2021 exam results were announced, I experienced a moment I will never forget: I ranked 305th out of 2.5–3 million students. All the hard work and long days had paid off, and I was finally on my way to my dream university.
However, when I started studying at Boğaziçi University, I realized I had only seen a small slice of the cake. The university was so much more than I had imagined. It wasn’t just a prestigious label that would open doors for me; it was a place for personal growth, design thinking, and effective learning. Every component of the university—its people, culture, and opportunities—contributed to shaping who I am today. Of course, like any community, there were challenges, and not every individual or experience was perfect. But these small imperfections don’t spoil the bigger picture, do they? :)
Vienna University of Economics and Business
My Erasmus Experience
For my Erasmus experience, I started my journey in Vienna on 03 February 2025 at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU). I had the opportunity to live in this beautiful and most livable city in the world, with its stunning nature and rich history, while studying at a university that has fascinating buildings and a strong academic reputation.
You might ask, "Muhammet, why did you choose WU for your Erasmus studies?" Well, I often get this question, and my answer is simple: I wanted to be at a university where I could learn a lot while also having opportunities to explore a vibrant city, just like I do in Istanbul. Vienna offers the perfect balance between academic excellence and cultural richness.
I also want to mention my earlier goals about Erasmus Studies: When I got into Boğaziçi University, one of my goals was to do an Erasmus exchange semester abroad. Because I wanted to explore global perspectives, step out of my comfort zone, and grow both personally and academically. To achieve this goal, I worked hard to maintain a high GPA while also participating in extracurricular activities. Thanks to my efforts, I was able to get the Erasmus Fund by the European Union, and now here I am in Vienna, pursuing my studies, learning, and meeting new people from all over the world.
Additionally , I have learned a bit of German language , and also attended the Cultural Orientation Program organized by WU’s International Office, which helped me better understand Austrian culture and integrate into life here.
You can check out my post about the enchanting city of Vienna.
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My Summer School Experience
The 2023 Utrecht University Summer School was one of my first international experiences during the early years of my university education. It was an opportunity I came across while searching for ways to gain meaningful experiences.
Utrecht University offered two waivers for students from Boğaziçi University to attend its renowned summer school courses. I applied for this scholarship to study in the Netherlands for three weeks and learn new things. Fortunately, I was accepted, and I spent three weeks in Utrecht, a beautiful city in the Netherlands with plenty of rainy days! :)
At Utrecht University, I had the chance to deepen my knowledge of European History, the European Union, and their international connections on a broader scale. During my time in Utrecht, I met many wonderful people whose company I enjoyed and from whom I learned a great deal. Through university-organized excursions, we visited Ypres, Belgium, to explore World War I graveyards and the Flanders Field Museum. We also visited several museums in Amsterdam with knowledgeable guides. These experiences enriched my understanding of history from another country's perspective.
Beyond academic insights, thanks to my friends Nick and Hanna, I also had the opportunity to bike around Utrecht for hours, immersing myself in the Netherlands' famous bicycle culture. I look forward to visiting Utrecht again and strolling through its beautiful streets—hopefully on a sunny day this time! Just kidding! :)
McGill and I:
My Second Exchange Semester
McGill—perhaps one of the best universities not only in Canada but also in North America—is located in Montreal, one of the oldest cities on the North American continent. After my Vienna journey, I now find myself at McGill University, enjoying the freezing weather and trying to walk in temperatures around -15 to -20 degrees.
I started my McGill journey on the 5th of January, and I am currently taking four classes: Sustainable Finance, Capital Markets and Institutions, Retail Management, and Negotiation. I am trying to enjoy my semester here, as McGill is truly a remarkable place with thousands of students from all around the world.
When I compare McGill with Boğaziçi University, McGill is much bigger in terms of the number of students and departments. However, in terms of campus size, I would say Boğaziçi has a larger campus but fewer buildings.
My classes include quite a bit of work, such as cases and quizzes. My favorite class so far is Capital Markets and Institutions, since I am very interested in finance. The course helps me understand how financial markets and institutions work in real-world terms.
Besides classes, I usually go to the McGill B2 Gym to train, and I simply love that place. It is usually quite crowded, but I enjoy observing people and what they do while they are training. At the moment, I am trying to learn how to do muscle-ups, and hopefully I will be able to do them in the near future.
I am writing this as thoughts come freely to my mind, without limitations. I also write in the present tense because I am currently here. Although I will return in May, this piece of writing will remain for a long time.
Throughout my university years at Boğaziçi University, I have always been willing to explore other universities, communities, and international settings. From the very beginning of my studies, I searched through our partner universities and dreamed of going on exchange at McGill.
So far, it has been going very well. I have met many nice people here, I have great roommates at Solin Hall, and I truly enjoy the city. My courses require a lot of work, and I try to manage that as well, although to be honest I do not study as much as I probably should.
One of the best aspects of McGill is its beautiful buildings and its closeness to downtown. Being right in the center of the city makes the experience even more special. More importantly, having Emine Hoca here at McGill has definitely been a blessing for me. She guided me throughout my settling-in process and continued to support me during the semester. As I am graduating soon, I believe she will remain one of the most influential people in my five-year university journey. I am very glad that I had the chance to meet her, especially since she is also an alumna of Boğaziçi University. Additionally, Begüm İpek Hoca was also my instructor, and she is a very kind person as well. I hope I will have the chance to see them again in the future.
I am almost done with my McGill journey—less than 50 days remain. I already know that I will miss this place a lot. I am also certain that I will come back to the French-Canadian city of Montreal one day to refresh my memories.
While I am here, I try to stay productive, but I also want to enjoy my time. Finding that balance is my goal at the moment.
Lastly, I must say that I miss Boğaziçi very much, as well as my family and my friends. Montreal has become another place that I carry in my heart, and I will return to my university with new thoughts and perspectives.
I am very thankful to all the people who made this journey possible and enjoyable.
When I wrote about my Erasmus study experience in Vienna, I mentioned that I would continue expanding this education page. I still deeply believe that there is at least one more place waiting for me to add to this journey.