UC Berkeley Tuition Funding

My name is Arman Tigranyan and I am 17 years old. I am an "Ayb" high school graduate from Armenia who has been accepted to the College of Letters and Science of the University of California, Berkeley.

As an international student, I am ineligible for university, state, or federal financial aid funds processed by the Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. The annual tuition and living expenses in total include a big amount of $60,000, which my family cannot afford.

Please learn more about the expenses for international students following this link:
http://financialaid.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/docs/publications/AE_OUA_151208_Yield_FASO_OOSFlyer_v07_web.pdf

Fortunately, I have applied for Luys Foundation Scholarship and my application is the 5th in the queue. As Luys provides scholarships to the first 10 applicants from each of the top-10 universities of the world (and as UC Berkeley is among them), I expect to receive half of the total expenses, $30,000, from Luys Foundation. Another $10,000 I expect to receive from Ayb Educational Foundation. In addition, my family is able to provide $2,000 annually. Unfortunately, the sum I have already found is still not enough to cover the tuition and living expenses at UC Berkeley.

With this campaign, I hope to raise enough money to continue my studies at one of the best universities in the world.

Awards and Honors

Gold Medal given by the President of Armenia for academic excellence throughout grades 1-12,
III class diploma, Physics Republican Olympiad, 2014-2015,
III class diploma, Mathematics Republican Olympiad, 2014-2015
I class diploma, Russian language City Olympiad, 2014-2015
II class diploma, Physics City Olympiad, 2014-2015
III class diploma, Physics Olympiad held in Yerevan State University, 2014-2015
Certificate of excellence, Physics Republican Olympiad, 2013-2014
III class diploma, Physics City Olympiad, 2013-2014
Certificate of excellence, Physics Republican Olympiad, 2012-2013
Certificate of excellence, Russian language Republican Olympiad, 2012-2013
II class diploma, Mathematics City Olympiad, 2012-2013
III class diploma, Physics City Olympiad, 2012-2013
III class diploma, Russian language City Olympiad, 2012-2013

I have participated in an internship program in SFL, LLC, an IT company from Armenia. I also worked as a volunteer in Galentz Museum in Yerevan.

Purpose

Of all natural sciences, I admire Physics the most perhaps not only for its role and use in the human society, but primarily for the myriads of questions it tries to answer, but yet remain unanswered. Being able to describe the world with General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics, but not having a Theory of Everything that would describe such "exotic" phenomena as black holes, for example. Understanding much, yet not understanding even more. Precisely those unanswered questions are the main driving force of the world's physicists in their quest for understanding the Universe and appeasing their curiosity and hunger for knowledge.

Physics is not the only field that interests me. As any other person living in the 21st century, I also understand that Computer Science is the future of all sciences. Just like Mathematics, Computer Science is an important tool in the hands of specialists of different fields of study, including programmers, physicists, chemists, biologists, statisticians etc. We live in an era when a whiteboard and a piece of chalk is simply not enough for science anymore. That's why I am very interested in Computer Science.

By continuing my studies at UC Berkeley, I believe I will unlock my full potential and have good perspective and opportunities in my future life. After my graduation, I wish to contribute to the development of my country both as a citizen and as a specialist in my field of study. My biggest desire is to have opportunities I have always dreamed about, and create opportunities for promising students in the future.

I will be very grateful to anyone who will wish to help me within the limits of his/her capabilities. I appreciate a lot any help I can get to make a small step towards the fulfillment of my goal.